ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sanford Biggers - Conceptual artist
Sanford Biggers creates art that upends traditional narratives about topics ranging from hip hop to Buddhism to American history.

Why you should listen

An LA native working in NYC, Sanford Biggers creates artworks that integrate film, video, installation, sculpture, drawing, original music and performance. He intentionally complicates issues such as hip hop, Buddhism, politics, identity and art history in order to offer new perspectives and associations for established symbols. Through a multi-disciplinary formal process and a syncretic creative approach, he makes works that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are conceptual.

The significance of Biggers' work within contemporary society has been celebrated through solo exhibitions both nationally and internationally, most recently at the Brooklyn Museum, Sculpture Center and Mass MoCA. He has participated in prestigious residencies and fellowships including: Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany; Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland; Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, California; ARCUS Project Foundation, Ibaraki, Japan; and the Art in General/ Trafo Gallery Eastern European Exchange in Budapest, Hungary. He has been a fellow of the Creative Time Global Residency, the Socrates Sculpture Park Residency, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council World Views AIR Program, the Eyebeam Atelier Teaching Residency, the Studio Museum AIR Program, the P.S. 1 International Studio Program and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture residency.

Biggers' installations, videos and performances have appeared in venues worldwide including Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London, the Whitney Museum and Studio Museum in Harlem, New York and the Yerba Bue a Center for the Arts in San Francisco, as well as institutions in China, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Poland and Russia. The artist's works have been included in notable exhibitions such as: Prospect 1 New Orleans Biennial, Illuminations at the Tate Modern, Performa 07 in NY, the Whitney Biennial and Freestyle at the Studio Museum in Harlem. His works are included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Walker Art Center, Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum and Bronx Museum.

Biggers has won awards including: the American Academy in Berlin Prize, Greenfield Prize, New York City Art Teachers Association Artist-of-the-Year, Creative Time Travel Grant, Creative Capital Project Grant, New York Percent for the Arts Commission, Art Matters Grant, New York Foundation for the Arts Award, the Lambent Fellowship in the Arts, the Pennies From Heaven/ New York Community Trust Award, Tanne Foundation Award and Rema Hort Mann Foundation Award Grant.

Biggers is Assistant Professor at Columbia University's Visual Arts program and a board member of Sculpture Center, Soho House and the CUE Foundation. He has also taught at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Sculpture and Expanded Media program and was a visiting scholar at Harvard University's VES Department in 2009.

More profile about the speaker
Sanford Biggers | Speaker | TED.com
TED2016

Sanford Biggers: An artist's unflinching look at racial violence

桑福德·比格斯: 一位藝術家對種族暴力堅定無畏的觀點

Filmed:
1,158,104 views

作為觀念藝術家與 TED 研究會員的桑福德·比格斯運用繪畫、雕塑、錄影及表演激發有關美國黑人歷史及創傷的爭論性對話。聆聽他詳述兩件令人尊敬的作品,並分享他的藝術背後的動機。他說:「只有透過更多有關歷史及種族思考性對話,我們個人和社會才能成長。」
- Conceptual artist
Sanford Biggers creates art that upends traditional narratives about topics ranging from hip hop to Buddhism to American history. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
As a conceptual概念上的 artist藝術家,
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作為一位觀念藝術家,
00:14
I'm constantly經常 looking for creative創作的 ways方法
to spark火花 challenging具有挑戰性的 conversations對話.
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我經常在找尋
激起爭論性對話的創作方式。
00:18
I do this though雖然 painting繪畫, sculpture雕塑,
video視頻 and performance性能.
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我透過繪畫、雕塑、錄影及表演來做到。
00:22
But regardless而不管 of the format格式,
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但無論採取何種方式,
00:23
two of my favorite喜愛 materials物料
are history歷史 and dialogue對話.
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我最喜愛用的兩種素材
就是歷史和對話。
00:27
In 2007, I created創建 "Lotus蓮花,"
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2007 年時,我設計了「蓮花」,
00:30
a seven-and-a-half-foot七和半英尺 diameter直徑,
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直徑 7.5 英尺,
00:32
600-pound-磅 glass玻璃 depiction描寫
of a lotus蓮花 blossom開花.
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600 磅的蓮花玻璃圖案。
00:35
In Buddhism佛教, the lotus蓮花 is a symbol符號
for transcendence超越
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在佛教,蓮花是一種
超越以及心、靈純淨的象徵。
00:39
and for purity純度 of mind心神 and spirit精神.
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但仔細看這蓮花,
00:41
But a closer接近 look at this lotus蓮花
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00:44
reveals揭示 each petal花瓣
to be the cross-section橫截面 of a slave奴隸 ship.
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顯示每一花瓣都是販奴船的橫切面。
00:47
This iconic標誌性的 diagram was taken採取
from a British英國的 slaving役使 manual手冊
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這圖像是來自英國的奴隸手冊,
00:51
and later後來 used by abolitionists廢奴主義者 to show顯示
the atrocities暴行 of slavery奴隸制度.
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後來被廢奴主義者
用以證明奴隸制度的暴行。
00:56
In America美國, we don't like
to talk about slavery奴隸制度,
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在美國,我們不喜歡談論奴隷制度,
00:58
nor也不 do we look at it as a global全球 industry行業.
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也不把它視為全球產業。
01:01
But by using運用 this Buddhist佛教徒 symbol符號,
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但藉著用這佛教的象徵,
01:03
I hope希望 to universalize劃一 and transcend超越
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我希望能普及並超越
01:05
the history歷史 and trauma外傷 of black黑色 America美國
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美國黑人的歷史及創傷,
01:08
and encourage鼓勵 discussions討論
about our shared共享 past過去.
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並鼓勵討論我們共同的過去。
01:12
To create創建 "Lotus蓮花,"
we carved over 6,000 figures人物.
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為了製造「蓮花」,
我們刻了超過 6,000 個圖形,
01:16
And this later後來 led to a commission佣金
by the City of New York紐約
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稍後紐約市也因而委託我們
01:19
to create創建 a 28-foot-腳丫子 version in steel
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製造一個 28 英尺的鋼製版,
01:21
as a permanent常駐 installation安裝
at the Eagle Academy學院 for Young年輕 Men男人,
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固定架設在老鷹男子高級中學 ──
01:24
a school學校 for black黑色 and latino拉丁美洲人 students學生們,
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此校為黑人及拉丁裔學生就讀,
01:27
the two groups most affected受影響
by this history歷史.
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兩個在這歷史上受害最深的族群。
01:30
The same相同 two groups are very affected受影響
by a more recent最近 phenomenon現象,
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一個最近的事件
對這兩族群也有很大影響,
01:33
but let me digress離題.
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但容我岔開話題。
01:35
I've been collecting蒐集
wooden African非洲人 figures人物
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我一直在收集來自全世界旅遊商店
及跳蚤市場的木製非洲塑像,
01:38
from tourist遊客 shops商店 and flea跳蚤 markets市場
around the world世界.
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01:40
The authenticity真偽 and origin起源
of them is completely全然 debatable值得商榷,
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它們的真實性及來源
完全是有疑問的,
01:43
but people believe these
to be imbued充滿 with power功率,
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但人們認為這些具有能力,
01:46
or even magic魔法.
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甚至魔力。
01:47
Only recently最近 have I figured想通 out
how to use this in my own擁有 work.
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只是最近我已想出
如何將這用在我的作品上。
01:51
(Gun shots鏡頭)
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(槍聲)
02:05
Since以來 2012, the world世界 has witnessed目擊
the killings殺人 of Trayvon塔拉萬 Martin馬丁,
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自 2012 年起,世人見證實了
特雷沃恩·馬丁命案,
02:09
Michael邁克爾 Brown棕色, Eric埃里克 Garner穀倉,
Sandra桑德拉 Bland布蘭德, Tamir塔米爾 Rice白飯
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麥克·布朗、埃里克·加納、
桑德拉·布蘭德、塔米爾·萊斯,
02:13
and literally按照字面 countless無數 other
unarmed徒手 black黑色 citizens公民
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簡直多到數不清
手無寸鐵的黑人公民
02:16
at the hands of the police警察,
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死於警察手中,
02:17
who frequently經常 walk步行 away
with no punishment懲罰 at all.
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而他們絲毫無罪地全身而退。
02:20
In consideration考慮 of these victims受害者
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考慮到這些受害者,
02:22
and the several一些 times that even I,
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以及連我
02:24
a law-abiding安分, Ivy常春藤 League聯盟 professor教授,
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── 一位守法的長春藤大學聯盟教授 ──
02:27
have been targeted針對 and harassed騷擾
at gunpoint槍口下 by the police警察.
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也曾多次被警察盯上及槍口的騷擾,
02:30
I created創建 this body身體 of work
simply只是 entitled標題 "BAMBAM."
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我設計了這個作品,單純命名為「砰」。
02:36
It was important重要 to erase抹去
the identity身分 of each of these figures人物,
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將每個塑像的面貌去掉是重要的,
02:39
to make them all look the same相同
and easier更輕鬆 to disregard漠視.
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使它們看起來一樣且較易忽略其身份。
02:43
To do this, I dip them in a thick,
brown棕色 wax
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為此,我將它們浸入濃稠棕色蠟,
02:45
before taking服用 them to a shooting射擊 range範圍
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而後帶它們到靶場,
02:47
where I re-sculpted重新雕刻 them using運用 bullets子彈.
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用子彈重新雕塑它們。
02:51
And it was fun開玩笑,
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射大槍和使用高速錄影機是蠻好玩的,
02:52
playing播放 with big guns槍砲 and
high-speed高速 video視頻 cameras相機.
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02:55
But my reverence尊敬 for these figures人物
kept不停 me from actually其實 pulling the trigger觸發,
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但我對這些塑像的敬畏心
讓我無法真正扣下扳機,
02:58
somehow不知何故 feeling感覺 as if I would
be shooting射擊 myself.
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好像覺得我是在射擊自己,
03:01
Finally最後, my cameraman攝影師, Raul勞爾,
fired解僱 the shots鏡頭.
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最後,是由我的攝影師 Raul 開槍的。
03:06
I then took the fragments片段 of these
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隨後我將這些殘片碎塊
03:08
and created創建 molds模具,
and cast them first in wax,
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做一個石膏模,
再先用蠟做個模型,
03:12
and finally最後 in bronze青銅
like the image圖片 you see here,
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最後用銅鑄成,
就如你現在所見的塑像。
03:15
which哪一個 bears the marks分數
of its violent暴力 creation創建
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上面有用暴力製造過程的痕跡,
03:18
like battle戰鬥 wounds傷口 or scars傷疤.
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就像戰爭傷口或疤痕。
03:20
When I showed顯示 this work recently最近 in Miami邁阿密,
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當我最近在邁阿密展示這作品時,
03:22
a woman女人 told me she felt
every一切 gun shot射擊 to her soul靈魂.
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一位女士告訴我,
她覺得每一槍都擊中她的心靈,
03:25
But she also felt that these artworks藝術品
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但她也感受到這些作品
03:28
memorialized紀念 the victims受害者 of these killings殺人
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悼念了命案受害者,
03:30
as well as other victims受害者 of
racial種族 violence暴力 throughout始終 US history歷史.
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以及整個美國史上
種族暴力下的其他受害者。
03:33
But "Lotus蓮花" and "BAMBAM" are larger
than just US history歷史.
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但「蓮花」及「砰」
比只是美國歷史意義更深遠。
03:36
While showing展示 in Berlin柏林 last year,
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當去年在柏林展示時,
03:38
a philosophy哲學 student學生 asked me
what prompted提示 these recent最近 killings殺人.
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一位學哲學的學生問我
這些最近的命案是為何發生。
03:42
I showed顯示 him a photo照片
of a lynching私刑 postcard明信片
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我拿一張 1900 年代初期
處私刑的照片給他看,
03:44
from the early 1900s
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03:46
and reminded提醒 him that these killings殺人
have been going on for over 500 years年份.
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並提醒他這種殺戮
已經持續超過 500 年了。
03:51
But it's only through通過 questions問題 like his
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但唯有透過像他這樣的問題
03:53
and more thoughtful周到 dialogue對話
about history歷史 and race種族
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和更多有關歷史及種族的思考性對話,
03:56
can we evolve發展 as individuals個人 and society社會.
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我們個人與社會才能成長。
03:59
I hope希望 my artwork藝術品 creates創建 a safe安全 space空間
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我希望我的作品可創造一個安全空間
提供這種坦誠交流,
04:02
for this type類型 of honest誠實 exchange交換
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04:05
and an opportunity機會 for people
to engage從事 one another另一個
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並提供機會讓大家參與
彼此真實及必要的對談。
04:07
in real真實 and necessary必要 conversation會話.
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04:10
Thank you.
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謝謝!
04:11
(Applause掌聲)
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(掌聲)
Translated by Yun An Chen
Reviewed by Helen Lin

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sanford Biggers - Conceptual artist
Sanford Biggers creates art that upends traditional narratives about topics ranging from hip hop to Buddhism to American history.

Why you should listen

An LA native working in NYC, Sanford Biggers creates artworks that integrate film, video, installation, sculpture, drawing, original music and performance. He intentionally complicates issues such as hip hop, Buddhism, politics, identity and art history in order to offer new perspectives and associations for established symbols. Through a multi-disciplinary formal process and a syncretic creative approach, he makes works that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are conceptual.

The significance of Biggers' work within contemporary society has been celebrated through solo exhibitions both nationally and internationally, most recently at the Brooklyn Museum, Sculpture Center and Mass MoCA. He has participated in prestigious residencies and fellowships including: Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany; Ujazdowski Castle, Warsaw, Poland; Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, California; ARCUS Project Foundation, Ibaraki, Japan; and the Art in General/ Trafo Gallery Eastern European Exchange in Budapest, Hungary. He has been a fellow of the Creative Time Global Residency, the Socrates Sculpture Park Residency, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council World Views AIR Program, the Eyebeam Atelier Teaching Residency, the Studio Museum AIR Program, the P.S. 1 International Studio Program and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture residency.

Biggers' installations, videos and performances have appeared in venues worldwide including Tate Britain and Tate Modern in London, the Whitney Museum and Studio Museum in Harlem, New York and the Yerba Bue a Center for the Arts in San Francisco, as well as institutions in China, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Poland and Russia. The artist's works have been included in notable exhibitions such as: Prospect 1 New Orleans Biennial, Illuminations at the Tate Modern, Performa 07 in NY, the Whitney Biennial and Freestyle at the Studio Museum in Harlem. His works are included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Walker Art Center, Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum and Bronx Museum.

Biggers has won awards including: the American Academy in Berlin Prize, Greenfield Prize, New York City Art Teachers Association Artist-of-the-Year, Creative Time Travel Grant, Creative Capital Project Grant, New York Percent for the Arts Commission, Art Matters Grant, New York Foundation for the Arts Award, the Lambent Fellowship in the Arts, the Pennies From Heaven/ New York Community Trust Award, Tanne Foundation Award and Rema Hort Mann Foundation Award Grant.

Biggers is Assistant Professor at Columbia University's Visual Arts program and a board member of Sculpture Center, Soho House and the CUE Foundation. He has also taught at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Sculpture and Expanded Media program and was a visiting scholar at Harvard University's VES Department in 2009.

More profile about the speaker
Sanford Biggers | Speaker | TED.com

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