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艺术家将在开幕期间进行现场导览
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杨中天的两个妹妹，初见照片，有着美国摄影艺术家戴安·阿勃丝（DianeArbus）拍摄双胞胎女孩的模样：一个微笑中显露着兴奋，另一个神情充满疑惑。作品不仅是兄妹之间的温情，从中也可以看到生活的刺痛。母爱的缺失，父亲为此栽下的树，让两位女孩成长。作为兄长，杨中天记录了时间流逝，女孩的青春期即将来临，从女孩蜕变为少女。两个妹妹的照片流淌着孩子们真实的情绪。多数的家庭相册仅会收录那些充满阳光、愉快的生活照，而将占有着更大生活比例的那些阴暗时刻排除在外。但是，杨中天选择将妹妹更多的真实记录下来，这些记录多数源于直接的拍摄经验。照片保存着记忆，但在这里照片不是单一的家庭纪念物，两位妹妹的照片构成了私人的共同记忆，在此次展览随时间展开。妹妹拿着哥哥的相机，开始拍摄哥哥，也开始对世界的观看，相机还记录了女孩们充满童趣的自拍。如果说持有相机对于摄影师而言，是权力的象征，那么当相机让位于被摄对象，则让摄影有了更为广阔的可能性。对于这对兄妹而言，这或许是再自然不过的行为。从拍摄者反转为被摄对象，哥哥同时在透过妹妹的影像进行自我观看。正因如此，杨中天与妹妹拍摄的影像，不单单是家庭影像记录，而且构成了一组有着动人生命经验的作品，也构成此次“两个妹妹”的展览。
本意只是想把妹妹的生活以哥哥的角度通过摄影的方式记录下来，自然缘于对两个妹妹纯粹的感情。更多的期待则来自于多年以后两个妹妹观看照片的时候，从中能够抓到一些无以言表的思绪以及平淡的过往中的不平凡。小时候，大人会把我的画作保存起来，指望着我长大的时候能够回忆起小时候的过往，记起那个时候的赤子之心。现在的我，做着和当年爸妈同样的事情，却又不满足于仅仅保存妹妹们的创作，企图加入更多对妹妹的感情甚至想要有自己的创作，以此来获得更多对于生命的理解的吧，毕竟她们的成长有我的照顾。十四年前，大妹妹闯入我的生活，我太惊喜以至于害羞；十二年前，小妹妹降临我的生活，我依旧会因此而激动地睡不着。但直到六年前的时候，我才学会去承担作为哥哥的责任，那个时候，我刚好步入大学。在那之前，更多的是尽到到当哥哥的义务吧。六年前的时候，我还在上中学，不像现在，没有任何拍照的便利，又囿于学习上的负担，并没有将更多的关注放在妹妹们身上，只是在周末与假期的时候会和她们一起玩，仅此而已。
三年前，我才有了第一台相机，至此，彻底激发了我拍照的欲望，开始系统地给妹妹拍照。
在拍照中，她们成长地越来越快，而我则逐渐承担起作为哥哥的责任，同时也理解更多。时至今日，我们兄妹三人每年都会数次去往老家不远处的田野，这是我们共有的回忆与约定。
田野里矗立着一片杨树，是六年前父亲在母亲意外故去后在坟地旁亲手种下的，现在都已经很高了。
新年里的第一场雪，2017年1月。尺寸可变 © 杨中天
新年里的第一场雪，2017年1月。尺寸可变 © 杨中天
暑假带妹妹们出去玩 麦当劳第二杯半价很划算，2016年8月。尺寸可变 © 杨中天
1994年生，河南南阳卧龙岗人。2017年毕业于河南大学地理专业，获学士学位。从事摄影4年，现居于开封大相国寺。2017、2018年作为策展人助理参与平遥影展青年策展人计划。作品曾在2018年入选平遥影展。
Exhibition：Yang Zhongtian Solo Exhibition —— The two sisters
Opening Time：28 Dec 2019 15:00Duration: 21 Dec 2019 – 9 Feb 2020 9:30-17:30 Close on Mondays Organiser: Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art CentreVenue: Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art Centre (No. 301, Building 2, Xinglinwan Business Center, Jimei District, Xiamen)
When I first saw the pictures of Yang Zhongtian’s two younger sisters, they remind me of the twins under the lens of Diane Arbus, an American photographer. One of the twins displayed excitement in her smile while the other looked full of doubt.This work is not just about the tenderness among siblings, but also contains the stabbing pain of life. The absence of motherhood and the trees planted by their father tangle with the growth of them. As the elder brother, Yang documents the passing of time. The adolescence of two sisters is approaching, and they are becoming young ladies.Children’s sincere emotions naturally flow from Yang’s works of his sisters. Most family albums highlight those joyful moments but exclude those dark times of life. Yang, however, decided to record the life of his sisters in an honest way. Photographs hold memories but Yang’s photographs has accomplished more than that. His candid documenting transcends those photographs considered as family memorials by constituting a private memory shared by the girls, which unfolds in time in this exhibition.The sisters now start to photograph their brother and start to see their brother and the world through the lens. Meanwhile, their childish selfies are also recorded by the camera. For photographers, holding the camera can symbolize a power of seeing. Yet, when the subject holding the camera, subverting this relationship of seeing and being seen, the art of photography is now open to more possibilities. For Yang and his sisters, this is the most natural action. From the photographer to the subject, Yang observes himself through those images taken by his sisters.Therefore, Yang’s photographs of his sisters go beyond the family memorial and compose a series full of life experience and this exhibition—Two Sisters.
My original intention of this project was to record the life of my sisters from my perspective as their brother, which naturally due to my pure affections for my two younger sisters.However, I also have more expectation that I may capture some feelings beyond words and some wonderful moments in the dull past when my two sisters look back at those photos in the future.When I was a kid, the adults would keep my paintings, so that I can remember my childhood life when I grew up to see these works.Now I am doing the same thing as my parents did in those days, but I am not satisfied with just keeping my sisters' works. I try to add more of their feelings into those works and make them into my own creations, so as to gain more of my understanding of life. After all, I also participate in their growth.Fourteen years ago, my elder sister came into my life，I was both thrilled and shy to have her. Then, twelve years ago, when my little sister came into my life, I was still so charmed that couldn't sleep for nights. But it wasn't until six years ago when I just entered the university, I started to learn to take on the responsibilities as a brother. When I was in middle school, there was no quick way to take photos, and I had the burden of studying as well. So, I didn't pay much attention to my younger sisters. What I did back then was just playing with them on weekends and holidays and that’s it.I had my first camera three years ago, and I was thoroughly stimulated by my desire to take photos. Therefore, I began to take photos of my sisters systematically. In the process of taking photos of them, they grew faster and faster. I gradually undertake the obligations of being a brother, and gain more insights of life and family.To this day, several times a year, my sisters and I would go to a field not far from our home. This is our special appointment and part of our common memory. There is a grove of poplar trees planted by my father six years ago, after my mother's unexpected death. Now, all the trees have been full-grown.
Brought his younger sister out to play during the Ching Ming Festival, his first shooting with film, April 2017. Variable size.© Yang Zhongtian
Brought his younger sister out to have dinner for the New Year's Day coming, December 2017. Variable size.© Yang Zhongtian
Born in 1994 in Wolonggang, Nanyang City, Henan Province. Graduated from Henan University, majored in geography, and obtained a bachelor’s degree.
Engaging in photography for four years, now living in Daxiangguo Temple.
Participated in the Pingyao Photography Festival Youth Curator Program in 2017 and 2018Works were selected for the Pingyao Photography Festival in 2018.