周琰：刘任均的信
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在前一段时间，大多数人的快节奏生活被突如其来的新冠疫情打断，人与人之间的日常交流也变得稀疏缓慢。应‘招隱’的稿约，周琰开始与一些友人通信，并给这些书信起了一个名字：“空华鸿音”（Letters That Flutter in the Śūnyatā Illusions）。接下来，我们会陆续刊发这些平静优美的信件。
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这一封信，将是“空华鸿音”系列中最短的一封信。在我邀请刘任钧的时候，我和他说，我可能不想像对别人一样，对他做详细的介绍。我可能只想引用他说的几句话。在我和刘任钧相识的十年间，他说过的许多话，让人如闻韶音。有些我忘了，有些一时躲了起来。我一直记得的，有这么几则：
这四句话，前三句话好懂，难做，是艺术也是生命的方式。第四句话，容易引起误解。或许，在加拿大艺术圈他是好朋友最多的一个人。也许他所说的 “没有什么朋友” ，不过是不粘、不系、赤诚潇洒相待而已。更有可能，他喜欢与孤独相伴而乐的人。
有一段时间，我很久没有刘任钧的音信。安迪和我见面说起来，说他在为学生焦虑。他因为学生不把艺术真正当回事而生气。我想，对刘任钧来说，审美伦理（aesthetic ethics）或者伦理审美（ethical aesthetics）是最重要的价值。对一个需要彬彬有礼，审时度世的社会来说，他会显得太直。他是我知道最把学生和年轻艺术家当回事的人，但他有要求：才华和艺术在情感和心灵中体现，反之亦然，缺一不可。
他15岁以前在香港度过童年和少年，之后在加拿大生活。是少有的真正同时有东方和西方直感的人，并且在两者之间游弋、超越两者。
“至高事物” 蕴含的诸般亲密
刘任钧
Doll, Mary D, Felt Knit, 2020
当科学、艺术、文学和哲学只是个性的表达，它们可达到光鲜炫目的成就，这可以让一个人名传千年。但是在高于这个层次，远高于此，相隔渊薮，是至高事物可抵达的层次。这些事物本质上是无名的。
——薇伊
我想像薇伊的“至高事物”可能存留在人类灵魂内在的领域。不可见，从外部难以辨认，这些“至高事物”：正如薇伊所说，“本质上是无名的”，应当彻底消除任何世俗荣耀的迹象。
如果是这样，你能见其性为一种“不断消隐的光”吗……一种内在的光晕，不断在隐匿并承受？也许是一种退隐的光，因而永远在认识、可见甚至卓绝的边界犹疑？
然而，这样的承受、退隐的光存在著。我“看到了”它。在某些当代艺术作品中，河源温（On Kawara）、莱因哈特（Ad Reinhardt），等等，是生命致力于虔诚的无名中的努力，向往“仪式”的存留，体现了安静顺遂的力量。在景象和宣示的虚构之上，也许，这些作品以它们毫不妥协的显在，传达了一种对世界温柔的责备。艺术之外，我也在一些人身上亲近“至高事物”。我亲爱的朋友和导师，安迪∙帕顿（Andy Patton）和已逝的戈尔德∙勒布雷特（Gord Lebredt），亲密，永远引导我，不管是做事还是创作。他们的生命如艺术，配得上这种卓越。
最近几个月，在新冠病毒疫情和隔离期间，我感到对孤独和退隐有了全新的觉识。似乎你不再需要去寻找它们，它们已经成为你所呼吸的“空气”。巧合的是，我也感受到“至高的事物”，它通常隔着渊薮与世界相距，如今却变得可感触。通常遥远的，现在获得了感性和现实。
在这段孤独和退隐的时间里，有一个人和我变得很亲近。我会说她的性格是同步中的，与这个时代的精神相应。她内在的寂静、谦逊和内向，所有这些品质，把她和世俗追求区别开来。她杳然的存在，静悄悄地让我的生命富有生气。我欣赏她温柔的力量和深刻的痛楚，以及她在未来某一刻投入修道生活的决心。我看到这种信念的力量。
在困难的时刻，玛丽D把手放在我的额头。我感到一种触摸，那么无名而纯洁，没有任何动机的痕迹，除了非此尘世的温柔的善意。
Intimations of the “highest things”
When science, art, literature, and philosophy are simply the manifestation of personality they are on a level where glorious and dazzling achievements are possible, which can make a man's name live for thousands of years. But above this level, far above, separated by an abyss, is the level where the highest things are achieved. These things are essentially anonymous.
— Weil
I imagine Weil's "highest things" are probably reserved in the inner most region of the human soul. Unseen, indiscernible from the outside, these "highest things": "essentially anonymous" as Weil stated, ought to be entirely voided of any signs of worldly glory.
If so, can one characterize them as a sort of "ever dimming light" ... an inner halo that is ever concealing and enduring? A light in retreat, perhaps, and thus forever hesitating at the threshold of recognition, visibility and even phenomenality?
And yet, such an enduring, retreating light exists. I have "seen" it. In certain works of contemporary art, On Kawara, Ad Reinhardt, etc., are efforts to commit a life in pious anonymity, directed towards a maintenance of "the ritual". Demonstrating the strength of quiet submission, over the fabrication of claims and spectacularity, these works, in their uncompromised presence deliver a gentle reproach of the world, perhaps. Aside from art, I have also intimated "the highest things" in certain individuals. Up close and forever guiding me, in both deeds and works, are my dear friends and mentors Andy Patton and the late Gordon Lebredt. Their life-as-a work would merit this distinction.
In recent months, during the time of Covid and isolation, I felt a renewed awareness of the meaning of solitude and retreat. It seems one no longer need to seek for them as they become the "air" that one breathes. Coincidentally, I also feel "the highest things", normally separated from the world by "an abyss", have also become more palpable. What is usually distant, is now granted sense and reality.
There is a person who has become dear to me during this time of solitude and retreat. I would say her character is in-sync, calibrated with the ethos of this time. Her innate silence, modesty and interiority, all the qualities that set her apart from worldly pursuits, and her very remote sense of presence, have quietly animated my life. I appreciate her tender strength and deep suffering, and her determination to embrace a monastic life at some future point. I see the force of this conviction.
During a difficult moment, Mary D placed her hand on my forehead. I felt a touch, so anonymous and pure, with absolutely no trace of motives, save a gentle kindness that is not of this world.
Yam Lau
编辑 / 朱荧荧，编审 / 戴卓群
作者简介：
周琰，多伦多大学当代艺术与信息学博士候选人，策展人与译者。
往期回顾：
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