Zachary Widgren 1988-04-18, 美國 現代藝術畫家
interview with
Zachary Widgren
來自美國田納西州的Zachary，作品主要以現代藝術為主軸並加入環境保育的題材，用他一貫的 街頭風格融合另類素描創作及塗鴉藝術，使用柔和的高彩度顏料，將那特殊而別緻的創作思想漫佈於 時而寫實時而抽象的設計上。瘋狂隨性的他也熱愛滑板，接觸大量的街頭文化。從他的作品不難看出 他對台灣生活的熱情以及源源不絕的創作靈感，他那天馬行空的幽默感，闡闡而流在畫作裡自然地呈 現出來。接下來讓我們一起來聽聽Zach的創作歷程。
1. Why makes you wanna paint?
1. 什麼原因讓你想要畫畫？
I wanna see what’s in my head. analyze reality. Cuz I think a lot and my mind moves fast, when i paint it slows down me, like in a peaceful way; like I’m in my home, in my own place.
我想要知道我到底在想什麼並且分析現實狀況。 因為我是個想很多的人，而且我的想法瞬息萬變 ，然而當我在畫畫時，這能讓我的步調慢下來， 用一種平靜而沈澱的方式。這就像是我自己在家 ，在我自己的世界，那樣的放鬆。
2. Is there any meaning behind your art or do you just paint and not think too much? A lots of my art is a comment on perception and reality. Capturing little details with a light hearted approach. I like to document things I experience it is like having a conversation with the part of myself. Commenting on cultures and what I see. I don't want to make art that tells people what they should feel. It doesn’t have to be really direct or sad, I rather it be hairy and weird. Making art like this opens up more conversation for people to put their comments in. For me the world is complicated and I like making art that could offer that conversation. Weird and confusing usually opens strange doors with conversations with people. It fun to hear what they think they see from the art. Like in a way it opens up a hidden window. I guess this is the meaning in a way. Make my art work illustrate and paint peacefully while letting all the weird conversations out. I like making fun of humans, people are so sure of so many things, but we really don't know anything. Why give a fuck trying to know everything. Everything exist in the word “is.” No one has life figured out, just finding peace in all of it what we can do. I just like putting my life into arts. Making arts keeps me in “now,” like what I’m doing today.
2. 你的作品裡有特別代表什麼意思嗎？還是你只 是靠直覺創作？ 我的作品裡放入了很多我認知中的感官和現實， 去截取獲得一些靠近心理層面的細節。我喜歡記 錄，這讓我覺得像是在與某一部分的自我對話、 與我所看到的文化對話。我不喜歡藝術作品很強 烈的去告訴人們該怎麼感受它，作品不需要很直 接傳達什麼或甚至帶來悲傷的情緒，我反而喜歡 它們看起來有那麼一點的奇怪。
創作就像是開啟
一段對話，人們可以對作品放入自己的想法與評 論，對我來說這世界是複雜的，我希望藝術能夠 提供給人們一個自由發想的對話時間。 怪異和混亂總是可以替人們開啟一個奇怪的對話 框，而從對話裡去聽到人們對藝術的想法對我來 說是很有趣的，就好像看見他們心中那隱藏已久 的小窗戶突然被打開來。從某種角度來看，我想 要我的作品能夠激發人們把所有機靈古怪的想法 都說出來。 我喜歡開人類的玩笑，人們總是那麼確定一些事 ，但其實我們根本什麼都不懂。每件事的存在都 是從“is“出發，卻沒有人可以真正地去思考生命 的意義，思考我們該怎麼做可以讓生命更自然祥 和。我把我的生活貢獻于藝術，因為創作讓我感 覺活在當下，就像今日的我依然會繼續做下去。
3. Do your paintings feel different with the ones which you made in the state? Materials are different for sure. Being here forces me think differently. Like not knowing language really that well. It kinda feels like being a kid again, just figuring it out through an adults eyes. It pushes me to be resourceful. I skate, ride my bike or take public transportation, instead of having to drive all the time.
3. 你在台灣的作品跟在美國時有不一樣嗎？ 當然使用的材料是不一樣的。因為語言的關係， 在這裡（台灣）我不得不換個方式去思考，有點 像是變回小孩，但是用成人的眼睛去看這個世界 。我不再像在國外時一直一直開車；溜溜滑板， 騎騎腳踏車、搭乘大眾交通工具，這些都讓我變 得更有靈感也更機靈。 我覺得我變成了一個更好的傾聽者、觀察者，而
I feel I have become a better listener and observer, and i like being that. it makes me more sensitive of the way people are, through mannerisms. I just think taiwan is a enjoyable and interesting place to live right now. I can disappear and appear whenever I need too. It’s an awesome place for skating. there’s so many abandoned places to explore and paint. It’s such a small island. Time seems to go so fast here because I always have things to do. Beaches, skate spots, abandoned factories, also the weird festivals are cool.
我也享受於這樣的改變，現在我對每個不同個性
4. Do you have any life plans or targets after?
我只想一直創作下去，翻開地圖看見新的地方，
的人與不同的舉止有更加敏銳的感受。
台灣對我
來說是個愉快有趣的國家，我可以隨著我的意願 所至，任意的消失或出現（對滑板來說這裡也超 棒），這裡有很多廢棄建築可以去探索、畫畫； 雖然台灣是一個小小的島嶼，但在這裡生活時間 過得很快，因為我無時無刻都有很多事可以做： 去海邊、找到地方玩滑板、探索廢棄工廠，另外 ，台灣一些特別的節慶也很酷！ 4. 接下來有什麼生活計劃或是目標呢？
我就出發。我想要在每個地方、不論任何地方， 展露藝術的本質與持續的創作。我想要看看會發
I just really wanna make arts. When the map opens up a new place out I go. i wanna show art everywhere and anywhere. Do arts anywhere and go anywhere. I wanna see what happening actually. Take the time to see what a place can be really about. I don’t really want to think too much, i wanna skate, make arts. That’s all ok for me. I’m just making art. Now I just want to live the simple way. Don’t own a lot and slowly make my way everywhere.
生些什麼事，不用想太多，慢慢地去感受每塊土 地。只要有滑板、創作、簡單的生活，對我來說 就很夠，不需要擁有很多，以自己的方式慢活於 每個角落。