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序PREFACE
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Rodin was born in 1840. Along with Impressionist painters, Cézanne, Monet and Renoir, these artists were born to an era of which Paris was developing into a modern and industrial business metropolitan. Railway was built to link Paris and the regional areas. Cities drastically expanded. Rural population shifted towards cities. Industrialization brought a much convenient life and promoted commercial activities. A bight and open urban landscape was created in the city of Paris. Shops stood along the wide Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Cafes, bars, dancing ballrooms and theaters became the latest venues for leisure and entertainment of which a new class of citizens enjoyed. This new formed urban landscape became the subject of which many poets and painters depicted in their works. The bustling and busy city had so much to be taken in. Monet painted in vibrant colors to capture the city landscape under the bright sunlight. Renoir carefully recorded the elegant lifestyle of this new citizen class. Watching opera in a theater; a young girl learning to play piano in a well-decorated room, and a beautifully dressed lady reading literature are all subjects in Renoir’s paintings. Parisian Paintings from the second half of the 19th century reflect the aesthetics of this new urban lifestyle. Rodin was born to a not so well-off family. His father was an office clerk for the police. With the low wages, Rodin’s father was not going to support his choice to be an artist. But Rodin enjoyed drawing from a very young age. Illustrations and prints from books and magazines used in packing fruits all became Rodin’s sketching subjects. Encouraged by his sister, Maria, Rodin followed his passion for art and entered a school in the Latin Quarter in Paris to study drawing at fourteen. During that time, He practiced through copying many works by 18th century French Classical artists. Three unsuccessful attempts to enter Écoles des Beaux-arts at seventeen brought Rodin doubts over formal art education in conservative institutions. Thus, he became an advocate for innovations in art and art education. From age 18 to 22, Rodin witnessed the beginning of change for Paris. Aiming to transform Paris to become the political, economic and cultural center of Europe, Napoleon III appointed an architect, Haussmann to be the governor for Seine department and to rebuild the architecture and urban space of Paris. Today, when we visit Paris and walk along the grand Avenue des Champs-Élysées, we see Arc de Triomphe stands tall in the west; the ancient Egyptian obelisk and Place de la Concorde in the east. Further to the east, it lays the Tuileries Gardens and the Louvre. Paris was praised to be a glorified example of human urbanization and the world capital of art and culture. The city landscape of Paris we see today was constructed between 1850 and 1870. Haussmann was the chief planner. And the young Rodin was one of the many talented workers in Haussmann’s team. Many consider Rodin as a sculptor, but in fact Rodin had started off working in the areas of urban landscape and public architecture. His duty included the construction of brickwork and the overall planning of architectural space. As a result, we see Rodin’s work wherever we walk on the streets of Paris. Rodin was not a self-indulge artist. Most of his works are public art commissioned by governments or civilian groups. For example, 《The Burghers of Calais》is a piece of public art commissioned by the town of Calais in memory of those who sacrificed themselves for the city. During the process, Rodin had to win the trust from the commissioned body in granting funding and worked on innovative ideas for the subject matter. However, Rodin’s execution might not be acceptable by certain conservative groups. Conflicts and further communications were often required. It was also possible that a commissioned project might be rejected and withdrawn. La Société des Gens de Lettres commissioned Rodin to create a sculpture for the great French writer, Honoré de Balzac. Immersing in the writings of Balzac, Rodin pondered over how he may create an appropriate representation for Balzac. He created all sorts of sketches for the project. The final realized sculpture is a semi-abstract work. The work displays Balzac’s strong body cloaked in a robe. It is as if he is standing against cold winter blizzard in expressing human integrity. 《Monument to Balzac》is a very important piece of Rodin’s work. It represents the depth of Rodin’s attitude and view toward humanity. Rodin was 58 and a renowned artist. But his 《Monument to Balzac》was rejected by La Société des Gens de Lettres. Some critics maliciously attacked Rodin and described the work as Balzac fondling with his genitals. Against the conservative and narrow-minded values in the society of his time, Rodin’s works spoke for themselves. At the end, his works are placed in public squares, parks and entrance or courtyard of government agencies. Rodin had shaped the urban landscape and changed people’s aesthetics. Rodin became the thinker and quietly pondered over the humanity value for the people in is time. 《The Burghers of Calais》is a part of the history buried in the memory of Calais. In Rodin’s portrait of the story the six citizens stand in circle. Facing execution, they lingered on life. The fear of death is shown on their face, as well as concerns for those left behind. Rodin turned away from the traditional portrait and stereotypical image of heroes. With《The Burghers of Calais》, Rodin rose questions, such as “why does human wage war against and attack each other?” This sculpture and the memory of a small town raise a commonly asked question. In 1915, Rodin was 75. It was during the First World War. A copy of《The Burghers of Calais》was placed as a memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens in front of the House of Parliament in London. Through Rodin’s hands, this piece of sculpture about a story on the conflicts between the English and French became the strength in supporting the human race in the midst of war. Rodin never abandoned his approach in re-evaluating human value through the expression of art. His most important works,《The Gates of Hell》was commissioned in 1880. A gate does not offer any function in practical terms. Often built as memorial architecture, a gate is similar to the Chinese archway. Rodin read the great Western classic work, the Devine Comedy by Dante. This is a story about Dante’s journey through hell. Each level portrays a different sin. Rodin transformed this classic literature into a concrete “gate”. A gate cannot be opened. Entangled bodies sculpted on the gates show those who fell for their desire, those who hug and depend on each other. It reminds us the never-ending cycle of good and evil; love and hatred; happiness and sadness. This “Gate” is a door to re-examine the value of humanity. Therefore, Rodin placed《The Thinker》on the top center of the gate. 《The Thinker》looks down to watch the life of people. He bows and pondered over the life of human. 《The Thinker》is Dante, Rodin and every single audience. 《The Gates of Hell》was never completed. It became Rodin’s continuous questions on the matter of humanity. Every part of 《The Gates of Hell》stands alone to be a unique piece. 《The Kiss》on the bottom left is shows a couple kissing in each other’s arms. It depicts the moving romance of how much the couple is involved and in love. But, under the gaze of《The Thinker》, love is actually a form of pain and suffering. Aren’t we all suffering from loving someone? Do we not worry or concern because of loving someone else? A unfinished “gates” became the symbol of a shared ideas in the 20th century. Around the world, you can see《The Thinker》in Europe, Japan and the U.S. 《The Thinker》is visible in numerous libraries’ entrance, parks, public squares and university campuses. 《The Thinker》has become a symbol. A symbol signifies how an institution, a city, a race or society value humanity. Rodin’s work is coming to Taichung. They include《The Burghers of Calais》,《Monument to Balzac》and important pieces off from《The Gates of Hell》, including《The Thinker》. How will the audiences of Taichung respond upon seeing《The Thinker》? What will the audiences of Taiwan gain from this experience? They are perhaps understanding a history on the transformation of 19th century European cities; seeing how values were re-examined in the shift from material to spiritual life, and witnessing how aesthetics and art have taken the human race in opening up new possibilities. I feel《The Thinker》and this exhibit will inspire the citizen of Taichung as well as people of Taiwan to open up our mind and re-evaluate our lives.
Chiang, Hsun in Bali, Taiwan 23/08/2007 RODIN IN TAICHUNG 2007.9.22-12.22
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Rodin
- Thinker for the Value of Humanity 