Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts

8.4.07

庫內利斯在米蘭

2006年九月,正式遷至現址並成立甫滿週年的波莫多羅基金會(Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro),推出了庫內利斯特展(Jannis Kounellis),在這位當代藝術巨擘藝術生涯即將步入第五十個年頭的當下,藉著回顧展以聊表敬畏之意,肯定了庫內利斯自60年代起對當代藝術界的貢獻。這個為期將近五個月的特展,不論對基金會、米蘭市、甚至義大利當代藝術界都是一等一的大事。

庫內利斯於1936年在希臘雅典附近的海港城市比雷埃夫斯出生,二十歲移居羅馬,進入羅馬藝術學院,1960年尚在藝術學院就讀之際,便以青年藝術家之姿,開了生平第一次個展。庫內利斯擅於應用多種媒材來創作,除了就地取材之外,自1960年代晚期逐漸融入火、土壤、碳、麻布袋、動物(他曾在1960年代晚期將十一匹馬化為裝置藝術的一部分)等,並從此一時期開始,逐漸成為義大利貧窮藝術(Arte Povera)的代表人物之一。

主辦此次回顧展的波莫多羅基金會創設於1995年,是義大利當代知名雕塑家波莫多羅為推廣並保存當代雕塑而成立的機構。基金會在1999年至2004年間,於米蘭近郊的羅札諾開始了展示活動,並於2005年9月搬遷至現址,持續著它對當代藝術的推廣活動。基金會目前所使用的空間建造於1926年,位於米蘭市內一個藝術活動極為頻繁的地區,原為渦輪工廠。在皮耶路易吉˙切里(Pierluigi Cerri)和亞歷山卓˙可倫波(Alessandro Colombo)的規劃下,這個約莫三千平方公尺的空間,在保留原建築物特色的前提下,成了展示空間兼藝術工作室。建築師在高達十五公尺的廠房中,用鋼筋在中間構造出三層樓面,賦予了它展出各種尺寸藝術作品的可能性,而這樣的優點,在庫內利斯回顧展中一覽無疑。

此番展出的作品,可說是庫內利斯創作的精華,涵括了藝術家將近五十年創作生涯的重要作品,在展場寬廣的空間內創造出一齣予人巨大衝擊的戲劇。佇立在展場中的幾支巨大螺旋鐵柱、好似鑲嵌於牆面的幾幅巨型畫作、三層樓高的彩色帆布裝置、展場中央圍繞成圈的十二把椅子和潑灑在地面上的黑色顏料、以及由煤炭和鐵牆裝設而成的迷宮等超過二十件庫內利斯不同時期的創作,當它們全部都聚集到同一個空間之中,彼此之間產生了對話,替觀者帶來的震撼不可謂不大。

策展人柯拉(Bruno Corà)表示,此次庫內利斯花了一個多月的時間佈展,有著老調新唱的意味,用從前的創作元素來重新組合,奏出一篇新的樂章,這可以說是藝術家對於文化與文明歷史的轉化,而在米蘭這個經濟、文化與政治重鎮發生,可說是再適當也不過。柯拉在此用「火車」來比喻歷史,事實上,親自在展場走了一遭,似乎很難不去想到煤礦、火車、以及它們所衍生出在經濟發展上的意涵以及對社會所帶來的衝擊。

在參觀以後仔細玩味,竟也留下一些讓人回味無窮的蛛絲馬跡,藝術家重複地使用如鐵軌枕木、木炭、帆布袋、瀝青等媒材,藉此刻劃出文化與歷史的演進,除了視覺上的刺激以外,更融入了嗅覺、聽覺的元素,讓參觀者搖身一變,成為作品的一部分。展出的每一件作品皆「無題」(Senza titolo),單以創作時間與媒材來加以區分,似乎隱約感受到藝術家替觀者預留的空間,任憑觀者自我感受、詮釋,儘管部分作品來自60年代經濟不景氣的大環境,放到當下來看,儘管時間空間都改變了,卻因為當前義國境內經濟萎靡政治紛擾,竟也讓人產生相當的共鳴,諷喻之情不溢於表。

庫內利斯回顧展

展地◎米蘭市波莫多羅基金會

展期◎24.09.06-11.02.07

2.11.06

維洛納現代暨當代藝術博覽會觀察報

秋高氣爽的十月下旬,羅密歐與茱麗葉的故鄉維洛納,打開了義大利當代藝術的秋季市場。這個在今年邁入第二個年頭的現代暨當代藝術博覽會,在去年以一百四十間參展藝廊、一萬八千參觀人次打響第一砲以後,今年參展單位更上看兩百,在規模上直追米蘭、杜林與波隆納等義大利境內三大藝術博覽會。

對一個不習慣參加博覽會性質活動的人來說,花上一整天泡在會場接受當代藝術的洗禮,儘管再怎麼精采奇異的作品,到頭來還是成了一種疲勞轟炸。然而在沉澱、消化了幾天以後,卻慢慢有了一種細品後滋味無窮的樂趣,對於此番藝術博覽會作為標竿的ICONA2006、域外藝術(Outsider Art)專區、以及受幾位新進藝術家的作品留下了極為深刻的印象。

ICONA2006
ICONA2006為大會和維洛納當代藝術館共同舉辦,邀集參展藝廊在廣義詮釋與自由心證的前提下,推薦能夠代表維洛納博覽會角色與意義的作品,並由維洛納當代藝術館館長考特諾瓦(Giorgio Cortenova)所組成的委員會選出十件最能具藝術價質與象徵性表述的佳作,再由其中選出一件作為博覽會結束後由大會收購的年度代表收藏,同時也納入維洛納當代藝術館的永久收藏。

在各家藝廊推薦的七十多件作品中,最後由波札諾Les Chances de l’Art推薦的「跳躍旋轉木馬(Jumping-Carousel)」雀屏中選。這件德國藝術家茱莉亞˙波奈菲(Julia Bornefeld)的裝置藝術創作,大剌剌地被訪在展區入口。綁在鐵鍊下不停旋轉的白色襪子,營造出的空間感、時間感與動態,吸引我駐足許久。旋轉本身的節奏感似乎有種催眠的作用,我沒多久就進入了一種抽離的狀態,周圍的人聲鼎沸似乎離我好遠好遠,引領我的思緒進入了一種莫名的空間。這件作品能引動觀察者的想像,探索想像空間並引人思考內在隱喻,旋轉木馬的動和背景照片的靜形成了鮮明的對比,前者是正在發生的現象,是一種「存在」的形式,比喻著生命不斷推進向前的特性,後者是已經發生的事件,呈現出過往種種歷歷在目,兩者交織重奏形成了一種極為有趣且令人著迷的組合。

域外藝術
域外藝術(Outsider Art)是步入展場後迎面而來的第一個部分。域外藝術其實就是40年代杜布菲(Jean Dubuffet)提出的原生藝術(Art Brut,或稱澀藝術)。因此,在這個部分看到的,不外乎是非典型藝術創作如民間自學者、精神病患等之作品。事實上,藝廊主人和收藏家到精神病院或民間鄉里挖掘藝術寶藏,早已行之有年,然而義國境內卻鮮少正眼對待此類藝術的發展。新加入市場的維洛納藝術博覽會正式將此部分列為主題之一,一方面是體認到正式認定此類藝術發展的時機已經成熟,另一方面則頗有藉此尋找利基,替大會找到一個穩定立足點的意味。

從原生藝術發展史的角度來看,維洛納藝術博覽會以這樣的方式正式確立原生藝術在當代藝術史上的重要性,也有其意義所在。事實上,自50年代世人開始注意到原生藝術以來,維洛納在此方面的研究就一直扮演著引領群雄的角色。精神病醫師馬里尼(Mario Marini)早在50年代就開始在維洛納地區的精神病院裡推行藝術活動,並於1952年展出成果。1957年,更在地區內的聖賈科莫(San Giacomo)精神療養院設立了義大利境內第一間讓精神病患以藝術創作方式自由表達的藝術工坊(此類機構在當時的歐洲也極為罕見)。

這樣的歷史背景,造就了季內里(Carlo Zinelli)這位知名的域外藝術家。季內里出生於一個貧窮的家庭,兩歲喪母後沒多久,就被送到離家遙遠的農場去做童工,十八歲時成了屠夫學徒,也開始培養他對音樂與藝術的興趣。大戰期間數次精神受創,在季內里心裡成了揮之不去的陰影,終於在1947年進入聖賈科莫精神病院。自1957年起藝術工坊運作的十四年間,季內里創作出三千多張不透明水彩(gouache)作品。

此次維洛納藝術博覽會,特別在域外藝術的部分,專區展出季內里的作品。從這數十件私人收藏中,觀者可以很直接地感受到,季內里的藝術來自於一種透過繪畫表達自我的需要,作品呈現出一種連續性的訴說,同時具有繪畫、語言、詩意與音樂的特質。色彩與型態鮮明的圖像,是具有音樂性與故事性的狂想曲,從書寫與繪畫的形式,引導著觀者重新發現藝術與文明的表述。

新人新作
當代藝術的領域之大,無其不有,因此筆者參觀藝術博覽會時偶有瀏姥姥進大觀園之感,每每總能發現到一些以前從未注意到的新面孔。此次引起筆者注意的,除了上面提到獲得ICONA2006青睞的波奈菲、域外藝術的季內里、知名藝術家如比亞希(Alberto Biasi)和雕塑家波莫多羅(Arnaldo Pomodoro)等人的作品以外,還有一些義大利新銳藝術家如伊凡傑利斯提(Nicola Evangelisti)、以及瓦尼(Sergio Vanni)等。

整個會場內最讓筆者倍感驚艷者,大概是伊凡傑利斯提的作品。這位於1972年出生於波隆納的多媒體藝術家,今年除了受邀參加義國境內歷史悠久的華斯托當代藝術當代藝術聯展(Premio Vasto d’Arte Contemporanea)以外,早在2002年,就已經受到義大利知名燈具公司塔爾蓋提(Targetti)的青睞,作品被收入「塔爾蓋提光藝術收藏」(Targetti Light Art Collection)之列,至歐美各知名當代藝術館展出。伊凡傑利斯提的作品極具實驗性,尤其專注在光線與材質、當代科技之間的交互作用,常以塑膠玻璃、鋁、光纖等為創作材料。透過光線與創作媒材之間的反應,伊凡傑利斯提創造出一種新型態的「空間」,在以「彎曲空間」(Spazio Curvo)為題的互動裝置藝術作品中表現無疑。

至於瓦尼這位來自托斯卡尼的藝術家,許多年前就對語言和影像、視覺詩意與文字遊戲之間的交互關係深感興趣,並於1997年起開始以此主題創作。展場中整個牆面擺滿了20公分見方大小的作品,幽了許多知名藝術家一默!其中最讓筆者笑到最不能自己的,莫非是以「食藝術(Eat Art)」調侃史波利(Daniel Spoerri)的作品「Chez Spoerri」(譯為「在史波利家」),以及用義大利國菜番茄義大利麵調侃雕塑家波莫多羅(Arnaldo Pomodoro)的「Spaghetti Al Pomodoro」(因為Pomodoro一字在義大利文中除了當姓以外,最常見的用法其實是指番茄)。瓦尼的作品極盡調侃之能事,只可惜觀者必須懂義大利文才能領會箇中奧妙,其中有太多只能意會不能言傳的義式幽默。

結語
就整體展場狀況看來,不論從展出品質或硬體環境,都可以看出大會的用心與野心,這個從去年第一屆開展以來就被義大利媒體當成新興的後起之秀,往後它對義國境內當代藝術的影響力不容小覷。

25.3.06

Museo Egizio (Torino, Italy)

許多義大利朋友在聽到我頂著博物館學碩士的‘光環’之際,總喜歡跟我提上幾座在義大利響有盛名的博物館,而位於杜林市(Torino)的埃及博物館(Museo Egizio)便名列其中。
When some Italian friends get to know that I've got a MA in museum studies, they always like to mention some famous museums in Italy. The Museo Egizio is very often mentioned.

知道這座博物館的存在,其實是從老公口中得知。這座博物館在十七世紀埃及文化考古挖掘盛行以來,便在考古學界享有盛名,因此義大利人如此地引以為傲,也就不足為奇。既然這麼有名,而我又因為從小看著日本漫畫長大,對埃及文化莫名地著迷,因此便在2003年到杜林市的時候,將這座博物館排入行程之中。
Michele is the first one to let me know the existence of this museum. It has been well-known since the 17th century, when activities of archaeological excavation were poular. So it doesn't surprise me that Italians are quite proud of it. For its fame and my own interests in Egytian culture, I made it a must-go when I visited Turin for the first time in 2003.

一進入博物館,便被其裝潢之老舊嚇了一跳,也許是我的既有的刻板印象,常常把名氣跟經費劃上等號,又習慣了英國幾座國立博物館的氣勢與規模,因此在初入館之際,心中便已經打了個很大的問號。
When I entered the museum, I was surprised by its out-dated and fusty atmosphere. Probably due to my stereotypic idea, I always put an equal sign on fame and operational expense. Also, I was probably too used to the scale of several national museums in UK. Therefore, when I stepped into the museum, there's a big question mark in my mind.

進入第一個展區,最先穿過的是一個由兩個弧形玻璃櫥窗圍成的區域,中央擺著整個展區的焦點展示 – 木乃伊。還記得小時後第一次到大英博物館的時候,應是擠進人潮之中,就是想要一賭木乃伊的‘丰采’;長大以後,幾經思考所謂生與死的議題,加上在博物館界對於展示人體的爭論不斷,我的態度也逐漸向反對一方移動;該日在博物館內再次看到木乃伊,實際上是一種震驚的感覺…人體被物化,毫無尊嚴可言地被展示在博物館中,頓時間一陣窒息感湧上心頭,讓我只能快速穿過,往同展區的其他部分走去,希望能藉此轉移注意力。概念上而言,這個展區的設計手法可以是整個博物館的引介,而館方也確實做到了這一點,以編年史的方式配合文物,讓參觀者能夠對博物館內涵括的年代有點概念,然而,展示的老舊卻顯露在零散的解說牌上,紙張因為維護不佳或年代久遠而起了皺折,或者整個解說版根本就掉到展示櫃下方,加上肉眼清晰可見的灰塵,只能說,也許館方真是人力不足,連基本的清潔維護都做不到。
Entering the first exhibition area, I immediately passed through an area surrounded by two semicircular exhibition cases. At the center of the area lies the focus of the whole exhibition area - a mummy. I still remember when I went to the British Museum for the first time, I tried so hard to get into the crowd, just to see the mummy that has been keeping me curious for very long time. Years passed by. When I got older, I started to think about issues related to life and death. Getting to know the dispute of exhibiting human remains in the museum context, my attitude changed from positive to negative, for respect of individual life. The visit to the Museo Egizio was the second time to see a mummy exhibited in the museum. My feeling? Well, honestly, it's quite a shocking feeling. Human body is materialized and exhibited in a museum without respect. I felt suffocated. I walked through with a fast pace, hoping to turn my attention to other exhibits in the same room. Concept wise, the first area acts as an introduction to the whole museum, and the exhibition actually achieves its purpose. The exhibition continues with a chronological order and gives visitors some idea about the time span that will be covered. However, the exhibtion is ill-maintained. Some exhibition panels scattered or fallen. Uneven paper due to humidity with faded color. Dust all around. It seems that they don't have enough staff and can not even keep the basic maintenance.

接下來的參觀簡直是一場災難。路線標示不明,找不到可供休憩的坐椅,照明設備損壞卻不更換,有時我們甚至走到了看起來像是緊急逃生門的地方,完全不知道應該如何繼續參觀,整個負面的觀感一再再地降低了我對這個館的評價。其中最讓我印象深刻的一點,大概是某一個擺滿了各種大理石石像的展區;我在入館之初購買了一本導覽手冊,上面在介紹該館歷史之際,附上了一張十九世紀時期的展場圖片,我拿起來比對了一番,幾乎並無兩樣。整個館可說是新舊並列,不過以我所熟悉的博物館實踐而言,新的展示也說不上什麼水準可言,而且整個館瀰漫著一種久未修繕的氣味,讓我只想拖著老公趕快走出去。
The following visit was like a disaster. The orientation inside the museum is pretty terrible, no place to sit down and take a rest, and no maintenance of illumination facility. There's one time that we arrived an area that looked like emergency exit and did not know how to continue our visit. All these things kept lowering my mood and impression. The thing that impressed me the most should be the exhibition hall dedicated to marble statues. I bought a museum guide when I entered. There're some basic and historical information about the museum, with a sketch of the exhibition hall in the 19th century. I took it for comparison... it's basically identical!! There're new exhibitions standing along side with old ones, though I don't think that the new ones were done with a basic standard. I couldn't really stand the atmosphere and I just wanted to leave.

以該館的狀況來看,其實簡單的語音導覽就可以明顯地提升觀眾的參觀品質。只是在詢問之後,館員表示目前並沒有這樣的計畫,甚至還建議我購買博物館的藏品目錄,認為我可以在目錄裡找到充分的資訊…博物館等於教科書?這個狀況,在義大利已經不是第一次遇到了…我承認我在去之前沒有做好功課,不過也是因為之前到其他博物館的參觀經驗,讓我以為總是能夠找到進入博物館內容的方式,我想,這次我大概真是錯了…
With the condition of the museum, a simple audioguide can largely improve the quality of the visitor experience. After I inquired the staff, I was told that there wasn't such plan in the near future, and she even recommended me to buy the catalogue of the museum, thinking that I'd be able to get the information I need inside the 8cm thick book. Is museum exhibition equal to textbook? It's not the first time that I had to face such situation. I admitted that I didn't do my "homework" before I went for the visit. But it's because all my visit experiences told me that I could alwats find a thread to enjoy my visit. However, I was totally wrong this time.

義大利有許多讓義大利人引以為傲的博物館,其中絕大部分都是因為館藏之精美,而非在展示上有什麼特出之處。然而,即使館藏再怎麼豐富,物件再怎麼珍貴,倘若參觀者無法透過展示而感受到其中的精隨奧義,或是在參觀以後並無法留下些什麼印象,也是枉然。
There're many museums in Italy that Italian are proud of. In many cases, it's due to the quality of the collection, but not the outstanding exhibition. However, no matter how high the quality of the collection is, how prescious the artefacrs are, if visitors can not feel and experience the beauty and essence within, or don't even leave any impression after the visit, somehow it still can not justify itself.

PS1.這是從前明日報的舊文轉貼。
PS2.年初到杜林市參加博物館會議時聽說,市政府砸了大把銀子改善該館展示,在2006年將以全新面貌呈現,說實在我還蠻期待的,畢竟以該館展品的重要性,還是要優良的展示才能襯托出其價值。拭目以待囉!

22.3.06

Galleria dell'Accademia (Florence, Italy)

佛羅倫斯的美術學院成立於1563年,是歐洲地區第一座以教授雕塑與繪畫藝術為主的學校,隸屬於美術學院的學院美術館,則於1784年成立,其宗旨在於收藏繪畫與雕塑藝術品,以增進學生對於藝術之智識與研習。

學院美術館為收藏米開朗基羅作品之重鎮,藏有包括大衛像(Davide)、聖馬太(San Matteo)、四座囚徒(Quattro Prigioni)等知名雕塑品,此外該館也收藏包括拜占庭文化、宗教藝術、樂器收藏與佛羅倫斯一帶幾位重要藝術家的作品。

大部分參觀者到學院美術館的原因,不外乎是要一窺「大衛像」的真面目,我個人探訪佛羅倫斯一地已有五次之多,然而過去幾次的經驗,了不起只是在領主廣場(Piazza della Signoria)上看看複製品,一直到這次到佛羅倫斯訪友之際,才有機會實際到學院美術館觀賞真品。

進入美術館之後,我們首先來到一間燈光昏暗的展覽室,中央置放著一座題為「掠奪薩賓族婦女(Ratto delle Sabine)」的石膏像,圍繞著石膏像則展示著許多十六世紀以宗教為主題之畫作。坦白說,因為參觀目的不在於此,另一方面這也不是我個人特別感興趣的主題,所以我和友人僅是稍事觀賞一番,便匆匆走進下一個展覽廳。

踏進下一個展覽廳,整個氣氛為之一變。明亮的採光,放眼望去便是著名的「大衛像」,氣勢滂沱地佇立在T字型大廳的正中央,我們沿著「大衛像」的方向走去,廊道上還有米開朗基羅的數座雕塑品,然而以整個展示方式而言,其他作品似乎相形失色,我們的注意力不斷地被吸引到「大衛像」身上。館方目前正在進行「大衛像」的修復工作,因此參觀者並無法太接近雕像底座,然而因為雕像本身極為龐大,同時館方並沒有將整個雕像覆蓋起來(畢竟它是整個美術館的大明星,大部分參觀者都是慕名而來),因此我們還是能夠清楚地欣賞這座偉大的藝術品,並且在館方的細心安排下,瞭解有關修理工作之過程究竟。

接下來幾十分鐘內,我們大略地參觀了該館其他部份,不過大概因為「大衛像」所帶來的震撼,讓我無心仔細欣賞其他藝術品,腦中思緒總是被帶回「大衛像」身上,所以到現在腦子裡只留下大廳中白色巨型雕像的俊美身形。

6.2.06

Teatro Olimpico (Vicenza, Italy)


維琴察(Vicenza)除了是世界黃金飾品重鎮以外,也因為十六世紀兩位著名的建築師帕拉底歐(Andrea Palladio)與其弟子斯卡莫齊(Vincenzo Scamozzi)聞名於世。帕拉底歐在維琴察省思所留下的許多經典建築,是許多建築人朝聖之地,而被聯合國科教文組織列為世界遺產的奧林匹克劇院,是大師的最後遺作。
Vicenza is not only famous for its gold fairs. Its fame also comes from two world renowned architects, Andrea Palladio and his pupil Vicenza Scamozzi, in the 16th century. Palladio left behind many classic villas in Vicenza province, and the area thus becomes a pilgrimage place for architects. The Olympic Theater, which is listed in the World Heritage List, is the last work of Palladio.

在所有早期興建的劇院中,維琴察的奧林匹克劇院是至今尚存的古蹟之一。西元1555年,維琴察市奧林匹克藝術學院(Accademia Olimpica)成立。學院在成立初期的宗旨,主要是研究希臘悲劇,而為了要上演戲劇作品,便延請當時已經相當知名的帕拉底歐替學院設計一座劇場。然而,劇場開始施工的第一年(西元1580),帕拉底歐便去世,因而由弟子斯卡莫齊接手,因此奧林匹克劇院其實是兩位大師的心血結晶。
The Olympic Theater in Vicenza is one of the early theaters that remains intact until now. In 1555, Accademia Olimpica in Vicenza was established, with a mission to study classical Greek dramas. To put the works on stage, the Accademia invited Palladio to design a theater for it. However, Palladio passed away in 1580, the very first year when the construction began. His pupil Scamozzi took over and completed the project. The Olympic Theater is actually a work from both masters.

日間的奧林匹克劇院是維琴察市的觀光勝地。穿過一座地上鋪滿碎石且擺滿石雕像的小花園,訪客進入了一座古意盎然的建築,漫步走過廊道,欣賞壁上畫作,偶爾,還會看到破碎的壁畫,闡述著維琴察在大戰中慘遭轟炸的遭遇。隨著參觀方向,穿過了一個狹小的通道,眼前豁然開朗,美輪美奐的劇場映入眼簾,長方形的舞台配上木製的階梯型觀眾席,周圍高牆聳立,飾有各式古典石膏像,讓訪者的思緒聯想到羅馬時期。天花板被化作美麗的天空,顏色像極了威尼斯的落日餘暉,混合著藍橘紅等粉嫩的浪漫,讓我想起某次拜訪威尼斯的領悟,體驗到藝術家們以畫筆紀錄下的真實。舞台上又是另一番景色,五條按照透視法設計製作的街道,是斯卡莫齊眼中的古希臘城市底比斯,利用視覺效果在短且小的空間中創造出深度的錯覺,觀眾席上每一區的感受各異,古希臘與古羅馬的時空交錯,讓人頓時沉浸於大師創作之中。這些木製的舞台背景又為何能夠經歷戰火的蹂躪而被保存下來?據說在二次大戰開始之初,有心人士害怕這些珍貴的文物受到戰火波及,暗地裡逕自把台上的佈景搬到鄉下藏了起來,直到大戰結束以後才把它們交還,也因此讓這些作品能夠流傳至今。
In the day time, the Olympic Theater is one of the tourist attractions in Vicenza. Going through a small statue garden with pebbles on its passage, visitors enter an old building. On the corridor hang paintings of nobles from various painters. Signs of wars can be spotted on the frescos. Following the direction through a narrow walkway, a splendid theater opens up the eyes of the visitors. The stage, wooden seating, the setting and various plaster statues bring its visitors back to the Roman age. The ceiling is turned into beautiful sky, with colors of Venice sunset. A mixture of light pink, golden orage and sky blue bring such a romantic touch. It reminds me the very first time I visited Venice. The painters recorded what they saw with their own eyes. On the stage, there are five passages designed according to perspectives, showing Scamozzi's interpretation of ancient Greek town Thebes, creating depth with visual effects in such a small space. How can these wooden works survive the war? Iwas told that during the war, the manager of the theater was afraid that these presious works would be damaged, and took the initiative to hide the whole set in the country side. It was returned only after the war came to its end. Thanks to his good will, we can still see these masterpiece with our own eyes.

4.2.06

Museum of Grappa (Bassano, Vicenza, Italy)


義大利著名的餐後酒之一,是將釀造葡萄酒的過程中所殘留下來的酒糟(包含皮、肉、梗、子)拿來蒸餾而出的烈酒,酒精濃度通常在40-52%之間;由於它實際上是釀製葡萄酒的副產品,因此盛產葡萄酒的地區自然也就成為它的主要生產地,以法國和義大利為主要產區。在法文中一般稱為Marc,在義大利文中則通稱為grappa,中文譯為「渣釀白蘭地」。
One of the most popular Italian digestives is a kind of distilled spirit made of "vinaccia", the leftover including pressed skin, seeds and so on of wine making. It normally comes between 40 to 52 percent alcolhol content. For the reason that it's the by-product of grape wine making, areas of wine productions are natually production area of this kind of spirit, that is, France and Italy. In French it is called "Marc" and in Italian "grappa".

格拉帕是我搬到義大利以後所認識的第一種餐後酒,酒足飯飽之際,來一小杯芬芳濃烈的格拉帕幫助消化,或者,在濃縮咖啡中加入幾滴”校正”一下咖啡的味道,實在是一種享受(義大利人喜歡在咖啡中加入一點兒烈酒,將此種咖啡稱之為「cafe' corretto」,中文直譯為「校正過的咖啡」)。
Grappa is actually the first digestive I got to know after I moved to Italy. People like to have a small glass of straight grappa after dinner for digestion, otherwise adding some grappa in coffee to "correct" the taste is also a great enjoyment. (Italians like to add some liquor in coffee and it is called "cafe' corretto".)

離家不遠有座山麓小城叫做巴薩諾(Bassano del Grappa),我對這地方情有獨鍾,有事沒事常常到這兒散步閒逛。巴薩諾位在格拉帕山山腳(這也就是為什麼名字後面有”del Grappa”),每次想到這個名字,心裡總會有個疑惑:到底是因為這裡是這種酒的來源地,使酒因地得此名,還是因為這片山麓產的格拉帕酒特別好喝,而因此被如此命名呢?我想,這些都不重要,不論如何,巴薩諾目前是威內多地區(Veneto area,以威尼斯為首府)格拉帕酒的中心。
Not far from where I live, there's a smal town named Bassano del Grappa. It's one of my favorite places and we go there quite often. Bassano is situated at the bottom of Grappa mountain (that's why the name comes with "del Grappa"). Every time I think of it, I always wonder if the name of the grappa came from the place or the grappa of this area is so good that the spirit itself made the place famous. Anyway it doesn't matter. No matter what, Bassano is now the center for grappa in the Veneto area.

巴薩諾的重要地標之一,就是由義大利著名建築師帕拉底歐(Palladio)所設計的老橋(Ponte Vecchio),是觀光客來到此城必定參訪的地點。老橋的橋頭有一座全城最著名的小酒吧,不論是觀光客還是當地人,都喜歡到酒吧中啜上一杯好酒、閒談八卦,每次經過該地,總是熱鬧非凡,酒客絡繹不絕。就在酒吧往上坡方向幾步路不遠的地方,有座小而美的博物館,平心等待有心人到此一訪,週遭的靜謐與下頭的酒吧成了強烈的對比。
One of the most important landmark of Bassano is the Ponte Vecchio (the Old Bridge) designed by the famous artichect Andrea Palladio. It is one of the must-see of the place. At one side of the bridge, there's a famous bar which is popular among locals and tourists. It's always full of people every time I pass by. Going upward opposite the bridge, there's a small but beautiful museum. Just a few meters away from the bridge the atmosphere becomes so quiet. Among the quietness the museum sits, awaiting to be discovered.

這座格拉帕博物館的成立,是現今酒廠負責人雅可波的心血結晶。波利家族與格拉帕的淵源,可回溯到一百多年前的十九世紀末;當時,雅可波的曾祖父喬巴塔以製造與販賣草帽為生,蒸餾酒只是他個人私底下的興趣。傳到了下一代喬凡尼,也就是雅可波的祖父,不但延續了喬巴塔的興趣,還加以發揚光大。喬凡尼將廢棄的蒸氣火車頭加以改裝,藉著這個廢物利用製成的蒸餾器來蒸餾格拉帕酒;同時他也很有生意頭腦,成立酒廠,將蒸餾酒商業化,而蒸餾酒自此就成為波利家族的家族事業。到了雅可波的父親,也就是湯尼的時代,則是潛心研究,替家族的蒸餾酒事業奠定了更穩固的基礎,他於1956年改良的蒸餾器一直持續至今,到目前為止仍是蒸餾酒廠製造蒸餾酒的主要設備。家族傳承到了雅可波手上,則致力於格拉帕酒的推廣,期望「讓人了解並欣賞蒸餾酒製作的功夫與其中的堅持,也希望人們能夠體認到一瓶格拉帕酒中所濃縮凝聚的萬種熱情」,本著這樣的精神,他在深入研究有關蒸餾酒的各方面知識,並且於八O年代末成立博物館,將研究結果以展示的方式呈現在世人眼前。
The foundation of the museum is attributed to the hard efforts of the current owner of the Poli distillery, Jacopo. The story of the grappa and the Poli family can be traced back to more than a hundred years ago, to the end of the 19th century. Jacopo's great grandfater, Giobatta, made his life making and selling straw hats. Distilling spirit was just Giobatta's hobby. When it came to Giovanni, Jacopo's grandfater, the hobby was carried into a business. Giovanni made use of antiquated steam engine and turned it into a grappa distiller. His business mind made him open a distillery and commercialize grappa making, and thus made distilled spirit the family business of the Poli family. Jacopo's father Toni spent much time and efforts study spirit making and hence set up an even more solid foundation for their business. He improved the distiller in 1956 and the very distiller is still in use and actually the main equipment even nowadays. When it comes to Jacopo's hand, his main focus is the promotion of the grappa, hoping to "make people understand and appreciate the efforts and spirits of grappa making, and thus realize the passion concentrated within." With this spirit he tries to exlpore various aspects of spirit making and then found the museum at the end of the 80s to present his studies.

整座博物館包括兩間展示室、圖書室和賣店。展示呈現的主題有二:「蒸餾的歷史」以及「格拉帕酒的蒸餾」。由於波利家族製酒已有超過百年的歷史,家族保留了豐富的文物,配以深入的研究與解說,得以帶領參觀者仔細了解蒸餾酒的歷史、器材、方法與製作,可惜的是,所有的解說文字都是義大利文,對於來自外地不諳義文的參觀者,就只能仰賴導覽手冊上較為精簡的說明了。大約不出三十分鐘,我們已經參觀完畢,踏進賣店品酒去也。賣店裡的酒都是自家商品,因此參觀者也可以藉此品嘗各種不同口味的格拉帕。整間店裡最吸引我的,就是那專門品酒用的鬱金香杯和杯架。只是不論是酒是杯,都是價格不斐的高級品,也只好忍痛割捨,帶著一絲絲的遺憾離開博物館,逕自到平民化的橋頭酒吧另享一番滋味。
There're two exhibition rooms, a library and a shop in the museum. Each room is dedicated to one single theme, one is "history of distillation" and the other "distillation of grappa". For the rich family history lots of original artefacts are preserved. With in depth explanation visitors are able to have a glimpse of the history, equipment, and methods of spirit making. However, most of the information are in Italian and for those who don't speak the language the only reliable source of information is the brochure, though the information is much simplified. We finished the exhibitions in 30 minutes and into the shop we went. We're there for spirit tasting. All the products are their own production and there're lots of flavors to choose from. The most attractive items for me are the tulip wine glasses and glass holder. However, no matter the grappa or the glasses all come with high price that I just had to leave them where they are and left the museum with a little bit of regret. Off we went, to the bar for the commoners.