從音樂劇RENT想到藝術創作

周末看了DVD音樂劇RENT，此劇描寫一群生活在紐約底層的藝術家，他們的藝術得不到公眾的認可，生活窘迫，惡習與疾病纏身，他們在惡劣的生存條件下互相扶持，堅持追求。這部電影不禁讓我想到英國作家毛姆在他的小說《月亮與六便士》中的一段話（亦可把下文中的“BEAUTY”改作“ART”）： 

Why should you think beauty, which is the most precious thing in the world, lies like a stone on the beach for the careless passer-by to pick up idly? Beauty is something wonderful and strange that the artist fashions out of the chaos of the world in the torment of his soul. And when he has made it, it is not given to all to know it. To recognize it you must repeat the adventure of the artist. It is melody that he sings to you, and to hear it again in your own heart you want knowledge and sensitiveness and imagination.

from The Moon and Sixpence by William Somerset Maugham

當今通俗的文學藝術，比如電影、話劇、和音樂等，我一直以為美國最突出（隻與中國比，我對現今的歐洲沒有認識），可能就是因為在美國社會中有那麽一個龐大的群體，不計生存的艱辛，堅持自己對藝術的理解和追求，在這樣一種機製下，優秀作品層出不窮也就很自然了。而現今的中國，意識形態上的限製，以及社會中急功近利的風尚，都在很大程度上扼製了深刻且有力度的作品的問世。

高更在做銀行家時花過幾萬法郎來購買油畫作品，而當他在巴黎做畫家時，口袋裏常常身無分文，甚至於後來去法國南部和梵高會麵，都是靠了梵高弟弟的資助（參閱《LUST FOR LIFE》或梵高書信）。試想現今的中國，有幾個人能夠如此追求藝術？在RENT中的紐約EAST VILLAGE，大概也如當年的巴黎那樣，在無數默默無名的藝術家中，又能出幾個高更和梵高？但是，留名後世應該是藝術家心目中重要的追求嗎？

在《月亮與六便士》中，關於為何主人公（原型是高更）放棄平靜優裕的生活而去巴黎學畫，有這樣一段文字：

“I tell you I’ve got to paint. I can’t help myself. When a man falls into the water it doesn’t matter how he swims, well or badly: he’s got to get out or else he’ll drown.”

There was real passion in his voice, and in spite of myself I was impressed. I seemed to feel in him some vehement power that was struggle within him; it gave me the sensation of something strong, overmastering, that held him, as it were, against his will. He seemed really be possessed of a devil, and I felt that it might suddenly turn and rend him.

我對藝術的看法：Art is rooted in Life, and pursuing art is driven by Passion. 當一個社會的熱情集中於金錢﹑名位﹑和成功時，藝術的地位是黯淡的，這樣的社會不可能產生優秀的藝術作品。