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Open Sesame

Open Sesame

芝麻开门

2012

Toy Gun、M-200 Sniper Gun、MG42 7.92mm General-purpose Machine Gun

ⅡWar MG42 7.92mm General-purpose Machine Gun Tripod

2011《Trading Futures》, Taipei Contemporary Art Center, Taipei



Taipei Contemporary Art Centre Taiwan



The below is an agreement between the following two parties:


Sun Yuan & Peng Yu (Owners), hereafter ‘Party A’
Mr. Chen Bowen (Custodian) hereafter ‘Party B’

Concerning and defining the nature of the collaboration? “Open Sesame” (hereafter ‘the project’), created by Party A on the occasion of “Trading Futures” exhibition (dates March 3, 2012 to March 31, 2012, organized by the Taipei Contemporary Art Center, held at Taipei Contemporary Art Center, hereafter ‘the exhibition’)

Section I: Rights and Obligations
This agreement states that the following items: one pneumatic machine gun SHOEI MG-42, one sniper rifle SOCOM GEAR, and German manufactured military-grade tripod stand (see attached photos), hereafter referred to as ‘the objects’, are the sole ownership of Sun Yuan and Peng Yu. Because these items cannot be transported to China due to legal reasons, they will remain under the custody of Party B indefinitely.

1.While ‘the objects’ are under the care of Party B, Party B is obligated to display them in his home for a consecutive period totaling one year (time period to be calculated from date ‘the objects’ arrive in Party B’s possession)
2.Party B is responsible for cleaning, maintenance and repair of ‘the objects’. All? resulting costs are to be incurred by Party B. Party B is responsible for keeping ‘the objects’ in the same condition as when received.
3.During the period of custody, Party B is required to take photographs of ‘the objects’ as requested by Party A (including the first year of display period and following after)
4.Party B retains the right to display ‘the objects’ during the period of custody outlined in this contract.
5.If ‘the objects’ are returned to Party A, except Party A, Party B retains the right to borrow ‘the objects’ for display.

Section II: Contract termination
1.Under conditions whereby ‘the objects’ can be transported back to China, and Party A requests they are transported to China, Party B unconditionally accept the terms of their return and shall provide necessary arrangements for their transport.
2.Under conditions whereby Party A immigrates to another country, Party A shall reclaim full custody of the items. Party B shall unconditionally accept the terms of their return and shall provide necessary arrangements for their transport.

Section III: Dispute Resolution
All matters not covered in this Agreement or any dispute concerning the interpretation of this agreement shall be settled through negotiated agreement of both parties.

Signatures
Party A Representative:                              Party B Representative:  

_____________________                            _____________________
Date: 2012.3.4                                               Date: 2012.3.4

Address: 4 Jiuxiangqiao Road, Beijing          Address:
Tel: +86-13501170543                                  Tel:



模型枪、二战时期军用机枪三脚架


M200狙击步枪、MG42德制重机枪

2011《未来事件交易所》,台北当代艺术中心,台北



Article

孫原&彭禹 《芝麻開門》

北京藝術家孫原和彭禹的《芝麻開門》探討收藏和慾望的複雜問題。在台北,他們用本次展覽贊助人提供的製作費買了兩枝收藏級的高端氣槍。這兩枝氣槍跟相關紀錄一起在展覽中展出,但不是作為當代藝術作品,而是作為藝術家的私人珍藏。在中國大陸,藏有任何類型、不論真假的槍都是禁止的,所以藝術家在購買這兩枝氣槍時便知道不能把它們帶回國內。故此,他們將兩枝槍無限期借予這次展覽的贊助人,而這位贊助人本身也正好是一位藝術收藏家。經雙方協議,這兩枝槍的擁有權仍屬於孫原和彭禹,但將無限期交由這位收藏家保管。合約中注明,這位收藏家是兩枝槍的唯一監護人,但一旦中國法例有變,兩位藝術家隨時有權取回藏品。這些前提呈現了擁有和擁有權、永久和暫時之間的差異,更暗暗指出了海峽兩岸的通關限制有可能愈來愈放鬆。

收藏是一種超越時間、語言和國界的文化活動。收藏本出於對一件物品的熱愛甚或狂迷,但也幾乎總將尋常的物變成物拜的對象,並因此附之予過高的價值。不妨暫且以經濟學原理去看收藏這種行為︰物本身並不擁有絕對價值,也沒有絕對的需求,但通過真實或幻想的交易而它得以擁有價值和需求。不論收藏的對象是藝術品、鐘、湯匙還是氣槍,收藏者都認同這種物品的市場和商品地位,但他們給予物以價值的同時又排除掉未來交易的可能性。就像《芝麻開門》的合約中指明的一樣,收藏者必須在一段時間內保管好這件收藏品,這一點將購買昇華到一種長期契約關係。

來自北京的孫原和彭禹長期合作,他們的大型裝置作品極富震撼力,既挑戰觀眾的反應也摸索合法性的邊界。 與他們的其他作品一樣,《芝麻開門》也是對一種假設情況或問題的回應。這次的問題是︰孫原這位氣槍迷怎樣才能收藏這種在中國禁止的東西?而《芝麻開門》給出的答案是︰將收藏放在別處,儘管他們不知道何時才能(或者就永遠不能)將這些珍藏帶回家。