1980年代生人 / 1940年代生人

2月23日晚的51人主角是引退的杂技艺术家丁玉磊与瑞士杂技导演Ueli Hirzel。 

我们正在进行的活动，可以被看作一个实验室。这个实验的主题是围绕着这样一个问题：当一个杂技艺术家不再有杂技技巧的时候，他还是不是一个艺术家？如果是的话，那他是怎样呈现自己，怎样让自己被看见的？ 

从小苦练杂技，并获多项国内、国际杂技表演艺术奖的丁玉磊，跟很多同行不一样，提前告别了专业杂技的舞台，转而学习表演和编导，从对身体的刻板训练转向对语言和思维的探索。对转行的大多数杂技演员来说，曾经是一切能力体现的身体，成为工作上的辅助，而他则完全从事了和身体技能无关的工作。

“重回舞台”来自几年前瑞士杂技导演Ueli Hirzel的鼓励。2008年，Ueli Hirzel曾受瑞士文化基金会与策划人武佳音、徐杰之邀，与中国艺术家进行深谈，共同筹划项目。那时他也采访了丁玉磊，由此为这次上双的项目埋下伏笔。在这个结合了马戏与艺术的实验过程中，瑞士杂技导演Ueli Hirzel作为引导者，介绍给了中国一些闻所未闻的新技巧，从而与多位参与者交换了对表演艺术的看法。 

丁玉磊所代表的群体，是典型的在竞技夺冠作为明确目标的前提下，将身体作为主要训练对象的年轻人。然而这样的群体往往在获得专业认可后，因年龄和体能的限制不得不离开舞台和为之倾注心力多年的事业。他们所面临的困难不单是朝社会普通工作人员的转型，更有心理上的从王者朝平凡的小人物的落差。在离开熟练的身体感觉多年之后，他能否恢复并重新解构杂技用舞台演绎来延展人生？在和其他表演技艺工作者的讨论、编排、设计过程中，他的杂技能力和人生经历是否可以获得新的舞台形式？

We plan to organize an artistic laboratory about the question:
“Is an acrobat without his technique still an artist? if yes, how does it become visible?”

Trained in acrobatics since childhood, Ding Yulei has won international awards for his performances. Like many of his colleagues, however, he retired early from the profession. He is now an actor and director, focused on training in language and ideas. The expressive power of the body plays only a supporting role in his work. For many of his contemporaries, the body has no relevance at all in the work they do.

Ding undertook Return to the Stage at the urging of the Swiss acrobatic director, Ueli Hirzel. In 2008, Ueli Hirzel was invited by Pro Helvetia Shanghai with Wu Jiayin and Xujie to initiate communication and understanding between Chinese artists and the Swiss counterparts. During the trips Mr. Ueli visited and interviewed Ding Yulei as one of the interviewees. Due to his experience in the field of Circus and performing arts, Ueli Hirzel has guided the process and introduced some in China not yet well known techniques. Thus "The Acrobat Returns" is an exchange of different views on performing arts, and involving different participants.

Questions arise: After years of distance from the once-familiar sensations of rigorous physical training, will it be possible for Ding to regain his ability to use acrobatics to create a performance? In a process involving discussions on choreography and stage design with other performing artists, will he be able to meld his acrobatic ability and his personal journeyto conceive and create a completely new form of performance? 

演出：丁玉磊

本次活动共同策划：Ueli Hirzel、武佳音、徐杰

拍摄：徐杰、刘蕴奕

特别感谢瑞士文化基金会上海办公室对本次活动的支持

Performer: Ding Yulei

Co-author: Ueli Hirzel, Wu Jiayin, Xu Jie

Supported by Pro Helvetia Shanghai, Swiss Arts Council