30周年 | 沈敬东 - 在炮火雷鸣声中，接到布朗的电话

现在回忆起来，我来北京真是一个奇迹。在南京时步步艰难，到北京后顺风顺水，赶上了中国当代艺术热的大好时光。我心中永远感谢一个人，就是长得像白求恩的布朗先生。

2004年上半年，我在时任主编吴鸿的美术同盟上看到红门画廊的一个启事，外地艺术家可以申请到北京做驻访艺术家。不但免费，还给一千元生活补贴。我报着试试看的心态，寄去了我画的小瓷人的几张油画作品照片。没有想到真的通过了！很荣幸做为这个项目的第一人来到北京。记得接到布朗的电话时，我正在北京八一电影制片厂外景基地拍打仗的电视剧。在炮火雷鸣声中，布朗在电话里只说了几个字：我是布朗，你可以来了。我立刻回南京前线文工团请了假。

六月初来到北京，在东便门角楼红门画廊，第一次见到布朗。他并没有太多话，让我等一会儿。忙完了手上的事，他打车带我来到了费家村红门画廊驻访艺术家画室，开始了为期一个月的创作。当时费家村的画室里有张晓刚，杨千，祁志龙，俸正杰，张方白，童振刚等十几个艺术家。虽然以前每年都要来北京一两次（主要是演出或参观），但是真正能留下来画画还是第一次。这是一次非常好的机会：我白天画画，晚上艺术家聚会。此外，还有很多老外，时常去刚刚起来的798看看展览。这里的艺术氛围完全与南京不一样，于是我就下决心留下来。

从2004年至今我来北京也已经十七年了。这十七年，我不断的努力，作品从国内到国外，慢慢被大家所熟知所喜欢。这一切都归功于来北京，都归功于布朗先生的邀请。在红门画廊三十周年之际，由衷的感谢我的恩人：布朗先生！

沈敬东

2021年6月5日

2005年，《红门画廊第一届访问艺术家联展》参展艺术家与布朗在东便门角楼合影

左起：陈文令，陈宇飞，徐文涛，布朗，孙佰均，沈敬东

In retrospect, it's a miracle that I came to Beijing. When I was in Nanjing, it was difficult to move forward – it was one step at a time. However, when I arrived in Beijing, it was the golden era for China's contemporary art. I'll always be grateful to Brian Wallace who looked like Norman Bethune.

In the first half of 2004, I saw a notice from the Red Gate Gallery in the Art Alliance of Wu Hong, editor in chief, that Chinese artists from outside Beijing could apply to the Red Gate Residency Program in Beijing. It was not only free, but also a living allowance of 1000 yuan was included. Just to test my luck, I sent some pictures of my little porcelain man's oil paintings. I did not expect to pass but it happened! It was a great honor to be the first Chinese person in this project. I remember when I took Brian's call, I was shooting a war drama at the Beijing August First Film Studio. Under the roar of bombs, all I heard on the phone was: "I'm Brian, can you come?". Immediately I went back to Nanjing to ask permission from the Front Line Cultural Troupe.

In early June, I came to Beijing and met Brian at Red Gate Gallery on the watchtower of Dong Bian Men. He didn't talk much, asking me to wait and when he finished work, he took me to the Red Gate Residency in Feijiacun by taxi where I started a month long period of creation. At that time, there were more than ten artists in the studio area, including Zhang Xiaogang, Yang Qian, Qi Zhilong, Feng Zhengjie, Zhang Fangbai, Tong Zhengang, etc. Although I had come to Beijing once or twice a year (mainly for performances or short visits), it was the first time that I could literally stay for painting. It was such a great opportunity: I painted during the day and got together with artists at night. In addition, there are many foreigners who often went to the nearby 798 art zone, which had just started. The atmosphere was totally different from Nanjing, so I stayed.

I have been in Beijing for 17 years now. In the past 17 years, I have been working hard, and my works have been known and loved by the public. It's all thanks to Beijing and to Brian Wallace's invitation. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Red Gate Gallery, I sincerely thank my benefactor: Brian Wallace!

Shen Jingdong

June, 2021

2004年，沈敬东穿着全套军装从南京坐火车来了。见面时，他给我展示了他标志性的黄色士兵雕塑。相见甚欢，然后我们就去了费家村，把他安置在我们刚在北皋租的3个大型工作室里。他是第一个参与驻地项目的中国艺术家，那时大多数的外国驻地艺术家还在市区里的团结湖公寓，所以这里可能有些形单影只。然而，敬东很快就和其他在这片儿有工作室的艺术家们打好关系，并且开始创作他的新画。在过去的17年里，他在中国和海外做了很多展览，可谓著作等身。

他的大部分作品，都明显的带着他部队生活的影子。在2018年，我们还在瑜舍酒店举办了他的个展。

布朗

2005年，沈敬东、布朗和周军在位于费家村香格里拉公社的红门驻地工作室

In 2004 Shen Jingdong arrived on the train from Nanjing in full military uniform. On meeting, he presented me with a yellow sculpture of his signature soldier subject. We were off to a good start, and we headed to Feijiacun where I installed him in the large Bei Gao 3 studio which we had just leased. He was the first Chinese artist on our residency program, and most of our foreign residents were still in the Tuanjiehu apartments downtown, so it could have been a bit lonely. However, Jingdong quickly settled in with the other artists who had their own studios in the area and got to work on his new paintings. He has achieved a lot in the past 17 years with many shows in China and overseas, accompanied by richly detailed catalogues.

His military career is evident throughout most of his work. Later we had the chance to hold his exhibition at The Opposite House in 2018. 

Brian

部分图片及资料由沈敬东提供。

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红门画廊

红门画廊Red Gate Gallery由澳大利亚籍人士布朗·华莱士Brian Wallace创办于1991年，是中国最早经营当代艺术的外资画廊。三十年来，红门画廊始终致力于中国当代艺术推广和国际艺术联络。邀请国际、国内知名策划人在红门画廊策划当代艺术活动，进行高水平的学术交流，向中国观众介绍国内外当代艺术，为中国当代艺术的发展以及中西方的艺术交流做出了巨大的贡献。

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