Lesson 18: Electric currents in modern art

现代艺术的电流

Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more. The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken. Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places. Strange forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops. We have got quite used to them. Some so-called 'modern' pieces have been on display for nearly 80 years.

In spite of this, some people -- including myself -- were surprised by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture. The first thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said: 'Do not touch the exhibits. Some of them are dangerous!' The objects on display were pieces of moving sculpture. Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody. These objects, however, were different. Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres. The spheres had been magnetized and attracted or repelled each other all the time. In the centre of the hall, there were a number of tall structures which contained coloured lights. These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily. It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment. These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well !

New words and expressions

生词与短语

     current

n.   电流

     sculpture

n.   雕塑

     mistaken

adj. 错误的

     gallery

n.   美术馆

     exhibit

n.   展品，陈列品

     oddly

adv. 古怪的

     attach

v.   连，系

     sphere

n.   球体

     magnetize

v.   使磁化

     repel

v.   排斥

     flicker

v.   闪烁

     emit

v.   放射

     flash

v.   闪光

     prehistoric

adj. 史前的，老掉牙的

     electronic

adj. 电子的

     peculiar

adj. 奇异的

     shock

v.   令人震惊，刺激人

     emotionally

adv. 事情上

本文参考译文

现代雕塑不再使我们感到惊讶了。那种认为现代艺术只能在博物馆里才能看到的观点是错误的。即使是对艺术不感兴趣的人也不会注意到在公共场所展示的现代艺术品。公园里、大楼和商店外竖立着的奇形怪状的雕塑，对这些，我们已经司空见惯了。有些所谓的“现代”艺术品在那里已经陈列了近