Text/ Lin Tzu-Huan
Scientists speculate that dinosaurs became extinct due to climate change, which caused them to be unable to adapt. Only mammals capable of regulating body temperature survived. In the present human society, social activities exist. Social skills determine one's status in society, posing a survival crisis for humans. If one cannot adapt well in social situations, they are easily at risk of becoming extinct. So, how can one excel in social interactions? Finding conversational partners in the same "temperature range" is the basic rule of survival. You can cool down by drinking beer and warm up by moving your body.
This initially playful idea became the core of this entire work, but it is only a superficial connection. As I delved into the core, I began to explore the relationship between science and imagination, and how to incorporate imagination into daily life through science. This seemed to solve my long-standing dilemma with art. Whenever I see a good piece of art, I always feel fulfilled, to the point where I don't even need to eat anymore! I couldn't explain this feeling in my heart. Assuming that everyone is full of energy, and energy can be transmitted, like giving positive energy to others through a smile, etc. So, artists transmit energy into their artworks through sculpture and painting, and this energy is then passed on to the viewers through the artworks. However, energy is consumed, and the better the artwork, the more energy it can carry, while the more devout believers can feel more energy. Such thinking seems to be able to solve my questions about art.
Returning to "A Survival Guide to Icebreaker," the protagonist of the story is an art enthusiast who enters an art gallery and tries to integrate into this environment. Feeling lost, he fantasizes about a scientist using various scientific theories to guide him in social behavior. The scientist leads him to engage in a conversation with a woman who has been working in the gallery for a long time, attempting to explain the process of conversation through theories and using art to initiate topics and blend into the environment.
Calvino's imaginative story is built on solid scientific theories, deriving visual imagery through conceptual statements. A story without a scientific foundation would just be aimless fantasy, like the connection of 2D dots, lines, and surfaces compared to the exploration of various aspects of objects in 3D. "A Survival Guide to Icebreaker" guides various social events through various scientific theories. Even though it claims to be scientific, it is actually a pseudo-science generated by the artist's conjecture. By analyzing social interactions and thermodynamics: Tai Chi pushing hands, energy transfer, the relationship between closed and open systems, it ultimately mentions how the energy of art is sublimated and generates faith in art.
Science and Art
The combination of science and art is fascinating. They have similar creative methods, but at the same time, they are two different entities in the public's perception. For me, neither of them is about creating something; rather, they are about making connections. We all try to find a different perspective from the known world, which goes beyond the ordinary. This departure from the ordinary can be the combination of two perspectives or the exploration of the possibilities of a single perspective. So, we connect seemingly unrelated events, trying to use the sparks that emerge to make the audience feel something special. However, because everyone has different life experiences, it may or may not resonate with others. Hopefully, someday someone can find something special from art or science.
Performance
Most people are lazy when it comes to socializing, and some even view it as pretentious and negative behavior. In our minds, free-spirited and sensitive artists are even less likely to engage in social interactions. However, once you stay in this art circle, you will realize that it is just a microcosm of the larger society. The better you are at managing yourself as an artist, the more likely you are to survive. This is not difficult to understand. The value of currency is based on belief. If we don't believe in the New Taiwan Dollar, it naturally becomes worthless. In capitalist society, where is the value of an artist? How do you make the audience believe in you? An artist must first believe that they are an artist, from head to toe, demonstrating the value of being an artist, a special commodity, even if it is performed. However, professional actors also require long-term training, and this social gathering is the best practice stage. Like magic, even if you know it is not real magic but an illusion, you are still willing to pay to exchange for that sense of wonder.