Ivor Davies

Yes, from 1977 until a few years ago from time to time I collaborated.

Ren Jie

我很少用协作的方式进行创作。 

I rarely work in collaboration. 

Ivor Davies

In August 1977 I saw Paul Davies at the National Eisteddfod perform. He and his brother Peter, who is still alive, formed a movement to use Welsh language and subjects. They would post unfinished work to each other from a distance. I joined them, equally far from each and we continued to send 'blanks' from one to the other.

Ren Jie

在2009年或2010年的时候，我曾经参与过一次接力创作，是一位艺术家在网络平台上发起的。他将自己的一件小作品寄给另一位艺术家，后者以这件作品为材料，创作一件作品，然后寄给下一位，再次创作，总共传递了十几位创作者，其中有些是艺术家，有些不是。 

Back in 2009 or 2010, I was involved in a relay creation, which was initiated by an artist on an online platform. He sent a small piece of his work to another artist, who used it as a material to create a piece and then sent it to the next one to create it again, passing on a total of a dozen creators, some of whom were artists and some of whom were not.  

Ivor Davies

I have no sense of time in that way. I just obey the rules of the clock, but space. Yes! Talking to the other side of the world which is neither flat nor round. We have a moon in common which is much nearer recently, and, looks bigger. 

You can't miss it though sometimes I search for it like a lunatic. 

Ren Jie

Mr. Davies的时区与我相差7小时，但是我没有感受到特别强烈的时差，可能因为我的作息时间偏晚一点，正好与他的时间相对应。 

There is a 7 hour time difference between me and Mr. Davies, but I don't have a particularly strong feel about this, probably because I'm a little bit later-worker, which tends to correspond to his time. 

Whilst waiting for the call, what typically happens? Do you get nervous and is there a set routine?

Ivor Davies

Yes. I am planning the idea of colour and of hair, measuring and contemplating the practical problems: obtrusion of objects; gluing and fixing; postage; anticipating a visual duet for each of the exhibitions.

As I understand it, one exhibition will have an actual physical work by each of the 14 participants.

The other show will have a joint technological creation by each pair. Departure from rules/advice may be anticipated.

Ren Jie

我和我的搭档计划用一些物质材料来制作作品，包括头发、颜料、纸张、线等，它们在文化上和情感上都有很多共通性，并不会受到空间的限制。但在现实中，它们需要跨越极远的距离才能与我们的双手相遇，走向那些未知的形式。 

My partner and I plan to use a number of physical materials, including hair, pigment, paper, thread, etc., that have a lot in common culturally and emotionally and are not limited by space. But in reality, they have to cross great distances to meet our hands and to reach for the unknown forms. 

Ivor Davies

Connecting with a stranger is very exciting in this event and I particularly like working with such a well chosen partner.

A few years ago I organised a long performance with 12 people who had never met one another and with no audience to worry about. It succeeded and was filmed. Many ideas and possibilities and impossibilities come to mind.

Ren Jie

我和我搭档之间的距离感可能更多地来自语言而非虚拟媒介。但我认为我们关于艺术创作的想法又使我们的连结更加紧密了。  
The distance between me and my partner probably comes more from language than virtual media. But I think our ideas about art have made us connected again. 

Ivor Davies

Our collaboration feels safe because we are far away and may take risks.
The longest hair at the back of my brainbox I posted today.

She is a fine artist and may weave it. That would be a wonderful start. I shampooed it in time for the event. I shall dye the remainder bright blue tomorrow ready for the meeting on Thursday.

Ren Jie

关于安全，我现在能想到的就是远离病毒！哈哈~
When it comes to safety, all I can think about right now is staying away from COVID-19！

Ivor Davies

Yes. Because it is an escape from the regular problems of what and where art should go.

It is a release despite its limitations. More fearless. 

Ren Jie

与他人合作可能会帮助我们发现以前被忽视的真相。
Collaborations with others may help us discover truths that have previously been overlooked.

Ivor Davies

I have too many ideas. I shall have to keep many aside for another book. 

Much of my decision will depend on the interesting vision of Ren Jie. 

Ivor Davies

I have been doing the opposite, discarding privacy  in my consulting about technology. 

Should my adviser, who is an artist, be described as such. Morally, I think he should because he has given me ideas and made videos. 

He will have become a fellow visionary, a fellow producer.  I think  he could be called all three. I should write this to Ren Jie. Her work is very impressive and I value her greatly as my partner Open Books Online.

Ren Jie

在艺术创作中，隐私是一个很难定义的概念，我希望它处于一种开放的状态。

In artistic creation, privacy is a difficult concept to define, and I want it to be in an open state.

Ivor Davies

Yes! Escape from art conventions. 

Permanently unsettled, a move to new ways of thinking, perhaps concertina narrative, isolated symbols at. 

Ren Jie

我不认为这是关于逃避。这是关于等待。等待是过程中有意义的一部分。

I don't think it's about escape. It's about waiting. Waiting is a meaningful part of the process.

Ivor Davies

You suggested we could discuss privacy. Some languages don't have it. Do you think of privacy in relation to intellectual property, risk of taking ideas, copyright, correct attribution?  

My ideas, are they even now being picked up? I think we all often experience it. 

I have nearly finished the physical open book, it is largely reddish, but the virtual piece, deeply blue in most parts, is being worked on by a friend who is a visionary artist- technologist-animator. 

We have no secrets. 

Ren Jie

对于专注于物理材料的艺术家来说，物理距离仍然是一个巨大的障碍。我们用手和眼睛触摸它们并对它们做出反应。它提醒每个人物质事物在这个数字世界中的重要性。

For artists who focus on physical materials, physical distance is still a huge barrier. We touch them with our hands and eyes and react to them. And it reminds everyone of the importance of material things in this digital world.

Ren Jie

这次合作项目的目标超出了我预计的理解，让我重新思考了物质实体和虚拟数码的关系。书作为一个载体，它如何去实现这两方面的协同？到目前为止，我仍在去努力达成它的途中。

The goal of this collaborative project is beyond my understanding and makes me rethink the relationship between physical objects and virtual digital objects. Book as a carrier, how does it realize the synergy of these two aspects? So far, I'm still on my way to achieving it.