A lesson on looking | Amy Herman

翻译人员: Gentle Yang 校对人员: Bighead Ge

Take a look at this work of art.

看看这件艺术品。

What is it that you see?

你看到的是什么？

At first glance, it looks to be a grandfather clock

乍一看像是一个落地大摆钟，

with a sheet thrown over it

上面盖着一块布，

and a rope tied around the center.

中间系着一根绳子。

But a first look always warrants a second.

不过第一眼只能得到 一瞬间看到的信息。

Look again.

再看一次。

What do you see now?

现在你看到的是什么？

If you look more closely,

如果你凑得更近一些，

you'll realize that this entire work of art

会发现整件艺术品

is made from one piece of sculpture.

是一整块的雕塑。

There is no clock,

没有时钟，

there is no rope,

没有绳子，

and there is no sheet.

也没有盖在上面的布。

It is one piece of bleached Honduras mahogany.

这是一整块漂白的洪都拉斯桃花心木。

Now let me be clear:

现在我来明确一下：

this exercise was not about looking at sculpture.

这并不是一个观察雕塑的练习，

It's about looking

而是关于观察，

and understanding that looking closely can save a life,

并且认识到仔细观察可以挽救生命、

change your company

改变企业，

and even help you understand why your children behave the way they do.

甚至能帮助你理解 孩子做事的行为方式。

It's a skill that I call visual intelligence,

这是一种技能，我叫它视觉智能，

and I use works of art to teach everybody,

我通过艺术作品来教授别人，

从普通人到以观察为工作的人，

from everyday people to those for whom looking is the job,

like Navy SEALs and homicide detectives and trauma nurses.

比如海豹突击队员、凶杀案侦探 以及创伤科护士。

The fact is that no matter how skilled you might be at looking,

一个事实是，不管你多么娴熟地观察，

you still have so much to learn about seeing.

关于观察仍然有很多东西要学。

Because we all think we get it in a first glance and a sudden flash,

因为我们都认为自己在 看第一眼的瞬间就能看清，

but the real skill is in understanding how to look slowly

但是真正的技巧是明白如何慢慢地

and how to look more carefully.

以及更仔细地观察。

The talent is in remembering --

重点在于记忆 ——

in the crush of the daily urgencies that demand our attention --

在每日迫切需要我们关注的情况下 ——

to step back and look through those lenses to help us see

退一步看看那些瞬间， 能帮我们看清楚

what we've been missing all along.

我们一直在错过什么。

So how can looking at painting and sculpture help?

那么观察绘画和雕塑有什么帮助呢？

Because art is a powerful tool.

因为艺术是一个强大的工具。

It's a powerful tool that engages both sight and insight

它能同时吸引视线和洞察力，

and reframes our understanding of where we are and what we see.

并重新定义我们对自身定位 和所见所闻的理解。

Here's an example of a work of art

下面是一个艺术作品的例子，

that reminded me that visual intelligence --

它提醒了我视觉智能 ——

it's an ongoing learning process

这是一个持续学习的过程，

and one that really is never mastered.

从来没有人能真正精通。

I came across this quiet, seemingly abstract painting,

我偶然发现了这幅 安静的、看似抽象的画，

and I had to step up to it twice,

不得不走上前两次，

even three times,

甚至三次，

to understand why it resonated so deeply.

去理解它为何能产生如此深刻的共鸣。

Now, I've seen the Washington Monument in person thousands of times,

我已经亲眼看过 华盛顿纪念碑数千次了，

well aware of the change in the color of marble a third of the way up,

很清楚大理石的颜色在底部往上 约三分之一的地方发生了变化，

but I had never really looked at it out of context

但我从来没有真正脱离环境来看它，

or truly as a work of art.

或是把它当作一件真正的艺术品来看。

And here, Georgia O'Keeffe's painting of this architectural icon made me realize

在这里，乔治亚 · 奥基夫描绘的这个 建筑图标让我认识到，

that if we put our mind to it,

如果我们专心致志，

it's possible to see everyday things

就能以一种全新的、开阔的视角

in a wholly new and eye-opening perspective.

看待日常事物。

Now, there are some skeptics that believe that art just belongs in an art museum.

有一些怀疑论者认为艺术 只属于艺术博物馆里。

They believe that it has no practical use beyond its aesthetic value.

他们认为艺术品除了展览外 没有其他实际用途。

I know who they are in every audience I teach.

我知道我的听众都是谁。

Their arms are crossed, their legs are crossed,

他们的双臂抱在胸前、翘着二郎腿，

their body language is saying,

他们的身体语言明显在说：

"What am I going to learn from this lady who talks fast

“我将从这个匆匆谈论 绘画和雕塑的女士身上

about painting and sculpture?"

学到什么呢？”

So how do I make it relevant for them?

那么我要怎么样让他们感兴趣呢？

I ask them to look at this work of art,

我请他们观察这件艺术品，

like this portrait by Kumi Yamashita.

比如山下工美的这个肖像作品。

And I ask them to step in close,

我还让他们走近去看，

and even closer still,

要靠得非常非常近，

and while they're looking at the work of art,

在看艺术品时，

they need to be asking questions about what they see.

还要针对所看到的内容提出问题。

And if they ask the right questions,

如果他们问出了正确的问题，

like, "What is this work of art?

比如，“这件艺术品是什么？

Is it a painting? Is it a sculpture?

是一个绘画吗？是一个雕塑吗？

What is it made of?" ...

用什么做的？” ……

they will find out that this entire work of art

他们将会发现，整件艺术品

is made of a wooden board,

是用木板、

10,000 nails

10,000 个钉子

and one unbroken piece of sewing thread.

和一条完整的线制作的。

Now that might be interesting to some of you,

现在你们中的一些人可能很感兴趣，

but what does it have to do with the work that these people do?

但是这与这些人的工作有什么关系呢？

And the answer is everything.

答案是，方方面面都相关。

Because we all interact with people multiple times on a daily basis,

因为我们大家每天都会 跟别人打很多次交道，

and we need to get better at asking questions

我们需要针对所看到的事物

about what it is that we see.

提出更好的问题。

Learning to frame the question in such a way

学习以这样一种方式构建问题框架，

as to elicit the information that we need to do our jobs,

以获得我们完成工作所需的信息，

is a critical life skill.

这是一项关键的生活技能。

Like the radiologist who told me

正如一位放射科医生告诉我的那样，

that looking at the negative spaces in a painting

观察一幅绘画中的负空间，

helped her discern more discreet abnormalities in an MRI.

有助于他在核磁共振中 发现更多的异常。

Or the police officer who said that understanding the emotional dynamic

有警员表示，理解绘画中

人物之间的表情动态

between people in a painting

helped him to read body language at a domestic violence crime scene,

能帮助他在家暴 犯罪现场阅读身体语言，

and it enabled him to think twice before drawing and firing his weapon.

也让他能在拔枪并射击前三思而后行。

And even parents can look to see absences of color in paintings

甚至父母也能看到绘画中缺乏色彩，

to understand that what their children say to them

从而理解他们的孩子对他们讲述的

is as important as what they don't say.

和未对他们讲述的一样重要。

So how do I --

那么我该如何 ——

how do I train to be more visually intelligent?

我该如何训练人们 变得更加视觉智能？

It comes down to four As.

总结成4个A。

Every new situation, every new problem --

每个新情况，每个新问题 ——

we practice four As.

我们都践行4A。

First, we assess our situation.

首先，我们评估（Assess）当前的形势。

We ask, "What do we have in front of us?"

我们会问：“我们面临着什么问题？”

Then, we analyze it.

然后，我们进行分析（Analyze）。

We say, "What's important?

我们问，“最重要的是什么？

What do I need? What don't I need?"

我需要什么？不需要什么？”

Then, we articulate it in a conversation, in a memo, in a text, in an email.

然后，我们通过一段对话、一张便条、 一条短信、一封邮件阐明（Articulate）它。

And then, we act: we make a decision.

再后来，我们做出 行动（Act）：做一个决定。

We all do this multiple times a day,

我们大家每天都重复 很多次类似的行为，

but we don't realize what a role seeing and looking plays

但我们并没有意识到在所有的活动中，

in all of those actions,

领悟和观察扮演着什么样的角色，

and how visual intelligence can really improve everything.

视觉智能如何能真正改善一切。

So recently, I had a group of counterterrorism officials

近期有一个反恐小组的官员们

at a museum in front of this painting.

来到博物馆的这幅画前。

El Greco's painting, "The Purification of the Temple,"

埃尔 · 格雷科的画， 《圣殿的净化》，

in which Christ, in the center, in a sweeping and violent gesture,

画中间的基督， 以横扫一切的狂暴姿态，

is expelling the sinners from the temple of prayer.

将罪人逐出祷告神殿。

The group of counterterrorism officials had five minutes with that painting,

反恐小组的官员们 只有 5 分钟时间观察绘画，

and in that short amount of time, they had to assess the situation,

还需要在这么短的时间里评估形势、

analyze the details,

分析细节、

articulate what, if anything,

并阐述：如果他们在绘画中，

they would do if they were in that painting.

他们将会采取什么行动？

As you can imagine, observations and insights differed.

正如你想的那样， 观察与领悟并不一样。

Who would they talk to?

他们会与谁讨论？

Who would be the best witness?

谁是最佳证人？

Who was a good potential witness?

谁是优秀的潜在证人？

Who was lurking?

谁在潜伏？

Who had the most information?

谁掌握最多的信息？

But my favorite comment came from a seasoned cop

不过我最喜欢的评论来自 一个经验丰富的警察，

who looked at the central figure and said,

他看着画中间的人物说，

"You see that guy in the pink?" --

“看到那个穿着 粉色长袍的人了吗？” ——

referring to Christ --

指的是基督 ——

he said, "I'd collar him, he's causing all the trouble."

他说，“我会抓住他，是他惹了麻烦。”

(Laughter)

（笑声）

So looking at art gives us a perfect vehicle to rethink how we solve problems

所以观察艺术作品，给了我们一个 完美的视角来重新思考，

without the aid of technology.

如何在没有技术辅助的 情况下解决问题。

Looking at the work of Felix Gonzalez-Torres,

看看菲利克斯 · 冈萨雷斯 - 托雷斯的作品，

you see two clocks in perfect synchronicity.

你会看到完美同步的两个时钟。

The hour, minute and second hand perfectly aligned.

时针、分针和秒针都完美对齐。

They are installed side by side and they're touching,

它们并排安装，相互接触，

and they are entitled "'Untitled' (Perfect Lovers)."

被命名为“无题（完美情人）”。

But closer analysis makes you realize

但是进一步分析会发现，

that these are two battery-operated clocks,

这是两个电池驱动的时钟，

which in turn makes you understand --

这样你就能明白——

"Hey, wait a minute ...

“嗨，等一下 ……

One of those batteries is going to stop before the other.

其中一个电池将会在另一个之前没电。

One of those clocks is going to slow down and die before the other

那个时钟将会变慢 并早于另一个停止，

and it's going to alter the symmetry of the artwork."

艺术作品的一致性将被改变。”

Just articulating that thought process

只需要阐述思想过程，

includes the necessity of a contingency plan.

包括应急计划的必要性。

You need to have contingencies for the unforeseen,

你需要为不可预见的、

the unexpected and the unknown,

意外的未知事物做好准备，

whenever and however they may happen.

无论它们何时以及如何发生。

Now, using art to increase our visual intelligence

使用艺术来提升我们的视觉智能

involves planning for contingencies,

包括了制定应急计划、

understanding the big picture and the small details

理解全局和细节

and noticing what's not there.

并注意缺少了什么。

So in this painting by Magritte,

在这幅马格里特的画里，

noticing that there are no tracks under the train,

注意火车下面没有轨道，

there is no fire in the fireplace

壁炉里没有火，

and there are no candles in the candlesticks

烛台上也没有蜡烛，

actually more accurately describes the painting

实际上这更加细致地描述了这幅画，

than if you were to say, "Well, there's a train coming out of a fireplace,

而不只是说，“有一个火车开出了壁炉，

壁炉顶端有很多烛台。”

and there are candlesticks on the mantle."

It may sound counterintuitive to say what isn't there,

描述不存在的东西 听起来可能有悖常理，

but it's really a very valuable tool.

但它确实是一个非常有价值的工具。

When a detective who had learned about visual intelligence

当一名在北卡罗来纳州学习过

视觉智能的侦探

in North Carolina

was called to the crime scene,

被叫到犯罪现场，

it was a boating fatality,

那是一次划船死亡事故，

and the eyewitness told this detective that the boat had flipped over

目击者告诉侦探船翻了，

and the occupant had drowned underneath.

船员被淹没在水下。

Now, instinctively, crime scene investigators look for what is apparent,

犯罪现场调查员通常会 直接寻找显而易见的证据，

but this detective did something different.

但是这个侦探做了 一些与众不同的事情。

He looked for what wasn't there, which is harder to do.

他试图查看现场缺了什么， 这就更难做到。

And he raised the question:

他提出了问题：

if the boat had really tipped flipped over --

如果船真的翻了 ——

as the eyewitness said that it did --

就像目击者所说的那样 ——

how come the papers that were kept at one end of the boat

为什么放在船一端的文件

were completely dry?

全都是干的？

Based on that one small but critical observation,

基于这个细小但关键的观察，

the investigation shifted from accidental death to homicide.

调查从意外死亡转向了谋杀。

Now, equally important to saying what isn't there

同样重要的是， 说出那些异常的地方

is the ability to find visual connections where they may not be apparent.

就能够找到视觉上的联系， 尽管它们可能不明显。

Like Marie Watt's totem pole of blankets.

就像玛丽 · 瓦特的毛毯图腾柱。

It illustrates that finding hidden connections in everyday objects

这说明在日常事物中发现隐藏的关联

can resonate so deeply.

可以产生如此深刻的共鸣。

The artist collected blankets from all different people

艺术家从她所在社区里的

in her community,

不同人那里收集毯子，

and she had the owners of the blankets write, on a tag,

她让毯子的主人在标签上

the significance of the blanket to the family.

写上这些毯子对家庭的重要性。

Some of the blankets had been used for baby blankets,

其中一些曾被用作儿童毯，

some of them had been used as picnic blankets,

一些曾被用作野餐毯，

some of them had been used for the dog.

另一些曾被宠物狗使用。

We all have blankets in our homes

大家的家里都有毯子，

and understand the significance that they play.

能理解它们扮演着重要的角色。

But similarly, I instruct new doctors:

同样地，我会这样指导新医生：

when they walk into a patient's room,

当他们进入一个病房，

before they pick up that medical chart,

拿起病人的病例之前，

just look around the room.

先环顾一下房间。

Are there balloons or cards,

看看有没有气球或卡片，

or that special blanket on the bed?

或者床上有特别的毯子吗？

That tells the doctor there's a connection to the outside world.

那会告诉医生， 这里与外界是有联系的。

If that patient has someone in the outside world

如果这位病人在病房外的亲友

to assist them and help them,

能够帮助他们，

the doctor can implement the best care with that connection in mind.

医生就能把这种联系牢记在心， 实施最好的治疗。

In medicine, people are connected as humans

在医学上，他们被确认为 医生和病人之前，

before they're identified as doctor and patient.

是作为人类联系在一起的。

But this method of enhancing perception --

但是这种提高感知力的方法 ——

it need not be disruptive,

不需要具有颠覆性，

and it doesn't necessitate an overhaul in looking.

也不需要捕捉到所有细枝末节。

Like Jorge Méndez Blake's sculpture of building a brick wall

就像豪尔赫 · 门德斯 · 布雷克 基于卡夫卡的作品《城堡》

above Kafka's book "El Castillo"

建造的砖墙雕塑一样，

shows that more astute observation can be subtle and yet invaluable.

这表明更敏锐的观察力 是微妙而宝贵的。

You can discern the book,

你可以辨别出这本书，

and you can see how it disrupted the symmetry

而且可以看到它如何破坏了

of the bricks directly above it,

位于其上方的砖的对称性，

but by the time you get to the end of the sculpture,

但是当你走到雕塑的尽头时，

you can no longer see the book.

就再也看不出那本书了。

But looking at the work of art in its entirety,

但是从整体上看艺术品，

you see that the impact of the work's disruption on the bricks

你会发现这个作品通过 砖块所产生的影响

is nuanced and unmistakable.

是微妙的，且毋庸置疑。

One thought,

一个思想、

one idea,

一个想法、

one innovation can alter an approach,

一个创新都可以改变方法、

change a process

改变过程、

and even save lives.

甚至挽救生命。

I've been teaching visual intelligence for over 15 years,

我教授视觉智能超过 15 年了，

and to my great amazement and astonishment --

令我大为诧异和惊讶的 ——

to my never-ending astonishment and amazement,

让我始终感到惊奇和诧异的是，

I have seen that looking at art with a critical eye

我发现用批判的眼光看待艺术

can help to anchor us in our world of uncharted waters,

能够帮助我们在未知世界的水域锚定，

whether you are a paramilitary trooper,

无论你是待入伍的战士、

a caregiver, a doctor or a mother.

看护者、医生还是母亲。

Because let's face it, things go wrong.

因为我们得面对现实，事情总会出错。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Things go wrong.

没有什么是万无一失的。

And don't misunderstand me,

但别误会，

I'd eat that doughnut in a minute.

我完全不介意吃掉那个甜甜圈。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

But we need to understand the consequences of what it is that we observe,

但是我们需要理解我们 观察到的内容的后果，

and we need to convert observable details into actionable knowledge.

我们需要把可观察到的细节 转换为可行动的知识。

Like Jennifer Odem's sculpture of tables standing sentinel

就像珍妮弗 · 奥登在新奥尔良的 密西西比河岸边

on the banks of the Mississippi River

耸立的桌子雕塑一样，

警惕着威胁，

in New Orleans,

guarding against the threat of post-Katrina floodwaters

在卡特里娜飓风过后的洪水中，

and rising up against adversity,

在逆境中奋起，

we too have the ability to act affirmatively

我们也有能力采取果断的行动，

and affect positive change.

创造积极的变化。

I have been mining the world of art

我一直在挖掘艺术的世界，

to help people across the professional spectrum

以帮助各个专业领域的人

to see the extraordinary in the everyday,

看到日常生活中的不平凡，

阐明缺失的东西，

to articulate what is absent

and to be able to inspire creativity and innovation,

并能激发创造力和创新精神，

no matter how small.

无论多么渺小。

And most importantly,

最重要的是，

to forge human connections where they may not be apparent,

在不显眼的地方建立人际关系，

empowering us all to see our work and the world writ large

使我们能够以一种 新的眼光看待我们的工作

with a new set of eyes.

和整个世界。

Thank you.

谢谢。

（掌声）

(Applause)