Dear Lee Wen
How are you?
It seems long since we have seen each other, but every time we met, we were like long-lost friends having deep conversations.
Do you still remember back in 2004 when you travelled to Glasgow for the National Review of Live Art, there was a young and naive girl holding up a paper with you name waiting for you in the airport? it was me working as the festival coordinator, having just started my live art practice, and having such a privilege to meet you, Teching Hsieh and Varsha Nair at the festival. (Thanks Nikki Milican indeed!)
Since then, we had become sincere friends who didn’t see each other very often, but had some special heart-to-heart connection. You all were very kind and generous to me, who was just a little girl then. You gave me lots of critical advices on practising performance art. You gave me some music you used in your performance. You gave me a lead to Shu Yang who organized a festival in Beijing that summer which opened a gateway for me to the world of performance art.
From that on, our paths crossed in different places: Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Guangzhou, Taiwan, etc. We did performances, we ate and drank and got drunk, and sometimes we quarreled, sometimes we made jokes and laughter. But most importantly, you always showed your care and criticality about art and performances. Sometimes I did feel annoyed by your talkativeness and outspokenness, but then I often realized immediately that you were indeed sharply pointing at the problem of some issues that we have taken for granted. My annoyance was indeed a fear of being challenged…
I still remember, last time we met in Taichung when you were setting up your work Ping-pong Go Round at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art and I ran to see you before a symposium in Taipei. You were so excited and hugged me so hard. We played ping-pong, and we chatted for an afternoon. You told me you appreciated my work and encouraged me to make it even better. “Be good, and challenge yourself!” you told me. I was so moved by your words and by our encounter.
Thank you, Lee Wen, for your friendship, your strength, your care, your encouragement, your outspokenness and your generosity. You taught me how to be a good artist, and most importantly, to be a good person. Whenever I want to give up, you would give me a friendly and critical reminder. I was indeed very saddened by your passing, but at the same time, I was so touched and inspired by the fact that you are respected, remembered and beloved by so many of us.
I believe that your spirit is always with us. May we all be good and challenge ourselves, all of our dear friends.
best
wen yau
親愛的李文
你好嗎？好久不見了，但每次碰面，我們總是一見如故，深切交流
還記2004年你到格拉斯哥為現場藝術節演出，有一個不知天高地厚的小女孩在機場高舉你的名字在接機嗎？那時候我給藝術節做統籌跑腿，剛才開始接觸現場藝術，實在是慶幸有機會認識你、謝德慶和Varsha Nair。自此，儘管我們都不常聚頭，卻都成了交心摯友。那時候，你們待我這位無名小卒既友善又寬宏。尤其是你帶給我許多關於行為藝術的省思， 又送我演出時用過的音樂，甚至介紹我給北京的舒陽認識，讓我參加他那年夏天籌辦的現場藝術節，從此打開了我通往行為藝術的康莊大道。
往後，我們在北京、東京、新加坡、香港、澳門、廣州、台灣等不同的地方相遇。我們做展演，我們吃吃喝喝，有時醉酒鬧事，有時吵個面紅耳赤，有時又笑作一團。最重要的是，你對我總是表現關心，對行為藝術都會嚴辭批判。有時候你有話直說喋喋不休教人煩擾，然後我又馬上明白，其實你總是一針見血地質疑我們習以為常的問題，心生煩擾的話正是因為害怕被挑戰罷了。
還記得上次在台中見面，你正在台灣國家美術館裝置圓桌乒乓，而我就在台北參加研討會前溜到台中找你，你興奮的抱緊我，拉著我一起打乒乓，然後聊天聊了一個下午。你說你欣賞我的作品，並鼓勵我要繼續加油改進。你說：「好好的，挑戰自己！」這句話，還有那一晝的相聚教我一直心深感動呢。
多謝你，李文。謝謝你的友情，你的強勁，你的關心，你的鼓勵，你的坦誠，你的寬宏。你教曉我如何做一個好的藝術家，更重要的是，教我如何做一個好人。每當我氣餒，你就會提示我好好省思。你的離去固然讓我悲疼哀傷，然而看到你如何深受大家尊敬、懷念和疼愛，我又覺極其感動和啟發。
我相信你的精神永遠長存我們心裏。我們都要，好好的，挑戰自己喔！祝
安息
魂游 敬上
This is the letter I read out at Lee Wen’s Memorial Tribute, 17 March 2019, Singapore.