A Brief Introduction to Lin Ying who Changed American History

She is by far the youngest doctor in Yale University. Lin Ying, aged from 65438 to 0980, is famous for designing the Vietnam War Memorial. 1999, she was named "the most important 100 American in the 20th century" and "50 future American leaders" by American Life magazine. On May 30, 2002, she was elected president of Yale University by a landslide.

Lin Ying is a successful man. Her design ideas come from different elements. On this smaller and smaller planet, human thoughts should transcend regions and cultures.

It was a few years ago, after reading Linda's book, that I realized that the American Vietnam War Memorial was the work of China female architect Lin Ying.

Lin Ying studied in Yale, a famous American school, a weak woman who seldom saw her smile. Because of the design of a monument, she suddenly stepped into the ranks of famous architectural designers.

Although the Vietnam War Memorial was opposed by Vietnam War veterans, with the passage of time, this work designed by a foreign woman who was only 2 1 year old and had never experienced this war has become a model of American memorial architecture.

This is the brick expression of Lin Ying. The connection between the sea and the island is one, and the island is the continuation of the waves of the sea.

It also expresses her appeal for the natural connection in landscape art.

Lin Ying, a landscape poet with family roots, said that she likes simple and uncomplicated things, which can be seen from her recent installation art exhibition entitled "Regular Scenery" at Henry Art Museum in Washington, USA.

Richard Andis, curator of the museum, said, "Lin Ying has extraordinary abilities. She can convey complex and poetic situations with natural materials in a simple way.

She uses natural and concise works to closely link ideal with reality.

Lin Ying creates architectural works in the name of art, connecting visual enjoyment with environmental art, and she often designs landscapes for clients.

When can China find some architects who can design buildings in the name of art? Now many artists devote themselves to architectural design, such as He Duoling. The Helan Mountain Residence designed by his studio looks beautiful when taken out alone, but if it is integrated with the surrounding environment, it will be chaotic when viewed from the top.

Can we get some enlightenment from Lin Ying's works? Can we stop doing things, face nature calmly, face the city and country where we live, and then plan our scenery with the idea that we are not living in an impossible ideal kingdom?

Memory of War, Memory of War —— Lin Ying and the Vietnam War Memorial

Zheng Da: Assistant Professor, English Department, Suffolk University.

There have been three wars in American history that shocked the whole country and had great differences: the first one was the American War of Independence of 1776, which forced people to think about whether to continue to exist as a British colony or fight for independence as a country; The second is the civil war of 186 1- 1865. People are faced with a severe choice, whether to divide the north and south into two independent * * *, or to maintain a unified system that continues the Federation; The third is the Vietnam War (1959- 1975), which caused long-term intense rational and emotional thinking, whether it was a war to safeguard justice and freedom or a nightmare of wrong policies and stupid tactics.

The American War of Independence gave birth to a new country with great vitality for the world. To commemorate Washington, who led the war and served as the first president, a towering Washington Monument was built in the capital. The Civil War ended with Confederate leaders signing their surrender at the negotiating table. Although there were countless casualties between the north and the south, the unity of the country was maintained. In order to show respect for President Lincoln who insisted on the unity of slaves, a solemn, majestic and elegant Lincoln Memorial Hall was built in front of the Washington Monument. The Vietnam War lasted 16 years, and 2.7 million people participated in the war in the United States, including 580,000 people (including 8 women) who died and more than 300,000 people were injured. To commemorate the war that changed American political, economic, diplomatic and psychological values, 1000 USD. 10000 . 386868686007

The founder of the Vietnam War Memorial is the Vietnam War veteran Jane Scruggs.

1979 In March, 29-year-old Scott, who was working in the Ministry of Labor at that time, saw the film deer hunter, which reflected the Vietnam War. He couldn't sleep all night. He imagined and recalled countless comrades. He thought that a monument should be built to commemorate all the soldiers who participated in the Vietnam War and record the names of those soldiers who died for their country.

Memory of war, memory of war: American studies; Some Vietnam veterans agree with the idea of underground banks.

Therefore, together with lawyers Bob Dubberke and Jack Wheeler, he set up the Vietnam War Memorial Fund to raise funds.

They set an action goal: get the site for building the monument at 1980; 198 1 year, and completed the work of raising funds; 1982, built a monument; 1982165438+1October 1 1 Veterans' Day and held a celebration ceremony.

However, there are many difficulties in building this monument.

First of all, although the Vietnam War has ended for several years, the aftermath of the strong anti-war movement has not dissipated.

Social criticism denounced the opponents of this protracted war. When they heard that a monument was to be built, they immediately said * * *, because building a monument was tantamount to praising the fallen soldiers and acknowledging and affirming the Vietnam War.

Second, there are advantages and disadvantages among veterans. Even among those who think that the Vietnam War should be commemorated, some people think that instead of building monuments, it is better to help veterans directly and do some tangible benefits.

Third, the issue of funds.

The Monument Foundation decided to raise funds by raising funds instead of state funds.

However, it is not easy to raise millions of dollars.

The foundation sent letters to 200,000 veterans to collect donations, but only more than 2,000 people responded, with an average donation of $65,438 +07.39 per person.

After deducting expenses, the income is only 6500 dollars.

Fourth, to do this, we need the support of * * and deal with organizations such as Congress.

However, in this bureaucracy, it is not easy to deal and negotiate.

However, Scrooge and other organizers did not flinch.

They work hard step by step.

They first chose the lawn on the boulevard near Lincoln Memorial as the ideal monument.

Near that place, besides the Capitol Hill, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, there are six or seven famous museums such as the Jefferson Memorial of the White House and the Smithsonian Museum.

It is the center of tourism, in practical and symbolic sense, the center of the United States, which can be described as the most sacred place.

Scrooge lobbied in Congress and was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

1 July, 19801day, President Carter signed and approved a congressional bill to set aside two acres of lawn on the right side of the Lincoln Memorial as a monument.

Next, the foundation began to collect the design patterns of the monument.

They decided to send an invitation to the whole country, and everyone is welcome to attend.

The author who wins the first prize will receive a prize of $20,000.

As a result, the enthusiasm of the applicants was high, and 2573 people participated in the registration. By * * *, a total of 65,438+04,265,438+0 design drawings have been received, which is unprecedented in scale and the largest open art competition in American history.

The design drawings of these applications can be as long as 1.3 miles if they are arranged side by side.

The selection committee consists of eight prestigious artists.

All the works are hung indoors and selected by the selection Committee one by one.

After a lot of rough selection and elimination, there are 232 left.

Finally, after screening at different levels, 1026 stood out, was unanimously approved and won the first prize.

Maya Lin Ying, who is still unknown in architecture and art, is a designer who won the first prize.

At that time, Lin Ying was still studying at Yale University.

This is her first time to participate in a national art competition.

It was on the bulletin board of Yale that she saw the news that the Vietnam War Soldiers Foundation collected designs.

She is eager to try, but she doesn't hold out much hope.

Encouraged by the professor, she went to Washington, D.C. for a field trip.

It was 165438+ October, and the autumn wind was bleak, but the blue sky was like washing.

Standing on the boulevard, facing the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, Lin Ying immediately formed a strong idea: to build this monument, the ground should be cut and the stone tablet should be higher than the ground, symbolizing wound healing.

Monuments should be stretched like arms and embrace all mankind.

She also thinks that the whole park around is like a living whole, and the monument should be a part of it, which should exist in harmony and not be abrupt.

She designed a sketch and discussed it in class.

It is a 125 degree "V" shaped black wall, with the highest junction in the middle, and gradually inclines downward to both sides.

Her classmates and professors criticized the colors and lines of her works.

But Lin Ying has his own opinion. She thinks her design is "architectural pun", which is not straightforward, but has connotation and is intriguing.

Professor Andrews Burr agreed with her basic idea, but suggested that she should make the "V" shape of the monument meaningful.

He rated Lin Ying's works as "B".

Later, Professor Burr's works also took part in the competition, but they fell into Sun Shan.

I didn't expect Lin Ying to emerge as a national famous figure.

Lin Ying grew up in Athens, Ohio in the midwest.

Lin Changmin, Lin Ying's grandfather, is a famous figure in the modern history of China.

He accepted advanced western ideas and advocated progress and * * * system.

In the words of Jonathan Spencer, a historian in China, Lin Changmin was a "passionate, sociable and romantic man".

Lin Ying's parents came to the United States from the mainland in the 1940s.

My father, Lin Heng, is an expert in ceramic art and teaches at the Art College of Ohio University. My mother is a poet and teaches English literature and China literature at Ohio University.

Lin Ying grew up in such a family of intellectuals who knew both Chinese and western cultures, and was influenced by noble art from an early age.

Although she was born in America, oriental art, philosophy, literature and values have influenced her subtly.

On the other hand, the beautiful forests, vast fields and boundless Der Blaue Engel in the Midwest of the United States can fully enjoy Emerson's supernatural experience.

She loves freedom, unrestrained, emotional and independent.

She went to Yale University and majored in architecture.

She often goes to the "Grove Street Cemetery" near the school and walks solemnly and quietly.

In silence, read carefully the words on the tombstone.

She said, "There is a grave of the captain of the ferry with a ferry engraved on it.

Its lines are simple and beautiful.

I like simple and uncomplicated things. "

After the news that Lin Ying won the first prize was made public, it immediately caused an uproar in the society and caused controversy.

Praise and criticism, support and criticism together.

First of all, about Lin Ying's qualifications.

Lin Ying, who was only 2 1 year old at that time, had not been born in the early Vietnam War.

She has never been to the battlefield, has never experienced bullets, and knows almost nothing about the Vietnam War.

She is not interested in politics and usually doesn't care about the world.

What she likes is reading the philosophical works of modern writers such as Sartre, Camus or Bess.

Besides, Lin Ying is a college student.

She dressed casually and attended.

At the press conference to announce the winning works, she was the central figure, but she was wearing a pair of worn-out jeans.

Many Vietnam veterans and the public can't accept such an "immature" and "ignorant" college student as a Vietnam War memorial.

Secondly, the form of Lin Ying's winning works is also controversial.

This 492-foot-long monument is a modernist work of art without any decoration or specific shape.

Dark colors and buried monuments are more sad tombstones than heroes.

Its V-shaped structure is reminiscent of the V-shaped symbol of peace against the war.

Lin Ying also advocated that no words about the Vietnam War should be engraved on the monument, even "Vietnam" should be written on it, except the names of the deceased and the dates when the Vietnam War began and ended.

Many people are opposed to this.

Ross perrault, a millionaire who actively promoted the Vietnam War Memorial and generously donated it, was even more angry and strongly opposed it.

They all think that the monument will play a role in belittling irony in this form, and the viewer will naturally think of the death of the soldiers who participated in the war and the defeat of the country, but will not think of the sacred mission and lofty obligations of the soldiers in Vietnam.

Moreover, its form is too abstract, belonging to 2 1 century works of art, popular and unpopular.

Despite Lin Ying's intransigence, dissidents ignored Lin Ying's creative rights and decided to add words commemorating the Vietnam War soldiers to the monument. In the absence of Lin Ying, they approved the artist Frederick Hart to make a figure sculpture and put it in front of the monument as a concrete visual supplement.

The monument was built on 1982 Veterans' Day as planned.

Two years later, Hart's figure sculpture composed of white, black and Spanish soldiers was added to the monument.

Lin Ying was very angry about it. She said, "I can't imagine anyone with a sense of justice adding a beard to someone else's portrait.

"She dismissed Hart's group sculptures and sharply criticized:" Three people just stand in front of the world-that's a cliche.

That's generalization, not vulgarization.

Hart gave you an image-he was drawing an illustration. "

The third point of contention is about the arrangement of the list.

The whole monument consists of 150 black granite stones, each 3 inches thick, 40 inches wide and 8 inches to 140 inches high.

Lin Ying believes that it should be arranged alphabetically according to the year of death.

She believes that if this arrangement is like reading a Greek epic, with the development of the war, the death toll will gradually change.

The opposition believes that it should be arranged completely in alphabetical order.

It is easy to find.

But it turns out that the latter's opinion is not enough.

For example, there are only 600 people with the surname "Smith", while as many as 26 people with the same name and surname "james johnson".

Even if a name is found, the family members can't tell which one is the james johnson they are looking for.

Later, according to Lin Ying's opinion, it started with "1959" at the upper right of the middle junction of the monument, developed to the right, then connected with the left wall tip, and developed to the middle, until the end of "1975" at the lower middle.

Looking up these lists, people start from the middle, move to the right, return to the left, and finally return to the middle.

This circular movement seems to symbolize the process of a war and also marks the starting point of a new movement.

The Vietnam War Memorial has neither lofty grandeur nor luxurious decoration.

However, its simplicity and conciseness have produced fascinating and peculiar artistic effects.

The "V" shape, like two sides of a triangular tomb, and another invisible third side form a magnificent memorial hall.

Like two long arms, it extends outward, reaching the Lincoln Memorial on one side and holding up the Washington Monument on the other, linking the three wars and calling on the world to think about their significance.

"Vietnam War Monument" is not conspicuous by luxury, but produces a sense of distance; It invites and welcomes tourists and asks us to go forward, get close to the black monument and read these names carefully.

To read these names, you have to walk along the monument and step down from the sloping ground.

At the same time, the monument gradually rises, creating a sense of sublimity that rises to the blue sky.

Black granite is as smooth as a mirror, and blue sky, white clouds, lawns and tourists are reflected in it.

When we face the monument and read the names on it carefully, we can clearly see our own shadow and see that it is integrated with the names of the dead, just like facing a mirror.

As creatures, we can't avoid communicating and reflecting with the deceased, and get emotional sublimation at this moment.

The Vietnam War Memorial Hall is like a modern place of worship.

Tourists come here to face the names of deceased relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms, relive the past, and some even kiss the names on the tablet.

They left commemorative words, a bunch of flowers or a photo in front of the monument.

The Black Monument helps Vietnamese soldiers, their families, relatives and friends, and the whole society to heal their mental wounds. Awaken the painful memories that have been suppressed for a long time and achieve emotional purification.

More importantly, facing the two walls of the monument, tourists began to seriously think about the value of life, the meaning of war, the meaning of freedom and the future of society.

The selection of Lin Ying's design means that an architect of oriental origin has the right to use his works to interpret a war in Asia.

In addition, Lin Ying's works have more profound significance than this, because she symbolically raised a profound question with the big walls on both sides of the monument: Is there still a high wall in our world? During the preparation, design and construction of this monument, we saw many invisible high walls, such as male chauvinism and western centralism.

In this regard, Lin Ying did not explain.

She just built this high wall in the form of art, so that we can think, explore and find satisfactory answers.