VOA常速英语2007年-Afghan Photo Exhibition Signals Artistic Reviva

By George Dwyer
Washington
02 November 2007
 

Afghanistan, a nation once renowned¹ for its artists and intellectuals, has again begun to sprout² a vibrant³ arts movement. For years, artistic⁴ expression was stifled⁵ in the war-torn nation by religious extremists but now has been reborn. Evidence of this comes in an exhibit of photographs taken by young Afghans and now being displayed in Washington, DC's, Goethe-Institut.  VOA's George Dwyer has more.

"Life and Nothing Else" is the name of this photo exhibit organized by the Goethe-Institut of Kabul, Afghanistan and now on display in Washington, D.C.

"This exhibition has works by six young Afghan photographers. They seek to show life as they know it, presenting their view of everyday life in Afghanistan," says Norma Broadwater.

She is a Cultural Programs administrator⁶ with the Goethe-Institute in Washington, D.C., part of a global network of cultural outreach centers funded by the German government.

She tells us, "Afghanistan at one time was a thriving artistic community and it has gone through a period where the arts were repressed and a number of creative people left the country, but I believe that this exhibition shows a lot of beauty in the country. It also shows still an acknowledgment of the beauty of religion."

Most of all, "Life and Nothing Else" shows normality, in simple scenes of ordinary life, such as in a series of photos focusing on living rooms, or in the shots of young people going about their business. No detail, it seems, was too small to catch the eye of the enterprising, up-and-coming artists whose work is featured here.

The noted⁷ German photographer Wolfgang Bellwinkel worked with Goethe-Institut in Kabul to train the young Afghans who took these pictures. Now, it is expected that they themselves will help train the next generation of Afghan photographic artists as the country moves to reclaim⁸ its interrupted tradition of artistic achievement.

1 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

2 sprout   

n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条

参考例句：

• When do deer first sprout horns?鹿在多大的时候开始长出角？
• It takes about a week for the seeds to sprout.这些种子大约要一周后才会发芽。

3 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

4 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

5 stifled   

（使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵

参考例句：

• The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
• The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。

6 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。