Electric currents in modern art
原文
Lesson 18
Electric currents in modern art
How might some of the exhibits have been dangerous?
Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more.
The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken.
Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places.
Strange forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops.
We have got quite used to them.
Some so-called 'modern' pieces have been on display for nearly eighty years.
In spite of this, some people--including myself--were surprised by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture.
The first thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said: 'Do not touch the exhibits, some of them are dangerous!'
The objects on display were pieces of moving sculpture.
Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody.
These objects, however, were different.
Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres.
The spheres had been magnetized and attracted or repelled each other all the time.
In the centre of the hall,
there were a number of tall structures which contained coloured lights.
These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad.
Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily.
It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.
These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!
译文
第18课
现代艺术中的电流（注：此处“electric currents”可能为比喻，实际含义需结合上下文确定）
有些展品可能会有什么危险？
现代雕塑已很少再让我们感到惊讶。
认为现代艺术只能在博物馆里看到，这种看法是错误的。
即使对艺术毫无兴趣的人，也不可能注意不到公共场所里展出的现代雕塑。
奇形怪状的雕塑矗立在花园里、建筑物和商店外面。
我们已经习惯了它们的存在。
有些所谓的“现代”艺术品已经展出了近八十年。
尽管如此，包括我在内的一些人，还是被最近的一场现代雕塑展览所震撼。
当我走进艺术画廊时，首先看到的是一张告示，上面写着：“请勿触摸展品，其中一些具有危险性！”
展出的作品都是动态雕塑。
那些形状奇特、悬挂在天花板上的物体，会随着一阵风吹动而移动——这种景象对每个人来说都十分熟悉。
然而，这些物体有所不同。
靠墙排列着一排排细长的金属丝，每根都连接着一个金属球。
这些球体被磁化了，因此它们会不断地相互吸引或相互排斥。
在大厅的中央，
矗立着许多高大的结构，上面装有彩色的灯光。
这些灯光不停地闪烁，就像那些失控的交通信号灯一样。
从小巧的黑色盒子中迸发出火花；红色的灯泡则愤怒地闪烁着。
这有点像一场展示史前电子设备的展览。
这些奇特的设计不仅旨在从情感上震撼人们，还似乎能够给他们带来电击般的刺激！