"DU Baby" 2009 丙烯顏料，玻璃鋼 235(H)×126(W)×126(L)cm,132(H)×50(W)×50(L)cm,75(H)×150(W)×110(L)cm
"DU Baby" 2009 Acrylic on Fiber Glass 235(H)×126(W)×126(L)cm,132(H)×50(W)×50(L)cm,75(H)×150(W)×110(L)cm
DU是英文貧化鈾（depleted uranium）的縮寫。在鈾礦裡只有0.72%是我們所謂有用的鈾，用於製造核武器及核電廠；而貧化鈾—— 剩下的99.2%以上的竟是核廢料。對這丟之可惜，保存又傷透腦筋的新物質，一直以來皆是各核大國的一大煩惱。歸功於冷戰，1970美國五角大廈的報告顯示蘇聯的新坦克是北約的炮彈無法穿透的，為瞭解決這一軍力傾斜，如此貧化鈾的新應用便誕生了－－在傳統武器上的應用。因為鈾是比鉛還重的金屬，它能穿透所有的坦克。美軍和北約在兩次的波灣及波士尼亞戰爭中皆使用了不知數量的貧化鈾。我們如果在google上搜尋DU，便很容易發現許多伊拉克兒童的天生畸形照片，有看起來已經死的大腦曝露，皮膚局部包裹及器官長於體外的，有看起來活不久的水腦症，腹部極度腫大的，有看起來可以活至少十年以上的四肢局部或全部萎縮的，還有完全看不出來的白血症的。這些圖片是最震撼人心的部分，儘管五角大廈極力地否認貧鈾彈的傷害，但真正的真實已經站在照片這邊，雖然它們看起來也很像好萊塢電影裡的道具。並且，為什麼連這樣的真假也從來沒有在主流媒體裡被辯論過？看完這些照片我唯一的念頭便是藝術家的最大毛病－－做一件作品，原來的打算是將耶穌的形象結合如此症狀，畢竟報復不是唯一選項，而且我並沒有正當的報復立場，為了能夠包容敵人的罪惡很多人選擇了佛教。
弘智， 2009 十一月， 北京
DU is an abbreviation for the English word Depleted Uranium. Only 0.72% of uranium is so-called “viable” uranium which is used to manufacture nuclear weapons and run nuclear power plants. Depleted uranium is the remaining 99.2% and higher nuclear rubbish. This resultant harmful resultant waste has continuously been a major source of worry for nuclear super power nations. Going back to the Cold War, a 1970 Pentagon report stated that NATO artillery shells were unable to pierce the exterior of new Soviet tanks, and as a means of solving this problem of military might, DU weapons were born and used like conventional arms. Due to the fact that uranium is a heavier metal than lead, it can penetrate the exterior of any tank. U.S. and NATO troops used an unknown quantity of DU weapons during both the Gulf War and the Bosnian War. If we search depleted uranium on google, we can easily find photographs of numerous Iraqi babies with major birth defects, some with protruding organs and skin, some with shriveled limbs, some with extreme hydrocephalus, some with distended bellies, and still some with externally undetectable blood diseases. Perhaps what is most shocking about these images is that although the Pentagon has done its best to deny the danger of DU weapons, the truth of the matter reveals itself fully within these photos. Moreover, why has this issue never been covered by the main stream media? After looking at these photos, my only thought was the quintessential artist’s response—to make a work of art. Originally, I planned to make a figure of crucified Christ with these physical symptoms, but after all retaliation is not the only option and furthermore I don’t have true grounds for retaliation. In order to be able to forgive the crimes of the enemy, many people turn to Buddhism.
Hung-Chih, Nv. 2009, in Beijing
攝影: 彭弘智 photo: Hung-Chih Peng / 英文翻譯：姬蓮 English Translation by Jillian Schultz