Photo provided by author.

現在何方？

董先生一直居住於香港。這個都市是他創作的重要靈感來源。

過去一年的發展？

董先生一直在寫作和重寫《學習年代》的續篇。部份內容早已完成，現正進行重寫。由於續篇牽涉數個“層次和聲部”，構思頗為複雜，所以他一直在思考怎樣寫下去，估計完成續篇很可能需時兩到三年。除了專注於創作續篇，董先生於今年二月亦參加了台北書展。

來年大計？

董先生說他來年並沒任何特別計劃，除了專注寫作既教學，他希望可推卻一切事務，專心完成《學習年代》的續篇。

Photo provided by Dung Kai Cheung

Where’s he now?

Mr Dung Kai Cheung is now teaching writing at the University of Hong Kong in leisure. Apart from that, he devotes most of his time writing the sequel of The Age of Learning in Hong Kong.

What has he been working on the past year?

Dung has been writing and also rewriting the sequel of the Age of Learning. Parts of the sequel have been finished years ago and some of them are now being rewritten. Dung is also pondering how to keep on finishing the sequel. He said his idea for the squeal was very complicated and involved ‘several levels or “sound departments”’ and it probably would take 2 to 3 years to have the sequel completed. Apart from focusing on the sequel, Dung had also taken part in the 2011 Taipei Book Fair in February.

What is on the horizon?

Dung said he had no specific plan for the coming year. Apart from teaching, he said he hoped he could turn down all other affairs and focus on his writing.

甄詠蓓不但是母親，妻子，演員，導演，她現在更是專欄家及商業電台一台的節目主持人。甄詠蓓的專欄可以於茶杯雜誌，都市日報，星島，及LISA味道中找到，而題目就十分廣泛，由女性文化到親子關係都有。

甄詠蓓更擴展到電台。 她和黃永一同主持小晴朗開心打怪獸，不久前剛完成第一季。於節目中，小學生以及他們的家長一同被邀請到節目參加辯論比賽，而辯題亦十分鬼馬，例如“小學生應否玩遊戲機”。小晴朗開心打怪獸不單於小孩子及家長般十分受歡迎，亦提供一個可讓聽眾聽到小孩子真實聲音的平台。

“我們時常聽到專家分析，但這個電台我們可以真正聽到小孩子的聲音。” 甄詠蓓說。“我們不應讓城市荼毒或淤塞了我們對於人和人之間溝通美麗的地方。”

著寫專欄及主持電台節目都是甄詠蓓“大愛在都市”的一部分。“文化不應只屬於文化圈，而是屬於每個生活在城市的人。文化做到的東西更加深，不單指消遣，而是對一個人的內在的影響。” 甄詠蓓說。“大愛在都市提倡文化對心靈的重要，希望令香港人意識到文化與每個人都有關，亦能夠提升一個人的內在價值和內涵。”

阿花愛漫遊，一個關於外太空漫遊的話劇，就是大愛在都市的第一步。 甄詠蓓將藝術手段詩意化，找來了 黃靖 ，人山人海的唱作人，揉合了音樂及藝術的元素。

但大愛在都市絕對不至於此。甄詠蓓將遠赴星加玻導“阿Q後傳”，改編於魯迅的阿Q正傳，以及在香港的家家有笑話，探討日常生活的詼諧事。甄詠蓓亦打算出版一本相片集，親自訪問和拍攝小孩子，談一下愛，或香港的地產發展等有趣的題目。

“這個計劃我想要嘗試紀錄真實的人，作為一個歷史的紀錄。” 甄詠蓓說。“現在媒體難以相信，很多塑造的形象。”

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Love in the city

Yan is a woman of many faces. Not only is she mother, wife, actor, director, she is also penning several columns for magazines and hosting a radio show on Commercial Radio 1. Yan’s columns can be found at Cup Magazine, metropop, Singtao, and Lisa, with the subject ranging from female culture to parenting.

Yan also co-hosted a radio show (小晴朗開心打怪獸) with Vincent Wong, a prominent radio host of Commercial Radio 2’s popular morning show. The show, having just wrapped up its first season, invited primary school students and their parents to debate topics such as “Children should be allowed to play video games”. Not only was the show popular among kids and adults, it also provided an opportunity for the public to listen to the children’s voices.

“We always hear from professionals, but through this show the audience gets to directly hear from the children.” Yan said. “It’s important that we do not let the city pollute or clog the beauty of communicating with each other.”

This is all part of the Imagine the Next project that Yan initiated last year. “Art is not something confined to a specific circle, nor is it only something you do when you have spare time,” Yan said. “And therefore Imagine the Next aspires to infuse people with the understanding that art belongs to everyone, that it improves one’s spiritual health and connects people.”

Viva Odyssey (阿花愛漫遊), a play about a journey to the outer space, was one of the first steps into the ambitious project. Yan brought together musical and theatrical elements to create the play, collaborating with Jing Wong, a singer-songwriter in People Mountain People Sea, a music production company.

But Imagine the Next does not stop here. Yan will be directing a play (阿Q後傳) adapted from The True Story of Ah Q, in Singapore, and a drama (家家有笑話) about ordinary family life. A photo book where Yan goes and photographs different children, and asking their opinions on love or Hong Kong’s real estate is also one of the creative plans Yan has in store for Imagine the Next.

“What this photo book does is that it’ll try to record real people,” said Yan. “It’s hard to trust the media these days. The people seem very fabricated and distant.

“This photo book will thus serve as some kind of a historical record of the children of this era.” Yan said.

文化葫蘆，一個香港的非牟利機構，在七月至八月中將於賽馬會創意藝術中心舉行港文化。港創意系列的第二個展覽。學生將會圍繞著深水埗區創作出自己的產品，並於展覽中展出。

“港文化。港創意的展覽嘗試用不同的社區角度出發。” 霍天雯，文化葫蘆的總幹事及總策展人說。“理念是希望大家都能夠從社區的角度知道每一區獨特的特色，展覽將社區不同的特色可以帶出來， 亦邀請了artists 用社區的元素作為一個展覽的基礎。”

文化葫蘆相信文化保育對於本土創意產業的發展是不可或缺的，亦用這個理念構思不同的展覽。第一次的港文化。港創意展覽於荷李活道已婚警察宿舍舉行，著重於中上環。展覽活動包括文化導賞，工作坊，及設計作品的展覽以表達中上環區的獨特性。

“葫蘆希望展覽活動能讓更多的人去認識本土文化。” 霍天雯說。“透過探索社區，及工作坊運用創作力去發掘社區的元素去做一些創意產品。”

文化葫蘆去年亦辦了不少主題式的展覽，有別於地區性的展覽。「家家有計」香港四十年家居面貌展就利用家居，傢俬，及擺設去解釋香港文化的變遷。而「味不可言」展覽就運用了四種基本味覺－甜，酸，苦，辣－去解釋香港複雜及感官性的飲食文化。

雖然過去舉辦的展覽非常成功，文化葫蘆並不甘於現狀。“港文化。港創意的展覽不論在觀眾及學生的層面都得到很好的反應。” 霍天雯說。“葫蘆希望未來能夠在香港的十八區都能舉辦港文化。港創意的展覽。”

其他未來的計畫包括一個關於香港傳統工藝及手作仔的展覽。

Second Heritage X Art X Design Walk in Sham Shui Po this summer

Hulu Culture, a Hong Kong non-profit cultural organization, has on the table the second Heritage X Art X Design Walk, where students create design products with the unique Sham Shui Po touch, and show them off in the exhibition during July and August in the Jockey Club Creative Arts Center.

“This exhibition series is themed around a different district each time,” said Iman Fok, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Hulu Culture. “The idea is to showcase the distinctive characteristics of each district, have artists develop related art, and show how local culture is actually an invaluable industry of Hong Kong. ”

Hulu Culture believes that the preservation of local heritage is fundamental to the creative industry in Hong Kong, and has centered their exhibitions around this idea. The first of the Heritage X Art X Design Walk launched in the Former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters focusing on the Central District and Sheung Wan. Its activities included cultural tours, workshops, and showcasing design products to demonstrate the individuality of the district.

“Hulu really wants more people to understand the community’s culture through these exhibitions,” said Fok. “Through allowing people to explore the district, and through workshops where students use their own creativity to represent the district.”

The organization also did subject-oriented exhibitions last year, as opposed to district-oriented ones. The Look of Hong Kong Homes & Households in 40 Years Exhibition explained Hong Kong’s cultural changes through home displays, furnitures, and decorations.  The Food Arts Festival 2010 「味不可言」展覽 used the basic tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy – to make sense of the complicated and sensual Hong Kong food culture.

Despite its success, Hulu Culture has no plan of stopping. “The Heritage X Arts X Design Walk has received such positive feedback,” said Fok. “We hope to cover all 18 districts in the coming years.”

Other future plans include an exhibition that showcases Hong Kong’s traditional craftsmanship and handicrafts.

由2003年開始進行街頭表演，阿權可以算是第一批到旺角西洋菜南街街頭賣藝的團體。

“現在旺角西洋菜南街某程度上是包容性最大的。你做表演，不論是政黨，教會，不同的人都可以在這裡做不同的活動和分享。”阿權說。“我們是第一批做街頭表演的團體，看著這裡變成了文娛藝術的街道。基本上沒有人去阻止你做表演 。”

阿權定期表演一個定格表演，叫做”比D顏色你看”，表演中，阿權會定格於街上，並邀請途人於他身上塗上油彩。這個表演始源之前網民對好戲量的批評，說他的表演過於激進，又說阿權非禮女途人。

“‘比D顏色你看’將觀眾的參與由表演者主動變成一種被動的方式。觀眾覺得好有趣，因可以在我身上塗顏色。” 阿權說。“街頭表演不是純粹表演者在作個人表演，而是將表演者的東西分享，和觀眾有交流。”

羅金榮，唱片監製及唱作人，曾監製“男親女愛”的主題曲“藍天”，亦會到西洋菜南街表演。“通常我會在星期五，六演唱。” 羅金榮說。“一開始要克服途人的眼光其實真的不容易。”

“但透過街頭演唱，我售賣了超過5000隻我的個人大碟，亦得到了一群忠實的歌迷。” 羅金榮說。“值得的。”

阿權亦發現了一個沒有預料到關於街頭表演的好處。好戲量樓下的賣龍鬚糖的婆婆跟阿權變的很熟，亦會幫他們預留一個位置。而附近的餐廳亦都認得阿權，到餐廳用餐時，老闆都會送他一杯免費豆漿。於西洋菜南街擺檔的寬頻銷售人員亦都認得阿權。

“這個就是話劇和街頭表演的分別，做街頭表演會開始和這個社區建立聯繫。” 阿權說。

但街頭表演現時還是只侷限在西洋菜南街。“我自己的計畫是想將街頭表演帶去不同的社區做。港九新界不同的地方。” 阿權說。“但應該會先去自己熟悉的社區，例如我家附近，和我以前上學的地方。”

從街頭表演建立的人氣， 羅金榮亦將於今年推出最新的個人大碟。“街頭表演可以是一個平台，讓有實力的音樂人開始接觸到觀眾。” 羅金榮說。“它可能會帶來成功，但當然要看看我的專輯成績如何。”

現在越來越多街頭表演者，街頭表演在香港亦逐漸變得成熟。香港有偏窄的街道和好奇的觀眾，街頭表演絕對有潛質稱為一個獨特的街頭文化。“我對於街頭表演的發展是樂觀的。” 阿權說。“但經驗告訴我們文化藝術的東西不是一年兩年就可以發生的。”

“必須隨著每年每年繼續做，慢慢就會越來越多人關心這個東西，慢慢形成了一個氣候。”阿權說。“人們知道這裡有一群人在做街頭表演，越認識的多，接觸得多大家就會接受。”

Ken Fung (right) has been busking in Mong Kok since 2003.

“Now Sai Yeung Choi Street South is to a certain extent the most tolerant street towards busking. Performers, political parties, the church… Everyone can do events and sharing here.” Fung said. “We were among the first to perform here, and we witnessed it transform into this street of cultural arts – basically there won’t be anyone stopping you from performing.”

Fung now regularly performs a little skit/freezing act called Show You Some Colors, where he freezes his motion and ask passers-by to paint on him. The skit originated from netizens’ complaints about his act being too aggressive and bold, saying that he was trying to sexually harass females.

“Show You Some Colors turns a performer-initiated performance to a audience-initiated one. The passers-by are very interested because they get to paint on me,” said Fung. “And I love it because Show You Some Colors is not merely a show, but where a performer can interact and share some things with the audience.”

WingLo, a producer and singer-songwriter, can also be seen performing in Sai Yeung Choi Street South. “I usually sing on friday and saturday nights,” WingLo said. “It was hard overcoming the looks you get from people at first.

“But now I’ve sold more than 5,000 copies of my album and have a regular and supportive fans base,” said WingLo. “I think it’s all worth it.”

Apart from regularly performing last year, Fung also found out a unexpected perk of busking to the community. The old woman selling traditional Chinese candies downstairs took a personal affection for them and helped them save space for their performance. The local diners recognized Fung and gave him a free soy milk when he went there for lunch. The cable internet sales in the area have become friends with Fung.

“This to me is really the difference between theatrical and street performance,” said Fung. “You are connecting with the community.”

Busking, despite its success in Sai Yeung Choi Street South, is still only confined in that area. “I want to take my performance to the different places in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories – all 18 districts,” said Fung. “Perhaps I’ll start with places I know well, like where I live and where I used to go to school.”

WingLo, whose street performances have gotten him recognition, will be releasing an album this year. “Busking can be like this platform where talented musicians start out and slowly work their way through people,” WingLo said. “It could lead to success, but I guess that’ll depend on how my album goes.”

With more and more street performers in the past year, busking has been gaining momentum. In Hong Kong where there are narrow streets and an inquisitive bunch of audience, busking has the potential to develop into a unique local culture. “I am optimistic about busking’s development,” said Fung. “But experience tells me that culture and arts development doesn’t happen in one or two years.

“You have to keep doing year after year and eventually more people will be aware of what you’re doing,” said Fung. “It creates an atmosphere where people recognize this group of people who performs here, and with more understanding and interaction, acceptance and tolerance will follow.”

Tania 對大嶼山情有獨鍾，不但置居於此地，亦在此設立了自己的工作室。她的藝術靈感大多源自她居住和工作的環境。畢業於皇家藝術學院，Tania十七年前移居香港。她希望透過自己的作品去啟發別人以及讓人關住各種事物。

創作旅途

Tania所繪畫的地圖有不一般的特色，亦很受兒童歡迎。她的作品簡單易懂，但具有深遠意義。今年，Tania專注編寫兒童世界旅遊書。「KidsGo!」乃她的近期作品，書中展出了多張不同城市的地圖，地圖上都標記了適合兒童遊覽的著名景點。她希望透過這份作品讓孩子們積極參與行程計劃，從中學會自立。今年七月初，Kapok (一間位於灣仔的店舖)展出了她在「KidsGo!」中的圖片和作品。

一帆風順

Tania正計劃成立自己的印刷公司「Small Editions」。她表示，希望能夠為自己的孩子繪畫一張大嶼山地圖，因為大嶼山內有很多有歷史價值的地方，從而值得關住。

Tania’s journeys of imagination take off from Lantau Island, where her home and studio are. She studied at the Royal College of Art and moved to Hong Kong from London 17 years ago. Now in Hong Kong, she hopes to broaden the minds of us with her illustrations.

Tiny maps, enormous creativity

Within Tania’s colorful maps convey her individuality and originality. Innovative maps set her illustrations away from typical and boring maps. With younger target audiences, her maps are less informative yet much more interesting and broadening to look at. Over this year, Tania has dedicated herself in drawing travel guides for children. KidsGo! is one of her most recent project in which she mapped out significant sightseeing areas and kid-friendly places in those cities using enlarged symbols. The aim is to keep children entertained as well as letting children plan where they want to go and work out a route on their own. During July, some of these images taken from the KidsGo! travel guides were exhibited in Kapok, a small artistic shop in Wan Chai.

Bon Voyage!

In the future, Tania will further establish her printing company– “small editions”. She also wishes to do a Lantau Island map for her children, for there are many historical and environmental issues in Lantau Island that are worth our concerns.