2008/06/29

落選「香港地方風情」徵文比賽

由香港公共圖書館舉辦的「第七屆香港文學節」,於2008年6月27日至7月14日舉行,主要推動本地文學創作和市民閱讀風氣。

今屆主題是「書香‧港情」,因此香港公共圖書館特別舉辦「書寫我城十八情」專題展覽,從近半世紀以來的小說、散文及其他文學作品中,節錄與香港十八區有關的段落,讓我們重溫著名作家為香港留下的筆跡,他們包括小思、張愛玲、也斯、余光中、舒巷城等。從名家的筆跡中,深深體會到他們對香港的情懷,也流露了對香港的熱愛與留戀,也見證了半世紀以來香港十八區的各種不同面貌與社會變遷,從而構成了別具特色的香港文化與文學。

有關「香港文學節」活動詳情,可參考以下網址:
http://www.hklf.org.hk/b5_index.php

為配合今年度「香港文學節」,香港公共圖書館還舉辦了「香港地方風情」徵文比賽,參賽者只需選擇香港十八區其中一區為題材,以中文寫作不超過2000字之散文一篇,內容可描寫地方、人物、生活、風俗、事件或個人感受。徵文比賽共收到近1000份參賽作品,評審包括香港浸會大學朱少璋博士、香港中文大學樊善標教授、三位資深作家陳雲博士、葉輝先生及關夢南先生,評審以作品的文學性及能夠反映地方文化面貌及人文特色為主要準則。

獲獎作品大多以個人感受的小品散文為主,而地區選擇也多元化,冠軍作品以慈雲山作題材,亞軍作品以深水埗作背景,季軍作品則是大坑,另外六名優異獎的分別以屯門、調景嶺、元朗、鯉魚門、上水圍、荃灣。相較之下,我的參賽作品則像旅遊文章,主要介紹赤柱的特色,卻沒有著墨抽述這地方與自己有何密切關係,個人感受也欠奉,或許這就是我輸掉比賽的原因吧。雖然有少許失望,但我十分享受搜集資料及寫作的過程,獲益匪淺。

我的參賽作品題目命名為「赤柱多面『睇』」,內文如下:

這裡,風景怡人,空氣清新;
這裡,華洋雜處,文化匯粹;
這裡,原民外客,和諧共處;
這裡,古蹟新築,處處皆是;
只要你曾經來過,準會被她那股迷人魅力吸引著;
這裡,便是港島最美麗的後花園 – 赤柱。

赤柱,猶如世外桃源,環境清幽寧靜,遠離鬧市煩囂,是都市人的理想居住環境。每逢假日,她那熱情奔放的一面表露無遺,由小賣亭伸延至卜公碼頭的海濱長廊,遊人如鯽,熱鬧非常。從赤柱市集亦可窺見她的內涵,這裡匯集了各式店舖,無論是紀念品、服飾鞋襪、手袋皮具、書畫藝術,抑或金飾玉器,也一應俱全。

海面上帆影處處,不少風帆健兒隨波逐浪,偶而看到快艇急速轉彎,劃下一道長長的白尾巴,尾隨在後的花式滑水好手,隨浪一躍,凌空翻騰,浪花四濺,岸邊人群無不歡呼喝采。在赤柱卜公碼頭和岸邊礁石,都聚集不少釣魚愛好者,有老有少,有男有女,泥鯭和石狗公都是他們的「戰利品」。

赤柱,是一個十分浪漫的地方,情侶們只要在岸邊找個位置坐下,便是他們的小天地,卿卿我我,旁若無人。新婚夫婦亦愛在維多利亞式建築風格的美利樓拍攝結婚照片,見證一生一世的承諾。中秋節的氣氛更佳,不少一家大小在赤柱正灘賞月,將燈籠吊掛樹枝上,將爉燭插入幼沙裡,圍成一圈,點點燭光,閃爍燦爛,煞是好看。

赤柱,是一個充滿南歐風情的小鎮,他鄉遇故知,讓旅居香港的洋人感到親切,他們都愛拖著狗兒,在海傍酒吧裡跟友人喝酒聊天。赤柱住了很多外國人,他們完全融入中國人的社會,愛到大型超級市場購物,也會到中式餐館用膳,更懂得使用筷子。赤柱是美食天堂,無論中式點心、美式漢堡、法式麵包、德式香腸、泰式咖喱、越式檬粉,都任君選擇,而且也體現了中西文化交融的特色。

每逢新春佳節,洋人父母入鄉隨俗,替兒女穿上顏色鮮艷的中式應節服裝,十分趣緻可愛,也增添了節日氣氛。龍午節更是赤柱一年一度的節日盛事,在赤柱正灘舉行的龍舟競渡猶如嘉年華會,無論洋人抑或華人都會參與其中,他們更悉心裝扮,出位之餘還突顯團隊精神,正是:

龍舟賽緊湊,鑼鼓聲震天;
百槳齊起落,奮力衝向前。
岸上人潮湧,吶喊聲助威;
輸贏不重要,友誼是第一。

有龍舟的地方,就顯證此地曾是漁村。早於明末時期,赤柱已是漁民聚居的村莊,具有二百多年歷史的天后古廟及水僊古廟也印證了赤柱漁業的發展,漁民出海捕魚前,總會求神庇佑平安歸來,也祈求漁獲豐收。時至今天,赤柱漁業早已式微,世代居於赤柱的漁民紛紛遷徙他鄉謀生,留下的則被安置於馬坑一帶。政府在上世紀九十年代初期,在馬坑發展低密度的公共屋邨及私人屋苑,除了安置原居民,也吸引了城市居民遷入,左鄰右里,安居樂業,彼此和諧相處,齊心共建互相關懷的文明社區。

開埠之初,英國人陸續遷居赤柱,因此出現了多所古色古香的百年英式建築,位於黃麻角道的舊赤柱警署、聖士提反書院、赤柱軍人墳場,散發著殖民時期的餘韻,身處其中,令人發思古之幽情。西方宗教的傳入,便留下了二座宗教色彩濃厚的建築物。揉合中西建築特色的瑪利諾神父會院已有七十多年歷史,採用紅磚碧瓦的設計,莊嚴而又古雅,屋頂上豎立了白色十字架,引人注目。同樣以紅磚建成的赤柱隱修院,則位於巴士總站的斜對面,住在院內的修女過著克勤克儉、自給自足的生活。

要數區內最受歡迎的「古蹟」,非美利樓莫屬,一柱一石都已超逾一百年的歷史。美利樓原位於金鐘,搬往赤柱重建後已失去了原有殖民歷史的文物價值,連同舊中環卜公碼頭及上海街「同昌大押」石柱,整個「古蹟」綜合建築現已成為赤柱地標,也是中外遊客的遊覽熱點。

赤柱,透出古樸典雅的氣息,也充滿朝氣活力,處處都可見到設計新穎的建築物,部分更屢獲奬項。位於市集旁邊的綜合大樓,採用引進天然光的落地玻璃設計,既節省能源,也符合環保原則,因而榮獲香港建築師學會2006年度全年建築大獎。至於馬坑龍德苑,以「一條龍」藝術雕刻,配以小橋流水,將護土牆及園林特色揉合,創造出休憩舒適的環境,其創新設計獲得青睞,於2004年獲得最佳斜坡美化獎冠軍和優異獎。

身在赤柱,穿梭大街小巷,享受片刻悠閒,拋開世俗煩憂,心靈得到洗滌。跟三五知己漫步於海濱長廊,在赤柱大街的露天茶座,享用一頓豐富午餐,嘆一杯香濃的咖啡,坐上一個下午,輕柔的海風與和暖的陽光,都令人樂在其中。

朋友們,你也不要錯過了,赤柱歡迎你。

2008/06/26

融入手語的新中國舞蹈

6月9日晚上,中國舞蹈義工團(包括業餘中國舞蹈推廣中心、大專畢業生藝術義工團、傷健藝術團、香港教育學院學生會中國舞蹈藝術義工團)應香港聽力學會邀請,在第29屆國際聽力學會會議聚餐上,表演三支中國民族舞蹈,包括漁舟唱晚、苦戀(西藏舞蹈)、吾鄉吾土(蒙古舞蹈)。

















來自五湖四海的聽力學專家及學者,濟濟一堂共晉晚餐,而我們示範聽障人士怎樣與健聽人士合作演出,手語又怎樣融入中國舞蹈中。台上的舞者渾然忘我地跳著,台下的歡眾目不轉睛地欣賞,還紛紛拿起數碼相機拍照。我們的演出,深深感動著他們,並獲贈熱烈的掌聲。

















手語與中國舞蹈本是二種不同東西,但鄒文輝老師卻能將手語的優美形態融入中國舞蹈裡,使兩者配合得宜,產生一種令人耳目一新的視覺效果,這是一支新穎的中國舞蹈,也是傷健共融下的新創作。

有興趣觀看我們演出的朋友,請瀏覽以下網址:

漁舟唱晚
http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=g5si4wJP4x8

苦戀(西藏舞蹈)
http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjs_XCpT9w4

吾鄉吾土(蒙古舞蹈)
http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0A68X5oXQ

我只參與《吾鄉吾土》的演出,朋友們,你們在片段裡看到我嗎?那麼,考考大家眼力,找我出來吧。在片段看回自己的演出,真的不敢目睹,因為我跳得多麼難看,不及其他舞者那麼優雅,不倒你們胃口已是萬幸了。

圖片連結網址:http://www.ica2008.com/en/photo/index.html

2008/06/25

從蕭邦降E大調夜曲到《英雄》波蘭舞曲

「風神」登陸深圳後,餘威猶在,但不減市民欣賞音樂的熱情,他們不惜冒著風雨,也要出席「解剖世界名曲進入音樂世界」溫故篇的講座。

今晚第二講的主題是「曲式」,主講者周凡夫先生還選了「鋼琴詩人」蕭邦(Frederic Chopin, 1810-1849)的二首鋼琴名曲來欣賞,分別是夜曲(Nocturne)及波蘭舞曲(Polonaise)。

文章需要嚴謹結構,「起承轉合」便是好文章具備的要素,若然結構鬆散的話,文章便不好看;一幢建築物需要鋼筋支撐著,並輔以泥磚,這便是結構,若沒有結構,便一如四川地震災區的「豆腐渣」小學一樣。同理,樂曲也有結構,稱為「曲式」(Musical Form)。周凡夫打了一個很有趣的比喻,樂曲好比雨傘,需要骨架結構。只能擋普通風雨的「縮骨遮」,是曲式簡單的「歌謠曲式」,能抵擋三號風球的雨傘,便是「交響樂」!

一般常見的曲式,多是AB兩段體曲式及ABA三段體曲式,有時還會將ABA展開而成複三段體曲式。蕭邦的第二號降E大調夜曲及第六號降A大調《英雄》波蘭舞曲都是典型的三段體曲式。蕭邦的鋼琴作品多是柔和抒情,夜曲是當中的代表作品,琴音如輕紗,節奏平淡如水,快到結束時,突以八度的強力琴音奏出強烈情感,是曲中的神來之筆,令我在幾乎進入夢鄉的境界中驚醒起來。

蕭邦的鋼琴音樂廣受女性歡迎,但也有粗獷豪邁的作品,蕭邦一生愛國,對於祖國波蘭被俄國蹂躪而深感悲痛,《英雄》波蘭舞曲便是在這樣的背景下誔生,樂曲流露了豪爽的男性氣慨,猶如一位英雄的降臨。

今晚選播的二首名曲,一柔一剛,二種不同風格,形成十分強烈的對比,也使蕭邦樂曲永垂不朽,至今仍受大眾喜愛。

(圖片來源:維基共享資源)

2008/06/22

陽光普照的一天

下了一場「長命雨」後,大陽伯伯大放熱力,由上週四起,已持續多天天晴,藍天白雲,晴空萬里,喜歡攝影的我恨不得立即拿起相機去拍照。連日的酷熱警告,真令人吃不消,只要外出散步一會兒便已滿頭大汗。同一時間,颱風「風神」蹂躪菲律賓,香港的「萬里無雲」是否與這颱風有關呢?據說下週二將有驟雨,而「風神」亦有可能於週一早上進入香港800公里警戒範圍。

在赤柱街頭,看見一位老伯正在繪畫卜公碼頭的海上風光,且看他用畫筆在顏料板「媾色」,在畫布上掃畫著,他的作品已接近完成,恍如照片一般。說起繪畫,友人阿光也不遑多讓,他擅長繪畫風景畫,他家中的一幅牆壁,便繪畫了令人心曠神怡的海灘風光,乍看還以為置身世外桃源呢。


赤柱是旅遊區,廣受本地海外遊客歡迎,但今天一看海傍,頓時大皺眉頭,只見海上垃圾猶如浮萍,鋪滿整個海面,令人瞪目咋舌,如此大煞風景,怎麼有關當局不派人清理?如此影響市容,真有損赤柱作為旅遊天堂的美譽矣。




2008/06/19

從《哈利路亞》大合唱到法朗多爾舞曲

全新一輯音樂導賞系列「解剖世界名曲,進入音樂世界」溫故篇開鑼了,昨晚我跟她結伴前往香港太空館演講廳欣賞。

第一講的主題是「從《哈利路亞》大合唱到法朗多爾舞曲」,主要介紹單音(Monophony)、複音(Polyphony)及主音(Homophony)。單音指的是同一時間只有一個聲音或一群相同的聲音,沒有其他伴奏音樂;複音指的是對位法的結構形式,每個聲部之間進行二個或以上的旋律,在重叠之間產生和諧的效果;主音指的是明顯的主旋律,有「和音式」音樂作陪襯或伴奏。

這三種音樂手法,在《哈利路亞》(Alleluia)全部呈現出來,這是韓德爾《彌賽亞》第二部分第44曲,據說作者幾乎不眠不休地寫足三天三夜,最後還感動得流下眼淚。在倫敦首演時,連英皇喬治二世也感動得站了起來。《哈利路亞》歌詞來自新約聖經最後一章《啟示錄》,十分簡短,節錄如下:

Hallelujah
for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah
for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah
for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah

The Kingdom of this world is become
the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ
and he shall resign for ever and ever

King of Kings, and Lord and Lords,
for ever and ever
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
and he shall resign for ever and ever

King of Kings, and Lord and Lords,
for ever and ever
for ever and ever
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hallelujah!

另一首點播的名曲是法朗多爾舞曲《阿萊城姑娘》,舞曲由二組顯著不同的曲調交錯而奏,一快一慢,一複一單,對比鮮明強烈。《阿萊城姑娘》講述男主角戀上阿萊城的一位姑娘,本想將她為妻,卻遭父母反對,改與青梅金馬女友結婚。結婚當天,男主角得悉阿萊城姑娘嫁人,受了刺激並滿懷悲傷跳樓自盡。有趣的是,本是痴呆子的弟弟,卻於哥哥自殺後恢復正常。

音樂需要記憶,但在填鴨式教育下,很多人已厭倦記憶,連聽音樂也懶得「記音」,因此主講者周凡夫先生說,欣賞音樂需要記憶,才能體會音樂之奧妙與特色,不然,聽多少次音樂導賞講座也是徒然。雖然我是音樂門外漢,又不良於聽,但我慶幸仍能欣賞音樂的美妙,只要閉上眼睛,便沉醉於旋律中,渾然忘我,心情因此暢快起來,此乃人生一大享受也。

2008/06/18

交響曲

日本電視劇《交響情人夢》,除了使主角千秋王子及野田妹大受歡迎外,連交響樂也廣泛為大眾所認識。我對交響樂並不了解,只知道是一大群樂隊共同合作演奏的。

年初,我跟她出席了「解剖世界名曲進入音樂世界」(交響曲篇)講座,便對交響樂有了初步認識,講座由著名樂評人周凡夫先生主講,共分五個專題,包括:

海頓:G大調第94交響曲《驚愕》
莫扎特:G小調第40交響曲
貝多芬:C小調第5交響曲《命運》
德伏扎克:E小調第9交響曲《新世界》
馬勒:D大調第1交響曲《巨人》

據周先生介紹,交響曲(Symphony)是一個由管絃樂隊演奏奏嗚曲(或小步舞曲)的音樂,初期的交響曲只分為四個樂章,而每一樂章包括導奏、呈示部、展開部、再現部、尾段等。經過三個世紀的發展,尤其貝多芬以後,交響曲越趨多元化,發展成今天以絃樂、木管、銅管、敲擊四大組樂器組成的管絃樂團(Symphony Orchestra),規模越大,演奏越難。

聽了上述五首交響曲,海頓的作品比較簡單,聽得很舒服。莫扎特是音樂神童,他的作品永垂不朽,百聽不厭。至於德伏扎克與馬勒則較現代,也多起伏變奏,略嫌沉悶。反而,我比較喜歡貝多芬的《命運》,據說,貝多芬創作此曲時,正面對耳疾惡化,因此樂曲慷慨激昂,節奏澎湃,反覆的張力彷彿命運的搏鬥,充滿悲慟憤懣的激情。

今晚,全新二輯的「解剖世界名曲進入音樂世界」講座,周先生繼續為我們介紹不同的著名樂曲,並從樂曲結構曲式去對不同音樂作深入的了解與分析,這些名曲包括:

從《哈利路亞》大合唱到法朗多爾舞曲
從蕭邦降E大調夜曲到《英雄》波蘭舞曲
舒伯特:鋼琴五重奏《鱒魚》
貝多芬:C小調弦樂四重奏第4樂章
從《春天》到《藍色多瑙河》
白遼士:《幻想》交響曲第5樂章《女巫安息日之夢》
柴可夫斯基:《羅密歐與朱麗葉》幻想序曲
林姆斯基-柯薩可夫:交響組曲《天方夜譚》首樂章:《海與仙巴的船》
史特拉汶斯基:舞劇音樂《彼德洛希卡》第一幕《狂歡節市集》
拉威爾:波萊羅舞曲

2008/06/16

父親節雜談

我最近寫了數篇英文網誌文章,朋友阿青「罵」我身為中國人,為何寫英文,聾人怎會看得明白呢。真想不到,原來我的網誌吸引很多聾人看,事實上我寫英文完全沒有故作高章的意思,皆因網誌的統計器顯示,除了香港內地及台灣外,還吸引遠至美洲及歐洲的網友瀏覽,所以我特意寫英文文章,主要介紹聾影社及分享攝影上的趣事,讓外地網友看,而且聾影社明年將會慶祝十週年,更需要宣傳一下。

昨天是父親節,不少孝順子女特意為父親慶祝,在赤柱大街,看見一對洋人父子在散步,小兒子面孔胖嘟嘟,十分可愛,他穿上黑色天恤,繡上紅色「I love Dad」的大字,十分搶眼醒目,未知他是否明白衣服上的字是何意思,而洋爸爸看到我正朝他們拍照時,也笑起來,明顯地他知道我因何而拍。母親專責照顧兒女,父親則努力賺錢養家,他的付出,一點不比母親少,就算今天家庭模式已出現變化,但「男主外,女主內」仍是主流的傳統觀念。無論如何,父母親都是十分偉大的,身為兒女的,更應該多點關心及陪伴他們。

下午,我和國華往數碼港替香港展能藝術會(Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong,簡稱ADA)做義拍工作,ADA參與了康樂及文化事務署主辦的「社區文化大使計劃」,目的是讓藝術工作者盡情發揮創作力和才能,在社區推行一系列表演藝術外展活動,為社群的生活增添色彩,並提高他們對表演藝術的興趣和提昇他們欣賞藝術的能力。今次 《畫舞翩翩》是「社區文化大使計劃」其中一個項目,由聽障畫家高楠先生與香港舞蹈團的五位舞者共同編織一個糅合舞蹈及繪畫的表演。

現場充滿鳥語雀歌,猶如置身寧靜怡人的草原上,只見高楠先生身穿白色唐裝衫及黑色功夫鞋,在畫布上繪畫,五位妙齡少女在四幅畫布之間遊走,以其優美的舞姿,配合山水畫的特色,呈現花、草、鳥、高山流水等意境,十分好看。

這令我想起傷健藝術團,同是傷健共融表演,但不同的是,傷健藝術團主要以手語為基礎而編成中國民族舞蹈,《畫舞翩翩》的表演則是舞蹈表演者配合山水畫意境而編舞。

《畫舞翩翩》長約一小時,免費入場,有關詳細內容,請參看以下網址:

今次義拍工作十分輕鬆,但仍有難處,由於現場環境背光,就算使用內置閃光燈也效果欠佳,所以我用了ISO 400配F.8光圈及1/30秒來拍攝。順帶一提,很開心在表演現場遇見顯文與慧玲,顯文的任務十分重大,因他替高楠先生作手語翻譯。此外,國華也開心遇到了ADA的朋友,因為大家去年飛往日本靜崗參加第七屆國際展能節比賽而認識的。

2008/06/11

聾人文化及手語推廣日2008

6月1日那天,位於葵芳的路德會啟聾學校舉辦「聾人文化及手語推廣日2008」,主辦單位邀請了聾影社擔任大會攝影師,福仔、阜基和我代表聾影社協助拍攝。

活動於下午2時正開始,在一輪嘉賓致詞及頒贈紀念品儀式後,各項表演便正式開始,包括舞蹈、默劇、手語劇、互動無言劇、手語歌、形體表演及柔道示範,此外,亦有攤位遊戲及各類示範,包括化妝、柔道、釣魚、攝影、室內划艇。

有關活動內容,可參看以下網址:
http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!2SDYOHWaGxv5inX7qXQRJX4NgG4-/article?mid=380

啟聾學校環境清幽,設備齊全,是學習的好地方,活動當天,很多家長陪同學生參加,十分熱鬧。有些畢業生還專程返校參加活動,順道探望老師,可見他們對學校充滿歸屬感,師生關係亦十分融洽,令人羨慕。

由於香港教育正朝向「融合教育」發展,大部份弱聽學生都在普通學校就讀,而全港聽障特殊學校差不多只剩下路德會啟聾學校這一間。聾人以手語為主要溝通工具,所以學校現時也多採用手語輔助教學,以助學生更易學習。因此,手語的重要性不容忽視,現時很多健全朋友都學習手語,除了個人興趣之外,亦有助跟聽障人士溝通,達到「傷健共融」和諧社會的理想。

活動目的是推廣聾人文及手語,「聾人文化」是近年來興起的專有名詞,簡而言之,這是由聾人及手語發展出來的一種有別於健全人士的獨特文化與溝通模式,關於「聾人文化」深入涵義,單是網上便可以找到很多相關資料,如下:

對聾人文化的觀點
http://www.pts.org.tw/~seehear/litter/B/litter-8.htm

聾人文化和聾人社區
http://www.pts.org.tw/~seehear/litter/B/litter-9.htm

手語是語言
http://www.mousehk.net/leonchu/zebra/signlangislang.htm

手語族與聾人文化
http://www.cncjr.com/wlkt/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=2112

Deaf Culture
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/soundandfury/culture/index.html

American Deaf Culture
http://www.signmedia.com/info/adc.htm

我不是啟聾學校的學生,亦從未踏足過這間藍色外牆的學校,但當天我所參與的活動,卻全都與啟聾有關,除了下午的義拍工作之外,連晚上的婚宴,亦有不少啟聾老師出席呢。

端午節鮮為人知的另一起源

每年農歷五月初五便是端午節,此乃華人社會最重要的節日之一。大家對於端午節的起源,自然耳熟能詳,相傳公元前戰國時代,時任楚國左徒的屈原因被奸臣誣陷,楚懷王亦剛愎自用,將他二度放逐。公元前277年,秦國軍隊攻破了楚國郢都,眼見亡國在即,加上仕途不得志,62歲的愛國詩人屈原於同年五月初五,抱石投進汨羅江,憂憤中以死殉國。

當時老百姓為免屈原屍體被海裡大魚吃掉,紛紛包粽子拋入江裡餵魚,因此粽子便成為端午節的習俗。至於划龍舟,則是紀念當年楚國人民打撈屈原屍體的情景。包粽子與賽龍舟,其實都寄託了民間對屈原的哀思和懷念,而屈原也是中華民族歷史上唯一用傳統節日來紀念的人物,可見他的愛國形象是那麼深入民心。

司馬遷在《史記》便讚賞屈原「雖與日月爭光可也」,而詩仙李白亦這樣歌頌屈原:「屈平詞賦懸日月,楚王台榭空山丘。」屈原的愛國精神,亦感染了後世不少詩人,包括杜甫、柳宗元、陸游、辛棄疾、文天祥等人,由此可見,屈原得到後世認同與讚頌,其愛國精神亦深深烙印在中國人心坎中,成為民族奮鬥的象徵。

著名保育工作者何耀生先生在其著作《香港風俗及節令文化》提到,端午節的起源另有一種說法,吳越民族崇尚龍,認為牠是一種有神靈的動物,能保佑族人平安,因此每年農歷五月初五,便會舉行大型的圖騰祭典,將獨木舟刻成龍的模樣,在水上競渡,亦會將各種食物放在竹筒或用樹葉包好,投入水中,祭祀水中圖騰神靈(參考書本第95頁)。

無論起源如何,端午節已成為中華民族的傳統習俗,源遠流長,隨著時代變遷,我們更應世代相傳,將習俗文化保留,以免消失於時代巨輪裡,不然,後世只能在文字書本或錄像記錄中緬懷歷史。

上週日,我在赤柱正灘拍攝龍舟競渡的熱鬧盛況,有關圖片可請看以下網址:
http://szetogary.blogspot.com/2008/06/dragon-boat-festival-on-8-june-2008.html

有關5月1日的龍舟預賽的圖片,請看:
http://szetogary.blogspot.com/2008/05/2008.html

有關去年端午節的圖片,請看:
http://szetogary.blogspot.com/2007/06/blog-post_19.html

2008/06/10

Dance Performance on 9 June 2008

Last night, The Inclusive Arts Association in collaboration (傷健藝術團) with Amateur Chinese Dance Promotion Centre (業餘中國舞蹈推廣中心) were invited to perform a dance in the congress dinner where near 200 local and foreign persons attended. I participated in the performance of Mongolian dance with near 20 partners.











For this performance, I dressed new tailor-made dancewear which looked like the ancient combat costume in the monochrome films of 1960s. This dance I had exercised and performed in Tuen Mun City Hall and Yuen Long City Hall, so I did not have any stage fright.

The congress dinner was a program of the 29th International Congress of Audiology (ICA) 2008 that was held on 8-12 June 2008. ICA was a biennial congress that discussed some important issues in relation to audiology with the international and local audiological experts. The congress was jointly organized by The International Society of Audiology (ISA) and The Hong Kong Society of Audiology (HKSA).

The Inclusive Arts Association is composed of the hearing-impaired and able-bodied. At the end, a master of ceremony told us that the audiences were deeply touched by our performance in the cooperation of hearing-impaired and able-bodied. We prided ourself on a brilliant dance performance. In fact, we owed our success to our dancing instructor, Mr. Chow Man Fai's teaching, encouragement and great support.

2008/06/09

Dragon Boat Festival on 8 June 2008

Yesterday, dragon boat racing was held at Stanley Beach. There was full of carnival atmosphere as well as attracting many foreigners and large-scale multinational corporate teams to participate.

Dragon Boat Festival is also called as Tuen Ng Festival, which is 5th day of the 5th month in Chinese Lunar calendar. Dragon boat racing is a key feature of the festival. The race rules are complying with international standards that the boats are medium size and wooden as well as carrying a crew of 22 including drummer and steersman. Yesterday, over 200 teams were competing in the race.


Two days ago, heavy rain and squally thunderstorms affected Hong Kong under the influence of an active trough of low pressure. If the weather had not yet improved, the events would be cancelled. Forfunately, the rain was gradually easing off and the weather became fine, so that Dragon boat racing was held as usual. It was sunny and very hot.

On the beach, there was overcrowded and packed with team members, visitors, tourists and swimmers. Many young girls dressed the sexy swimming wear and attracting many photographers' shooting. Besides, many team members made up the funny and creative dressings such as the prisoners or the Indian.


For detailed information about Dragon boat racing at Stanley, please visit the following web site:
http://www.dragonboat.org.hk/


Friends, please enjoy my photos taken on yesterday as below:


























2008/06/04

Lost and Won in Photo Competition

The Hong Kong Flower Show was one of main public exhibition in Hong Kong every year. It was organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It attracted over 548,000 visitors. More than 200 organizations from 21 countries showcased their exotic flowers, landscape and floral art displays.

The Photo Competition was one of three competitions in the show. Since the Olympic Game will be opened on 8 August 2008, the topic was named as "Vibrant Blossoms for Beijing Olympics".

On 19 March 2008, Eric, Daniel, Henry, So, Kei, Bill and I took part in the competition. There was near 1,000 photographers and competitors that were striving to occupy the ideal location in order to capture the models' beauty. In the crowd, it was hard to shoot because I was often pushed.

Unfortunately, all of us lost in the photo competition. My three photos were shown as below:













On 6 June 2008, the quarterly photo competition was held, which was organized by The Photographic Club for the Deaf. The competition theme was "Edge in Hong Kong", which was same as the photo exhibition organized by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service. Many deaf members took part in the quarterly photo competition enthusiastically, so over 100 photos were collected. The photographic club invited Mr. Hung Tak Fai and Mr. Ho Po Tim to become the judges of the competition who were the well-known professional photographers.

The Photograhic Club for the Deaf will join in "Edge in Hong Kong" Photo exhibition, which encourages the photographers to use their angle to capture the people at the margin in Hong Kong and to use their art work to light up people's concerns towards these people. More importantly, it promotes the networking and communication among civic groups and the public for promoting the strength of civil society in Hong Kong. Therefore, after quarterly photo competition, Mr. Auyeung Chi Kong who is the Instructor advisor in the photographic club wll select 60 photos to submit for exhibition. Either photo competition or exhibition, the hearing-impaired photographers can share their understanding of "Edge in Hong Kong" through their camera lens, thereby calling for more social attention and springing up more social concerns towards the needy.

Over 100 photos for competition, two judges agreed the hearing-impaired photographers' fundamentals were excellent. They selected five winners through strict judgement. Fortunately, I won both a Champion and 1st Runner-up.

The 1st Runner-up photo was taken under the bridge at Causeway Bay. However, Mr. Hung criticized that the photo was dark and the sitting old woman failed to be got an attention in the photo because the rubbish bin on the front was easily attracted to the viewer.
Therefore the photo should be retouched through tailoring (crop overlay) and adjusting the brightness as left.



The Champion photo was taken at Yau Ma Tei on 17 May 2008. Originally, the standing persons' head was remained in the 4D sized photo.
The top part was cut down as 4R size, so that it complied with the regulation of the photo competition. Hereby, the sitting shoe maker could be got the attention. Besides, Mr. Ho praised it because there was W-shape Composition for getting attention and delivering the photographer's message.


After the judgement of competition, the hearing-impaired members and guest judges were taken a picture for memory. On that night, it was unforgettable for me.

Deaf Photography

In the media interview, a reporter had asked me why like photography. I think that the photography is so interesting, because any thing or any person was frozen on the paper. It is convenient than drawing. Nowadays, the traditional film camera has almost been replaced by digital camera, which is enough to popularize like mobile phone. Moreover, the digital camera is user-friendly. Any person without photographic skill and knowledge may also operate it.

The deaf has a talent for photography and often express their feeling on the photo. They are hard to hear any voice, whereas their eyes are sharp to view any thing which sometimes the healthy persons ignore.

In order to prompte and develop the photographic capacity for the hearing-impaired persons, the photographic club for the deaf was set up from a group of the deaf photographers in the leadership of Mr. C. K. Auyeung, who is the hearing-impaired photograpic instructor, on 15 July 1999. By means of this establishment, it is hoped that the deaf can develop their strength in the care and support from the community. The photographic club also promotes the well-being of the hearing impaired and seeks to ensure equalization of opportunities for hearing impaired persons.

Friends, are you interested in photography? The photographic club encourages the deaf to prompte their interest in the photography and develop their full potential. If you are the hearing impaired persion, welcome you become our member. $50 is required for the annual membership fee every year from 1 April to 31 March next year.

The photographic club provides some kind of activites as below:

Activities and Training: to held the lectures on a wide range of topics from photographic techniques and printing through to digital photography irregularly.

Outdoor photography: to prompte the members' the photographic techniques through outdoor and indoor activities.

Voluntary Service: to undertake the photographic work in Hong Kong Centre of The Hong Kong Society for the Deaf.

Quarterly Competition: to held the photographic competition regularly by 4 times every year. The well-known guest photographers are invited to judge. The prize and awards are rewarded to deaf winners.

Seminar: to invite the well-known to give seminars on a topic of photographic techniques.

Exhibition: to held a large photographic exhibition opening to the public.

On 8-10 January 2006, the photographic club had organized the 4th photographic exhibition about the topic of collage photography to pay the homage to great David Hockney. It was a significant and praiseworthy in the photographic exhibition and getting an appreciation with strongly supporting from the professionals and citizens.

Most importantly, it could enlighten the hearing impaired persons' thinking in the process of the making the exhibition. They found many interesting things that was seldom got the attention in Hong Kong. Please view my two photographic works as below:














On 26-27 January 2008, the photographic club organized 120 Angle of View Photographic Exhibition. It helped the hearing-impaired photographers to introspect their meaningful life as well as enlarged happiness events (upward) and unhappiness events (downward). The following photographic work reflected my studying road over 30 years:










The photographic club will be 10th anniversity next year and will organize a series of celebrations and activities. I hope you can give the great support to the hearing-impaired photographers for developing their photographic arts.

If you want to know more about the photographic club for the deaf, please visit the official web site as below:
http://www.hkpcd.org (Chinese only)

Welcome you leave a message in the forum for communicating and sharing photography-related topics:
http://forum.hkpcd.org (Chinese only)

2008/06/02

感人師生情:《相約星期二》話劇觀後感

《相約星期二》(Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie)第三度載譽重演,我在上週六看的是第二場演出,座無虛席,十分受歡迎,而且鍾景輝與盧智燊演得好,謝幕時還獲得全部觀眾熱烈掌聲,反應十分熱烈,部分人更站起鼓掌支持。

《相約星期二》舞台佈景也十分簡單,最突出是背景凌空吊掛一棵「樹」。這齣由中英劇團製作的翻譯話劇,改編至Mitch Albom的同名原著《Tuesdays with Morrie》,由Jeffrey Hatcher及Mitch Albom編劇。內容講述運動專欄記者明哲(Mitch)讀大學時,是慕理教授(Morrie)的得意門生,明哲畢業後便沒有再見教授,直至十六年後偶而在「夜線」節目中得悉慕理罹患絕症的消息,於是重新探望教授,並相約每星期二見面,傾聽教授講解人生課題,包括死亡、人生、寬恕、家庭、愛等等,使明哲茅塞頓開,豁然大悟。

《相約星期二》長約2小時15分,全劇共分十五幕,如下:

第1幕:老教授一生最後一門課
第2幕:校園歲月
第3幕:明哲與邁克舅父
第4幕:夜線
第5幕:你終於回來了
第6幕:溫布頓:這是個考驗
第7幕:我將每星期二到訪
第8幕:開始錄音
第9幕:施予就是活著
第10幕:青春與年老
第11幕:家庭
第12幕:窗口與邁克
第13幕:致電雅琳與咳嗽不止
第14幕:雅琳過訪
第15幕:最後的星期二

最後一幕「生離死別」,更是賺人熱淚,慕理好像預感他快要離開,不斷跟明哲深情擁抱,臨別一刻明哲流著淚跟慕理說:「下週二再來探望你」,反而慕理笑著跟他道歉:「不好意思,弄哭你呢」可見慕理早已看透生死,不存恐懼,說話還那麼風趣。這一對白,雖然令到觀眾發笑,但始終是哀傷場面,令人難過。慕理走到生命盡頭仍不忘說笑,其實是一種「笑喪」。明哲走後二天,慕理便撒手塵寰,實在令人惋惜。這一幕,令我和她也忍不住鼻酸,流下淚水,四周更是哽咽之聲。

鍾景輝(King Sir)一生奉獻給演藝教育事業,桃李滿門,不少著名舞台劇演員都曾是他的學生,由King Sir飾演慕理教授,真的不作他人選,他不僅演活了角色,更收放自如,有笑有淚,惹人憐愛。較具難度的是咳嗽,一般人扮「咳嗽」似乾咳,演得很假,但King Sir的「咳嗽」,扮得真實,還含有痰聲,似真的患病一樣。King Sir的精湛演技,使他獲得最佳舞台劇男主角(悲/正劇)獎,果真實至名歸。

至於盧智燊(Edmond)的演出亦惹人好感,是一個上進的有為青年,充滿朝氣。無獨有偶,現實中King Sir與Edmond都是師生關係,難怪他們的演譯是如斯自然。

《相約星期二》是笑中有淚的話劇,全劇只得二人,所有劇情均由二人的對白帶出,雖然沒有豐富的視覺效果,亦沒有高潮起伏,但戲味濃郁,毫無冷場。古天農的靈活編排,受到一致讚賞,並讓他獲得第17屆香港舞台劇獎頒獎禮「最佳導演」殊榮。

我最佩服二位演員的記憶力,將二個多小時的劇本背得滾瓜爛熟,還要記得每一幕的走位,再配上煽情的演譯,真的不是普通人做得到的,畢竟他們都是專業資深演員,下了很多苦功才有今天的成就。

慕理與明哲師生情細膩動人,事隔十六年,還能再續師生情緣,他們關係果真不簡單,著名影評人石琪先生便形容這是「現代美國式『儒家』精神,顯出尊師重道」的美德(參看2007年6月10日《明報》影評專欄)。今天的香港,這種師生情緣並不多見,我求學時期並沒有遇到這樣的好老師,自從畢業後便各散東西,連同學也少了見面,人人為生活而奔馳。中學畢業十多年後,我曾在金鐘地鐵站遇見任教科學的中學老師,只見他容顏已老,鬢髮斑白,歲月催人老,令人唏噓。

聽障人士看話劇最大的困難便是沒有字幕,又不能看口型,場刊說「粵語演出,附中文字幕」,但我看的是週六下午場,只提供英文字幕,故只能一邊看英文字幕,一邊欣賞演出,頗吃力。若能完全改善字幕問題,相信更能吸引聽障人士欣賞,推廣話劇藝術。

慕理教授患上的絕症,稱為「肌肉萎縮症」,是多種不常見腦內科疾病的統稱,根據《生命力》雜誌四月號所介紹,「肌肉萎縮症是因為中樞神經細胞出現毛病或肌肉本身缺乏某種蛋白質,令肌肉功能消失,並逐漸無力、抽搐、咳嗽、顫抖、退化和萎縮,嚴重者會吞嚥困難、咳嗽和呼吸功能衰退,直接威脅性命」(第21頁)。在香港,腦內科醫生估計大約有一萬多名「肌肉萎縮症」病患者。

話劇場刊印刷精美,內有不少Mitch Albom的經典金句,現節錄一些跟大家分享,希望能夠讓大家反思自己生命,思索生命意義,從而活出精彩人生:

Once you learn how to die, you know how to live.
當你明白死亡,你就學懂活著。

When you get where I am, and you will...you're going to wish you had been nicer to yourself. Forgive everyone. Don't wait.
若你像我一樣走到這個境況的話,就不會計較誰對誰錯。不要等,原諒所有人,所有事。

If you've found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back, you want to go forward.
If you're always battling against getting old, you'll always gonna be unhappy, because you're gonna get old anyway.
假如找得著生命的意義,你便不希望返回昨日,你只會想繼續向前;
假如你一日抗拒變老,你就永遠都不快樂,因為你始終會變老。

If you don't have the support and love you get from a family, you don't have much at all.
假如你少了一個家庭可以給予的支持和愛,你最終只會一無所有。

Aging is not just decay, you know.
As you age, you grow.
As you grow, you learn.
A leaf burns its brightest colours just before it dies.
年老不是腐朽,
逐漸年老其實是逐漸成長,
逐漸成長時亦逐漸年老,
一塊樹葉在最後一刻才燃燒出最燦爛的色彩。

The awareness of death is not about death, it's about awareness!
If you're leading your life the right way the awareness of death is not a depressing thing.
明瞭死亡,重點在於明瞭;
如果你的人生活得精彩的話,明瞭死亡並非一件令人沮喪的事。

We're all teacher. We're all half of a whole, searching for completion.
我們每個人都是老師,我們每個人都是整體的一半,力求追尋完滿。

When you're dying, when you really face up to that fact...then suddenly you have such empathy for anyone in the world who is suffering.
當你越接近死亡,當你要真真正正面對這個事實時,忽然間,你會對世界上任何受痛苦的人都感同身受。

Taking would make me feel like I'm dying.
Giving makes me fell like I'm living.
接受同情,令我覺得自己快將死去;
施予他人,令我覺得自己依然活著。