Thursday, October 30, 2008

I carry your heart with me / 戀愛的心情

這個星期的生活作息大亂,無心工作,也沒有時間慢跑,今天才驚覺自己很像是在談戀愛,可是我的戀愛對象是我的小書!e.e. cummings道出了我的心情‧‧‧

This week my schedule is totally messed up. I can't focus on work, nor do I have time for jogging. It occurred to me today that I am probably in love, but the object of my love is those little books! e. e. cummings' poem reflects how I feel...





Tuesday, October 28, 2008

one art / 失去的藝術

詩人Elizabeth Bishop的詩集陪伴我將近十年了,在美國讀書時,我最喜歡的課就是研究Bishop的討論會,她總是帶著雲淡風輕的口吻說著人生各式各樣的重大議題,但是背後卻有著無限的感情和想像空間。心情紛亂的時候,讀Bishop的詩集讓我能夠平心靜氣,因為太喜歡她的詩作,我為她的代表作One Art做了本小書。

The collection of Elizabeth Bishop's poetry has accompanied me for almost ten years. When I was studying in Rochester, my favorite course was Bishop's poetry. She always narrates major topics in life in a nonchalant tone, but the reader can feel waves of emotion behind her carefully-chosen words. When my heart seeks for peace, I turn to Bishop's works because they never fail to calm me down. Because I like her poems too much, I made a little book for the famous poem One Art.








Monday, October 27, 2008

Neruda and me / 聶魯達和我

最近對於做小書又燃起了躍躍欲試的心情,再加上每天熟讀詩書,我想,寫不出來了不起的詩句,不如為了不起的詩配上插畫吧!果然,當我告訴別人我正在為聶魯達的作品插畫時,他們還以為那是我的朋友,真的因此沾了光。

Lately I've been inspired to make mini-books. With my huge reading load every day, it gives me the idea that even if I can't come up with any remarkable poem in my life, I can at least illustrate for great poets' remarkable works. As expected, when I told others that I was working on Neruda's poem, he was mistaken for my friend. Hum, I felt very honored on hearing that!

聶魯達這首名為「哀悼」的小詩,訴說著每個人討厭自己工作或專長的悲哀,其實帶著詩意的灰暗,但是我在製作小書的過程,卻是無比的開心,要怎麼隱藏我們之間情緒的反差呢?

In Neruda's poem titled Lament, the poet expresses everybody's hatred for what they are good at. There is a touch of poetic grayness in it. However, when I was making the book, I couldn't be happier. I hope I succeeded in concealing the contrast of our feelings in the pictures...










Sunday, October 26, 2008

between a man and a woman / 男人和女人之間

除了愛,還有無法想像的洪水猛獸‧‧‧

Besides love, there are floods, monsters, all beyond our imagination...


Monday, October 20, 2008

not the question / 選擇

To fall or not to fall, that is not the question.
It hits hard anyway.

paper tiger / 紙老虎

我只不過是
一隻紙老虎
你輕輕
呼一口氣
我就
融化了

I am nothing but
a paper tiger
A light puff of air,
and I melt.

Monday, October 13, 2008

to Miss Bean / 給荳荳小姐

親愛的荳荳,時空和我們的身體都往前走了好長一段距離,我們的心卻不斷被過去的引力拉扯,所以老是對現在的風景有些失望。我也覺得自己的轉換期持續好久,也許今天才找到似乎是合適的步伐,明天卻有可能再度跌倒,最近我也常自問是不是接下來都會如此。

Dear Missy Bean, time, space, and our bodies have taken such a long stride ahead, but our hearts are constantly pulled by the gravity to the past. That explains our disappointment at the scenery around us at present. I have a feeling that my transitional period has lasted ages. I might find my pace today, but I can't stop myself from falling again tomorrow. I've been asking myself if this is going to be the mode for the coming years.

但是我知道,人和人的相處像是相磨的齒輪,好像沒辦法一開始就完美運作,所以我願意再多給自己一些時間,從現在開始,每天早上起床之後,我都要想著,今天也許很美麗,或許會有一點挫折,我要用輕鬆自若的方式過生活,這樣才不會錯過令人驚豔的小細節。

But I know that getting along with new people is like fitting in with new cogs. It's by no means possible to function perfectly from the beginning. So I am willing to give myself some more time. From now on, after getting out of bed every morning, I have to think in this way, today might be beautiful, or it might be a little bit frustrating. Beautiful or not, I am going to be calm and relaxed so not to miss some really impressive and amazing details.

給可愛的美國人機會,他們也能說出很了不起的話!

Give lovely Americans opportunities. They can come up with awesome remarks too!

Sunday, October 12, 2008

not just my dream / 不只是我的夢想


過去有一陣子還挺希望自己的作品登上刊物,不過這一年以來,心願變得很小,只希望能夠認真地、熱情地畫下去,這個自我期許說來沒甚麼,但是要總是充滿熱情,怎麼樣都不是想像地那麼容易。
For a while I hoped to see my works in published forms as often as possible. But in the past year, my wish has shrunk--I want nothing more than to go on with my art with a serious and passionate attitude. This self-expectation doesn't sound quite grand, but to be always full of passion, it's actually much harder than it seems.
今天薛吉把朱銘美術館的雜誌給我的時候,我還真是大大地吃了一驚,雅鈞引了不少我之前寫過的文字,我深深地感覺,果然只要埋頭向前進,沒有期待的都會從天上掉下來。
Today when Shaggy gave me the magazine by Juming Art Museum, it really came as a very pleasant surprise. Ya-jun (the staff of the museum) quoted much from my writing on the blog this past summer. I was reminded again that once I bury my head in the task, what I don't expect will fall from the sky.
其實過了暑假之後,一切都由繁華走向寂靜,沒有歡樂的共同作畫,只有每天下班後拖著疲憊的身軀回家,儘管身心急需休息,在大約清醒的狀態之下,我還是會坐到書桌前,進行每日的畫畫練習。ㄧ個人的作畫時間比起瘋狂的暑假,有些寂寞,但是我必須要向前走了。
After the summer break, everything died down from the wacky climax. Without the merriment of painting together, I drag my exhausted body home after work. Despite the call for a rest from my poor physique and mentality, I would sit down at my desk as long as I am 70% sober and start my painting session. My one-man's art time, compared with the mural project in the museum is a little bit lonely. Yet I have to move on.
不過我的夢想真的不只是我的夢想了,每次我看到自己訴說著夢想,你臉上散發的光芒,啊,我ㄧ定會達到我的目標,因為我想,我也會因此讓你找到你的夢想和目標。
Tonight I realized again that my dream isn't just my dream. Every time when I talk about my dream, I see the glow on your face. I will reach my goal because in that way, I will make you find your dream and goal...

Saturday, October 11, 2008