Monday, December 31, 2012

in my dream / 在夢裡


花了兩天神遊去泰國,完全把畫圖這件事晾在一邊。

I spent two whole days traveling to Thailand in my imagination, totally leaving behind my drawing kits and sketchbooks. 

結果昨晚在夢裡我一直在尋找我的速寫本,花了很大的心力卻還是找不到。

I ended up looking for my new sketchbook in my dream last night. It took me much effort only to find nothing. 

於是當外面的人潮湧向燦爛聲光,我要安安靜靜地在屋子裡用線條和顏色迎接新年。

So when the crowds outside welcome the dazzling sounds and lights, I am going to utter in the new year with lines and colors in the house, in a very quiet manner...

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Cultural tour in Taipei / 台北文化之旅


攝於田園城市書店.台北 / photo taken in Gardencity Bookstore, Taipei 

從倫敦回到台北之後,我很積極地想要多認識我生長的城市,於是我參加北藝大的文化散步之旅,有老師介紹大同中山區小巷裡的書店和文創事業。

Since coming back to Taipei from London, I have felt the urge to know more about my city. Thus, when I discovered the cultural walking tour held by Taipei National University of the Arts, I was rather thrilled. The tour of December is about the bookstores and cultural and creative industry in Datong and Zhongshan Districts in Taipei, which used to be the major business hubs. 


第一站是捷運雙連站一號出口附近的田園城市書店,圖中的老闆以台灣在地的出版品為主,雖然不是主流的書店,但是老闆致力把很有台灣味的書籍推銷到國外。店內也有插畫作品,有興趣的朋友可以投稿

The first stop is Gardencity Publishers and Bookstore near exit 1 of Shuanglian MRT Station. The owner, as you can see in the middle of the photo, focuses on publishing books written by Taiwanese authors and about Taiwan. Then they are translated into other languages and promoted abroad. There are also illustrated publications in the form of picture books more for adults. If you are interested, why not take a try? 


書店樓下是個小巧優雅的展間,老闆強調展覽多以有「人」的味道為主,下一檔由幾位攝影家上場,主題是以影像爲情書,明年一月五日開展。

The basement of the bookstore is a small but tasteful exhibition room. The publisher emphasizes that they are particularly interested in works that center around people or handmade feel. The upcoming exhibit, starting from Jan. 5, is about love letters in the form of visual images by several photographers. 

在這家店我一直想到半年前於倫敦的Nobrow之旅,雖然當時總覺得回來之後不會有那麼豐富的資源,但現在卻因爲自己願意走出去感到慶幸,台灣也有很多在爲文化藝術努力的人們。

During our stay in this bookstore, I recalled the trip to Nobrow in London half a year ago. Back then I had the idea that there wouldn't be so many resources in Taipei. Now I am glad that I have taken a step forward, thus realizing that many Taiwanese are actually working hard for art and culture. 


攝於台灣好.店 / photo taken at Lovely Taiwan Shop 

第二站是捷運中山站附近的台灣好.店,這是幾位原本反對見蘇花高的企業家轉念,想爲台灣的文化事業有所貢獻的成果。

The second stop is Lovely Taiwan Shop near Zhongshan MRT station. The foundation Lovely Taiwan was founded by several entrepreneurs who were brought together by their common goal to protest against the construction of freeways in the east Taiwan. Later, they decided to turn their opposition into positive contribution. Their ideal is to do something for the cultural industry of Taiwan. 


台灣好.店的主要理念除了推銷台灣藝術家的作品外,也和原住民及弱勢族群合作,賦予每件商品故事,藉此讓顧客更瞭解台灣文化,在店裡我們吃了台中女子監獄受刑人做的巧克力,也喝了921後台中茶農為了自立種植的森林紅茶,更學到原來現在國外觀光客來到台灣,想體驗的是在地的台灣經驗,而文創也是旅行的一部份。

Apart from promoting artworks by Taiwanese artists, the foundation also cooperates with the minority groups in Taiwan. They stress the importance of stories behind every product. In this way, customers  get to learn more about Taiwan. In the shop we sampled chocolate made by female prisoners in Taichung. Also, we tasted black tea planted by farmers who would like to be on their own feet again after the famous 921 Earthquake. Most of all, I was surprised to hear that now international tourists make it a point to experience Taiwanese culture on their trips here, in which the creative industry plays an important part. 

我在幾個月前就買了照片中台客藍出產的白色馬克杯,不僅每天上班很喜悅,這個美麗的杯子也受到很多同事青睞。

I bought one of the white mugs shown in the photo above, designed by a Taiwanese artist two months ago. It not only brings me great joy at work but also attracts the attention of many colleagues. 


攝於日星鑄字行 / photo taken at Ri Xing Type Foundry  

整趟散步之旅中我最期待的就是去日星鑄字行,兩個月前在報紙上讀到有關鑄字行的介紹就一直想親訪,這家店是台灣唯一僅存的鑄字行,現在不只是一家店,也有歷史古蹟的意涵。

I was most looking forward to visiting Ri Xing Type Foundry on the walking tour. Since reading about it in the newspapers two months ago, I had wanted to take a look at the shop in person. Ri Xing is the only type foundry left in Taiwan now. It is more than a shop; in fact, there is much historic significance to it. 


店內有英文字及好幾款大小不同的中文字模,顧客可以慢慢挑選。

There are English and Chinese typefaces in various sizes, and the customers can take their time to select the words they are looking for. 


我已經想到可以如何運用這些資源,下次我要帶很多錢回到鑄字行採買!

It has occurred to me how to make use of these resources. Next time I'll go back to the foundry, with a BIG budget! 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The magic channel / 神奇通道


有一天回家看到孩子們在點著橘色燈光的書房裡看書,我不禁也坐下來,殊不知這是一個瘋狂故事的開始,孩子問我晚上要去哪裡,我不想說去研習這種無聊的答案,便胡亂想了個畫面:我要去緊接著森林的海邊,可以看到繁星。因為把畫面說得太誘人,要出門之前兩個小男孩居然依依不捨地站在門邊說:我們也好想去,下次可以帶我們去嗎?

I found the boys nestled in the study all warmed by the orange-color light upon coming home from work one day. I couldn't help sitting down on the floor along with them, but little did I know that this was the beginning of a very wacky story. The children asked me where I was going the same evening. Because I didn't want to give a boring answer such as attending a seminar, I made up an answer with a beautiful visual image: I am going to the sea adjacent to the forest, and from there, you'll see a whole sky of stars. I guess I gave too tempting an answer that before I left, the boys lingered at the door begging me to take them along next time. 


其實男孩們會如此心動適因爲我把所有他們喜歡的卡通都編進去故事裡,連我最近很著迷的仁顯皇后的男人也來湊一角,楷維很喜歡男主角金鵬道的馬,我們就讓牠藏在森林裡。不滿足只用文字敘述,我們決定把故事畫下來,這是我們命名為神奇通道的故事,從這裡孩子們可以去到他們想去的任何地方。

The major reason why the boys are so into the story is that I include all their favorite cartoons and books in it. I also make my recent favorite Korean drama part of it. Kai loves the horse of the protagonist,  so we hide it in the forest near the sea. Not satisfied with mere verbal description, we decide to draw the story, which we name "The Magic Channel." From here, the boys can go wherever they want to.

只能說和我在一起的孩子很快樂,但得有很強烈的現實感才行啊!

Though I can guarantee I can make kids very happy, but they gotta have a very strong sense of reality!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Shakespearan week / 莎士比亞週


這週和莎士比亞特別有緣,讀赫胥黎的「美麗新世界」剛好讀到引言莎翁的部份,而倫敦的妹妹們從莎伯伯的故鄉寄來了明信片。

I think my theme of the week is Shakespeare. I am currently reading the part with many quotes from his plays in The Brave New World. And the young girls in London sent me  a postcard from Stratford-upon-Avon earlier this week. 

年初帶嘉蕊去亞方鎮慶生,年尾嘉蕊帶勵雯去亞方鎮慶生,在台北的我也因此受惠,現在回頭看在倫敦的日子很美好,但我的懷念裡從來沒有一絲感傷,因為我知道漣漪效應會一直持續下去⋯

I took Jazel on a birthday trip to Stratford-upon-Avon at the beginning of this year, and Jazel took Liwen there for her birthday at the end of the year. Though in Taipei, I benefited from them both too. I know how fantastic my year in London was when I look back on it, but there is never a tinge of  sadness. That's because I know the ripple effect will last and expand in my life now... 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

My Book / 我的書


過了兩個星期每天做數小時電腦排版的生活,今天終於把我的書送去信誼比賽了。這兩週裡得到很多人的幫助,包括家人看了我同一張圖無數個版本,辦公室的同事每天被我糾纏問Indesign和Photoshop,連印刷公司的員工也無償地幫我修檔案,遠在義大利的凱特也拉我一把。好像是說,當你很想達到某個目標時,全世界都會聯合起來幫助你。

I spent hours doing the layout for my book every day during the past two weeks. Today I finally sent the book to the publisher for the picture book contest. God showered me with help during this period of time. There was Caterina in Italy, who read the book for me before I started the layout design. My family had to go through the repeated process of selecting the best image out of several similar ones for me. My colleague Anna in the office was constantly pestered because of my ignorance in Indesign and Photoshop. Even the employees in the printing company offered their help without charging me extra. I feel because I wanted to achieve the goal really badly, the whole world was united to help my dream come true. 

印成書之後念給楷維聽,聽到我說這本書之後就會離開我們一陣子,他很捨不得。不過當我的星星正在飛翔之際,離下個比賽的時間不到一個月,我心裡還有好多好多要說的故事⋯

After I had the book printed, I read it to Kai. He didn't want to part with the book upon hearing that it would be away for a while. Well, when my stars are flying, I have less than one month before the next competition is due. And there are so many other stories I want to tell...

Saturday, December 01, 2012

Go with the flow / 順勢而爲


去看了「逆光飛翔」,女主角說,很多事發生並不是在阻撓我們前進,而是要幫助我們達到夢想。

I went to the Taiwanese film Touch of the Light. The heroine says, what happens along the way is not there to stop us from reaching our goals. In fact, the setbacks are meant to take us closer to our dreams. 

只要我們傾聽生命的聲音,順勢而為。

As long as we LISTEN to what life wants to say and go with the flow.