Sunday, August 04, 2013

Art walk in the park / 公園裡的剪紙散步


我用很疏離的態度使用臉書,就像許多沒有臉書的用戶,我們有機會接觸到臉書是因為家裡的平板剛好是用家人的帳戶登入,我因為這樣的巧合,發現駐青年公園太陽圖書館的汗得學社,這週末舉辦了一場叫做「公園裡的剪紙散步」,包括生態導覽和剪紙的工作坊。

I use FB with aloofness, and like many people who don't have an FB account, our access to it is actually through our family, who stays logged in when we happen to use the computer. Because of such a coincidence, I accidentally found a workshop held by HAND Organization stationed in Solar LEO House in the Youth Park in Taipei. The participants will first be taken on a walk tour to learn  about the trees in the park, which will inspire us to create with paper cutting techniques. 





        我一度把青年公園誤認為二二八紀念公園,最好只好跳上計程車,就在這個過程中我才發現,原來我從來沒去過青年公園,幸好計程車司機非常有耐心地幫我做城市導覽。

   I mistake the Youth Park for 228 Memorial Park, so in the end I have no choice but to hop on a taxi. It is then that I realize I've never been to the Youth Park. Luckily, the patient taxi driver offers quite a comprehensible introduction of the part of the city. 


        這座太陽能圖書館很酷,一樓是無人圖書館,二樓則是汗得學社推廣太陽能的展示館,走進去有種國外的味道,而且館內因為特別的設計,沒有開冷氣就很涼爽,窗邊還有非常美麗的黃花相伴。讀了展示館的小冊子之後,我非常喜歡其中的一段話:

八分二十秒,
超過一億五千萬公里的旅程,
光子從太陽表面到達我們的星球,
太陽能不僅無所不在,
也是我們最直覺的能源。

        太陽光電是優雅的電力,為了推廣太陽能教育,汗得學社有許多課程和種子志工培訓。

   The Solar Leo House is a very cool building, the first floor used as a library where people check out books all by themselves. The second floor is the exhibition space of HAND Organization to promote solar energy. When I push open the door, I immediately smell the scent that I did whenever traveling abroad. Thanks to the energy-saving design, it is very comfy and quiet inside without any need of air-conditioning. Next to the double-layered windows are lovely yellow flowers. I am impressed by a quote from the pamphlet: 

   With eight minutes and twenty seconds, 
   on a journey longer than 150 million kilometers, 
photons reach the earth from the surface of the sun. 
Solar energy is not only everywhere, 
it is also our most instinctive energy. 

   Solar optoelectronic energy is elegant in that it does not harm the environment. HAND Organization offers many workshops and courses to better people's understanding of the topic. 



        至於我們的生態導覽,先由生態老師為我們講解幾種樹木和果實,原來很多樹葉揉爛之後都有濃郁的香味,這是植物自我保護的方式,我很難得有機會用嗅覺認識樹木。

   Before we set out for the tour, our ecology teacher introduces some trees, their leaves and flowers. It does not occur to me that many leaves give off smells after we tear them into pieces, which is actually their form of self-protection. It's wonderful to employ more than the eye to learn. 



之後老師又提到榕果小蜂的生命週期,因為這個主題實在太有趣了,要寫繪本也不為過,大自然真是處處充滿智慧啊!

   One of the most interesting lessons of the day is about the life cycle of the fig wasp. It is so amazing that I think I should write a picture book on it. I can't help exclaiming: Nature is so full of wisdom! 



        接下來的實地散步裡,剪紙老師古國萱請我們邊走邊拓印各種不同的樹皮,大家都很投入。

   During the walk, our art teacher Joanne Ku invites us to do tree bark rubbings because every tree has its own pattern. Everyone is engaged in the task. 



        榕樹有很多氣根。

   Banyan trees have many aerial roots. 



        而且榕樹的根會不斷延伸,看起來很像是另一棵樹,所以被叫做「會走路的樹」。

   Here is a quote from the Wikipedia: 
   The seeds of banyans germinate and send down roots toward the ground, which may envelop part of the host tree or building structure, giving banyans the casual name of "strangler fig." 



        這個夏天和楓香很有緣份,去武陵農場也聽到類似的講解,楓香和槭是不同類的,而楓香的特色就在於把葉子揉開後會有香氣。

   This summer I have heard the story on the differences between maple trees and sweet gum trees twice, previously on the trip to Wuling Farm. Something special about sweet gum is its fragrance after the leaf is torn and rubbed. 



        一定要靠水而生的穗花棋盤腳,所以果實很像一艘船,據說快開花了,綻放的時候很像放煙火

   Small-leaved Barringtonia has to live by the water as its fruit is dispersed by ocean currents; thus the fruit is shaped like a boat. The blossoming season is July and August, and flowers in bloom look just like fireworks. 





        紫薇。

   Common Crepe Myrtle. 



        扶桑花,又稱朱槿,俗稱大紅花,多生於中國南方。

   Hibiscus, originally grown in the south of China. It is the national flower of Malaysia. 





        回到室內後就由老師介紹剪紙的基本原則。

   After the tour, Ms. Ku introduces the basic principles of paper cutting. 



         我們把剛才在戶外拓印的白報紙剪成三塊。

   We cut the paper on which we did tree rubbings into three pieces. 





         長條的拿來做連成一串的設計。

   The long strip is used for the design of a connected pattern. 





        方形的則做窗花。

   The square-shaped ones are used for designs of window decor. 





        最後老師請我們回想散步之旅中得到的靈感,各種感官的刺激都可以,我想到了穗花旗盤腳開花的畫面。

   In the end we are asked to come up with a design inspired by anything we see or smell on the walk tour. Though I've never seen blossoming barringtonia, I can imagine it in my mind with the teacher's vivid explanation.



        成果總驗收。

   A snapshot of everyone's works. 





        晚上去凱道參加了我人生中第一次的群眾運動─送洪仲丘最後一程,雖然我很怕人多的地方,但是當下並沒有不舒服的感覺,反而很慶幸自己有去。

   In the evening, I decide to go to my first ever protest against the military's rough handling of Hung Chung-chiu's death. Though I've always feared the crowds, I am glad that I make it there.



        有趣的是,再怎麼嚴肅的場合都會有賣冰淇淋的小販!

   Interestingly, whatever the occasion is, there are always ice cream vendors wherever crowds gather. 





        這讓我想到最近念溫格爾的繪本「月亮人」給男孩聽時,楷維不懂為什麼冰淇淋小販也跟著往有事故的地方跑,真是人生如繪本,繪本如人生啊!

   This reminds me of my reading Tomi Ungerer's Moon Man to the boys. Kai didn't understand why the ice cream man also rushes to the accident site. Well, don't picture books reflect the real life and vice versa! 

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