Traveling in Taipei 8 / 台北城市生活旅行 8

從小我就對有毛的動物有心裡上的障礙，眾人皆愛的狗和貓成為我多年來的拒絕往來戶，其實應該說，我對這些小動物避之唯恐不及，也壓根沒想要以牠們作為畫中的主角。這個夏天，可能是繪畫多年，終於讓我打開心房，並湧起一股想要畫小貓小狗的慾望。最近在路上行走之際，眼和心都保持極敏銳，一看到有趣的圖像便立刻趨上前，像個狗仔隊記者似的，不分青紅皂白地按下快門，我想，台北市有不少小貓都已聽聞我的惡名。以下就是我貓不似貓的報導。

I had had an inveterate phobia for hairy animals since my birth. For all my life, I had never tried to approach animals like cats and dogs. As a matter of fact, I shied away from them as far as I could. It hardly occurred to me that they can be really interesting major figures for my illustration. This summer, I guess it's art that opened my mind. Somehow a strong desire to draw cats and dogs took hold. Lately as I walk on the roads, my eyes and mind have been extremely sharp. The moment I see an interesting image full of possibilities, I will rush forward and take photos like a paparazzi journalist. I think many cats in Taipei have heard my notoriety. The following pictures are my-not-too-realistic record of cats' lives.

貓之百態

根據我的觀察，貓也有好歹命之分，咖啡店主人的貓，帶有一點法式慵懶，躺在店門口外的紅地毯上打盹，這樣的畫面還真是巴黎呢！而且洋式的富貴貓對鏡頭完全不膽怯，天生一副藝人架勢，看來真是訓練有素。

Lives of various cats in Taipei city

According to my observation, lives of different cats can be as different as heaven and hell. The cat of the cafe's owner is lazy in a very elegant manner. When it lies on the red carpet outside the cafe for a nap, the image is so Parisian. Besides, the cat is totally at ease in front of the camera. It seems born to be a super star. The owner must have spent tons of money and of course, love, on it.

某天下午在家附近的巷口，我瞥見一隻腹部下方長有像地毯邊穗穗的小貓，從呆滯到取出相機的過程不超過30秒，不過我可把正在晃遊的自在貓嚇壞了，牠一溜煙地找地方逃竄，最後只好屈就於車輪下的小空間。為了誘使小貓出來，我第一次費盡吃奶的力氣，對小動物甜言蜜語，但我們始終處於對峙的緊張場面。我想，這隻可憐的貓一定被傷害過‧‧‧

One afternoon near our place, I spotted a very special cat with a ling of hair along its abdomen. I first wondered if I should do anything, but it took me less than 30 seconds to take out my camera. However, my abrupt change of attitude REALLY scared the little darling. It ran away immediately. Seeing no place to go, it hid under the car wheel. To coax it into coming out, this was the first time in my life that I tried to sweet-talk to an animal. It was to no avail and we were frozen with fear and helplessness for a while. I bet this car must have been hurt sometime in its life...

昨日等公車之際，外頭的高溫令人不得不躲到騎樓下，修車廠裡的貓愉快地睡午覺，完全不受周圍的噪音打擾，又是隻好命貓。沒有咖啡店之貓的優雅，牠想必也是出自小康之家，在眾人的寵愛之中生活，看來貓媽媽們也得去廟裡拜拜，祈求自己的寶貝們找到好人家。

While I was waiting for the bus yesterday, the sultry heat outside was so intimidating that I preferred to take shelter in the corridor in front of the shops. The cat in the car factory dozed away happily. It was not bothered by the noise around. This seemed to be another lucky cat. Not as graceful as the cafe cat, it must have grown up with a lot of love as well.

Perhaps cat moms have to go to temples and pray to gods for giving their babies better human families...

Smiling in Her Dream / 夢裡也微笑

遙寄洛杉磯的祝福

認真生活的女孩生病了，爸爸媽媽很擔心她。不過在醫院的某一夜，他們看到她入眠時，嘴角綻放像花開的微笑，他們猜，她一定是夢到了心愛的小提琴。

其實女孩什麼也沒想，她微笑是因為想到爸爸媽媽的愛，覺得自己很幸運呢！

Get-well wish sent to Los Angeles

The hard-working girl fell sick. Her parents were utterly worried. Yet one night in the hospital, they saw her face bloom into a beautiful smile in her sleep. They guessed, "Oh, she must be dreaming of her dear violin."

As a matter of fact, she didn't think of anything. She smiled because she felt lucky to have such loving parents.

Thanks to the smile in her dream...

Traveling in Taipei 7 / 台北城市生活旅行 7

向上帝借來的青春時光

八月的炎熱午後，我們倆吃完了永康街遠近馳名的牛肉麵，頂著大太陽，尋找一票人畫空間藝廊。短短的街，走到盡頭，在轉角處有間綠意盎然的店舖，裡面掛著姚俐吟小姐的畫作，我們心想：「哈，就是這裡了！」不過伸出手要推開門時，才發現老闆不在店裡，或者畫廊因為週一公休。我們不死心地在落地窗外跳啊跳的，還瞇緊雙眼，想看清楚最裡面的畫作長什麼樣，經過的路人應該注意到我們不尋常的舉動。

「如果只有買一幅畫的預算，你會挑哪一幅？」我們不知不覺玩起遊戲，並且認真地討論每一張圖，可能因為門關著，這是我第一次這麼認真看畫展，即使隔著重重的玻璃門。

八月的夏天，即將轉三十歲的夏天，我自在地消磨著時光，彷彿我的青春是無盡的。同齡的友人忙著帶小孩，而我的選擇附帶條件裡，上帝說，為了彌補我的孤獨，便借了我一點青春歲月，讓我還享有風般的自由。

Youth stolen from God

On the scorching hot summer afternoon, we risked getting a super tan roaming in Yon-kang Street after lunch in the famous beef noodle restaurant. We were looking for the gallery for Ms. Yao's exhibition. At the end of the famous yet short Yon-kang street lies a small square. The leafy plants in front of the mini-gallery welcomed our visit. We were quite delighted to have found the place like a breeze. Right when I held out my hand and grasped the doorknob, I realized that it was closed. We two were kind of disappointed, but it didn't stop us from guessing where the gallery owner had gone.

Knowing we wouldn't come back again, we leaned on the French windows and squinted our eyes to get a better view of the paintings inside. To be honest, I had never been so attentive in any exhibition. "Which painting would you buy if you had the budget?" We started a very serious discussion about the works and moved around to see every painting more clearly. Our loud talk and weird behavior must have aroused the curiosity of passers-by.

In the summer of August, in the summer before my 30th birthday, I take time with my life, as if I had endless youth. Friends of my age are busy raising kids. But in the choice I made, God decided to give me extended youth to make up for my solitude. And that is why I am as free as the wind...

Traveling in Taipei 6 / 台北城市生活旅行 6

充滿回憶的城市

兩個星期前在報紙上讀到新光人壽基金會舉辦的一場小展覽，由藝術傳承志工帶領一群老人們，利用勞作把他們一生的回憶具像化。我在展覽的第一天便迫不急待地衝去誠品敦南店，這些作品並不是純熟的藝術，但是我無法拒絕圖像背後的真摯。

基金會的小姐充滿熱誠，向我一一介紹老人們的作品，她說，老先生老太太大多沉默寡言，簡單的藝術創作卻成為他們和世界的接口，用線條及顏色表達的回憶，令人大嘆他們安靜的外表下，居然曾有如此多彩的人生。在這些簡單卻吸引人的圖像背後，我看到這個城市的過往。雖然那些簡單或可愛的願望、夢想、初戀，已深埋在時間的洪流裡，但是至少它們曾經存在。

很想作一幅畫，訴說我看到這些作品的感動。有一位阿媽，最大的夢想就是種A菜和煮A菜給大家吃，這個夢想聽起來很單純，卻又帶著無限誠懇，有著關懷他人的大志。於是我用各種綠色畫了一張抽象畫，但是成品讓我想到Bruno，他是畫植物的專家，我的畫看起來比較像是劣質的仿冒品。

我在想，年老時我能用怎麼樣的回憶取暖呢？


The city filled with memories

Two weeks ago I read in the newspaper about a small exhibition held by Shin Kong Life Foundation. Two Legacy Art Works social workers led a group of elderly people in recording their life experiences in the form of visual art. On seeing the pictures, I knew I had to go. I was there in Eslite Bookstore the first day. The artworks were by no means sophisticated, but they spoke to me, with the language I am obsessed with.

The young lady from the Foundation introduced to me the elders' artworks with enthusiasm. She said that most old people in the nursing home were taciturn. However, the program helped them tell their past with lines, colors and collage. Underneath their quiet appearances, their inner worlds were overhelmingly colorful. And I saw the past of this city. Though their first love, dreams and wishes were deeply buried with time passing, at least they were once there. That makes this place warmer and less empty.

I wanted to do a painting to show how I was touched by these pictures. I was most impressed with a grandma whose dream was to grow veggies and cook them for other people. This is a simple wish, yet so full of thoughtfulness. I used all kinds of green and came up with an abstract picture. When I saw the result, I couldn't help thinking of Bruno. He is an expert at painting plants. Mine looks more like a cheap imitation of his works:-).

I am wondering, on which memories can I feed in my old age?

Traveling in Taipei 5.5 / 台北城市生活旅行 5.5

答案：月亮

Answer: The Moon

Traveling in Taipei 5 / 台北城市生活旅行 5

圖裡的先生究竟要捕捉什麼呢？

What is the man trying to catch?

Brand-new! / 新店開張

我的網站開張了─www.weichuenyou.com！我花了將近一個月的時間，當然這還不包括之前四個月的課程。雖然我的網站設計很樸素，但是想到去年此時，做網站根本是遙不可及的夢想，現在卻有如此神速的進步，想起來很開心。網站的內容基本上是所有作品的精華整理，如果你有一點時間和一點興趣，請來我的小房間晃晃！

I finally have my website! (http://www.weichuenyou.com/) It took me practically a month to design and sort out my works. Well, this did not include the four-month-long courses I had taken before this summer. I know it is far from fancy, but last year at this time, making a website was nothing but a remote dream for me. I am very happy with my rapid progress:-). My website is a more condensed version of my blog. If you have a little time and a little passion, please come visit my little room!

Thirty / 卅

妳說，對於轉三十歲有莫名的焦慮，不知今天你是否安好？我知道自己的容顏不如從前青澀，走在路上看到年輕貌美的女孩難免也會心生些許的忌妒，不過我的心一直是年輕的，特別是在我達到夢想之前。至於夢想實現之後，我又會有新的夢想，我沒有時間變老，你也是。

不祝妳生日快樂，因為人生很多時候要慢慢來，連變成三十歲這件大事也要慢慢咀嚼，也許你就會發現三十歲的好。

生日慢樂，還有，如果你覺得我的夢想太幼稚，請把他換成別人的臉孔。

Play / 荷花池裡的捉迷藏

Botanical garden, Exhibition of Spanish toys, sixteen-year-old girl. I combined all these elements and turned them into the illustration for Illo Friday this week!

Visiting the botanical garden is one of my summer highlights. I need to check if the lotus flowers are doing fine and take a look at other dear plants as well. This summer, there is an interesting exhibition of Spanish toys at National Museum of History, so Little Kim and I went together. We were amidst crowds of young kids and girls, and suddenly I became one of them. But the young Kim, who is almost half my age, found me to be too childish!

The tickets to the exhibition are really cool and Kim was kind enough to give me hers. I decided to put them into my lotus painting. How did we play in the botanical garden? In my illo this week, I imagined that Kim and I, each with a big Spanish doll, played hide-and-seek in the lotus pond! Kim was happy to hide herself so well that I couldn’t find her. Want to know the truth? In real life, it would be completely the opposite!

If you are interested in the beautiful botanical garden in Taipei, I have some pictures here from last summer!

植物園、西班牙玩具展、十六歲的少女，我把這些元素結合起來，就變成本日插畫啦！

每年夏天，我一定得到南海植物園朝聖一次，看看我心愛的荷花過得好不好，順便拜訪其他同樣美麗的花花草草。今年夏季，國立歷史博物館恰好展出漂洋過海、來自西班牙的玩具，可愛的小眼睛美少女和我相約，我們擠在一群又一群的小朋友和年輕女孩之中，弄得我童心大發，倒是年幼的小眼睛美少女，在一旁像個大人家批評我低齡的舉動。

因為小眼睛美少女的美意，我得到了兩張票根，不想浪費如此珍貴的素材，再加上本週Illustration Friday的主題是「玩耍」，我便想到，小眼睛美少女和我在蓮花池裡玩捉迷藏，瞧她一副開心的樣子，其實在現實生活中，剛好是相反的。

如果你也對植物園有興趣，請看看我去年夏天的回憶吧！

Traveling in Taipei 4 / 台北城市生活旅行 4

IKEA的夢想

在美國，我是個窮酸的留學生。當時，烹飪只是為了糊口，但是我居然莫名地想要一個美麗寬敞的廚房，櫥櫃裡擺滿一套套精緻的餐具，客人來訪時，就不用拿出連自己都覺得羞赧的回收免洗餐盤。

在法國，我只是個過客。借用別人小巧溫馨的廚房固然開心，但是我始終知道，那並不屬於我。

在台灣，我習慣且依賴這裡的外食文化，但是我還是那麼想要一座廚房。七八坪大的空間裡，點著溫暖的橘色燈光，在一天忙碌的工作生活之後，爐子上烹煮著簡單卻香味四溢的蔬菜湯，等著湯沸滾時，我站在爐灶前，安靜地想著晚上要繪畫的圖像。

雖然我的夢想還未實現，IKEA卻已為我勾勒出未來的藍圖，現在，你也看得到。

The IKEA Dream

In the US, I was a poor student. I wasn't into cooking, but I desperately wanted a spacious and beautiful kitchen. Sets of exquisite plates and bowls filled the cupboards. When the visitors came, I didn't have to take out the recycled recycle-free paper cups, which I quite felt ashamed of.

In France, I was nothing but a visitor. I had a borrowed kitchen. It was full of homey décor and sincere feeling. No matter how delighted I was in using it, I was always aware of the fact that it didn't belong to me.

In Taiwan, I am so used to take-out food. In fact, I would feel terribly upset without it. Still, I want a kitchen badly. The small space has a soft feel with the warm orange light. After a day's hard work, it's a place for me to relax. I breathe hard to take in the lovely smell of veggie soup boiling on the gas stove. While waiting for the soup, I think quietly about the picture I am going to do tonight.

My dream hasn't come true yet, but IKEA has sketched its contour for me. And now, you get to see what it is like.