^Etolan

「不想回台北了！」在都蘭常聽到旅人這樣說著。對港人而然，其實台北仍有可喘息的空間，因東方之珠早已令人喘不過氣了。不只地小人多，還有一種無形壓力，彷彿有一道氣場把大部份人與心裏的一片天隔絕，每天活在納悶與麻木之中，唯有靠週末狂歡來暫時忘卻心靈之死寂。

我又何嘗不是一個活生生的例子？在港經歷第三個低潮，帶著胃病老師出走台灣，除了要療癒身心、尋找創作機會及養份外，過程中與生命之河重新連結， 順著流水漂動，感受活著的美好。四個多月前的繃繄狀態，現已彷如隔世。

一個月前的形體表演「唵呢」把我從平地領到一個高峰，在山海交界能量充裕但不穩的都蘭鼻，進行一場與自然界交流的生命禮讚。這是天時地利人和，可一不可再的榮幸。行為藝術不是我所擅長，但靈感來臨，可以抗拒嗎？完成後身心疲憊卻充滿力量，參加者紛紛讚嘆這個不完全明白的演出，其實天地藉著這支體訴說了一個故事，我只是個媒介也是第一位觀眾。

上山後當然要下山，放下整個過程點點滴滴之奇妙，從回平和，讓前路繼續牽著我走。下一站的未知，不是擔憂，是期待，是相信。

這種智慧同樣可以應用在政局不穩、民主人權屢被剝削及能量混亂的香港嗎？我沒有一個完美答案，現能做的，是每天遠遠地祝福這個家，願有天我修成正果時，可用些微的影響力為這片土地做一點事。

Goodbye, ^Etolan, thank you for taking a piece of my heart. That morning I felt the sun kissing my face around 6am as usual.  Then came the ants running on my tanned skin to lead me back to the conscious world.  They were the best company in this empty room though I accidentally stepped on them from time to time.  Tasting the breezes through my body as I cycled to the tip of ^Etolan’s nose, I was aware that this would be the farewell to my love.

Mother Earth gave me an opportunity to deeply connect with her at the East coast of Formosa.  Humbly accepted the invitation, I fell in love with the light all over again.  She is always generous and patient, taking all the agony of human life and exchanging with the warmest energy for our soul.  How could I have missed her before?  Perhaps too occupied with the on-going thought marathon in mind. 

Though the enormous ocean may roar like a wild beast at times, her gentle embrace also nurtures our body like a mother to child.  Every morning the water held my being in a resting spot where waves were calm.  A tune may breathe through my lips to sing with gratitude while a flow may take my waist to dance with surrender.

The climax of the experience was the Om Lar performance on August 30^th.  It was no longer directed by my own suffering as a human, but ^Etolan filled my being with inspiration to carry out the act.  Here are two lines to illustrate the piece:

“The last soul of the legendary Om Lar tribe is conjured to perform the life ceremony at the holy land of ^Etolan 'Amis.  When life is death and beginning is end, Om Lar believe all beings will become one with heaven and earth.”

Om Lar persistently tried to be at peace with nature, but they also had to go extinct at the end.  Can anyone escape from fate, from life, from karma?  Would my beloved Hong Kong stand a chance against the wheel of destiny?  More importantly, where you and I are heading in this ever-changing world?  There may never come a solution once and for all.  Yet we shall not stop pursuing.  For it is only when we walk with a pure heart would we see the magnificent light in this journey.  The answer will take a different twist.  Nothing will ever be the same.

Thank you Gua Gua for your soulful marks on the skin.  They made the body come alive!

謝謝冠中，你音樂的互動令演出得以完整，是舞動的力量。Thank you for your music improvisation with my movement!

猴子，沒有妳充滿靈魂的相片，可一不可再的形體演出只會隨水流走，不留裂痕，謝謝妳！Thank you for Monkey's brillant capture of the performance.  Check out her studio fb page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/大樹影像-x-小屋工作室/1432696313665608

Of course, I wouldn't forget to give thanks to the company of 小妞.  She always waited for me as I meditated by the sea.

Performance for a lifetime.  The connection is now close to the heart.  Thank you, my Mother Earth.

My mural at Ku Art Museum in Kaohsiung 我在位於高雄谷敏昭美術館外牆上的壁畫

What I love about creating outdoor is talking to curious locals!  Language barrier couldn't stop us (they mostly spoke in Taiwanese, ha)

Often wonder how the mural evolved to be like this.  Got to love the creative flow in me!

謝謝龍哥龍嫂，谷敏昭美術館館長，我台灣的二爸二媽！是你們一句話啟發我來台尋找一條新的創作之路，也一直給我支持和鼓勵。Special thanks to the directors of Ku Art Museum, Brother Lung & spouse.  Without you two, I wouldn't even be here.

First sitting through a complete Beijing Opera.  Can't believe I actually enjoyed the whole show.

Love this piece in the sun.  That's all.

An impressive retrospective show by Dean-E Mei 梅丁衍.  His art is closely linked to society & politic.  Every work has something to say about our world today.

司馬庫斯 Qalang Smangus, an indigenous tribe deep in the mountains.  Thank you, 小吳, for taking me there.

Tree god over hundred years old.  Wish I could hug & feel them.

There is something about this view which grab my eyes.  Perhaps it reminds me of some Japanese animation from childhood.

On the scooter!  YEE-HAA!

Scuba diving at Formosa.  Such lovely day & view.  

First night artist residence at Good Nest Homestay 好的窩 at ^Etolan.  Thank you for this precious opportunity to create with nature.

Art renovation with greens in the abandoned sugar factory at Taitung.  Some say dusty I say calm.

Grandpa Sufin named me Futol in 'Amis.  It means brave warrior and um... men's balls... Here's the simple ritual to go with the naming.

Adorable kids from the tribe.  Love their smiles.

Their performance moved my heart.  So fresh and genuine.  Hope they don't have to face too many obstacles in the society as native of the land.

Helped with colouring a 3D map of ^Etolan, so the 'Amis elders can name all the locations in their own language to preserve their culture.

The yearly ceremony of another 'Amis tribe at Yuli  玉里安通部落豐年祭

A lovely place to chill & chat at ^Etolan - 小客棧

My 2nd mural at Taiwan - Fang Ca Lay Homestay 泛札來民宿，謝謝楊媽媽給我這個創作的機會！

Can you hear the waves?

房間Ka'iroran ，意即想念你！

Growth is everywhere

房間Ng'ay ho! ，意即好嗎？

Dream. fly. life

房間'Aray ，意即感恩 Let the warm flow take you to bed.

Saying goodbye to this pair of pants which went through the past 10 years with me.  He was with me for the tough hike, vibrant creation, and the magnificent travel...  I will miss you.

At this very moment, Hong Kong is facing one of the biggest crisis ever.  People vs government on the street.  Do you hear the people sing?

Peace be with you, my home.