Shermy=Share with Me 六寶媽日誌

Stories from the Future Workshop 未來的故事工作坊

First of all, I want to say a big thank you for this opportunity to attend the Stories from the Future workshop. I’m truly blessed to get the grant from the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which support artists in regional and remote Australia with all the travelling costs and make it possible for us to attend such a meaningful project like this. And what a privilege for me when I realize I might be the only one in my mother country Taiwan, and in my town Geraldton to get the experience of this workshop so far.

首先我必須感謝自己能有這個機會參加未來的故事工作坊。我非常的幸運能申請到澳洲政府的偏區藝文基金，提供全額的旅遊補助經費給住在澳洲偏區地區的藝術工作者們，讓遠在郊區的我們也能共同參與如此深具意義的藝文計畫。當我了解到自己可能是目前唯一一個代表台灣、代表Geraldton城鎮的參與者時，我感到如此的榮幸。

Before the workshop, I had a meet and greet coffee catch up with some of the participants. It was such a great chance to be able to connect with others and know each other better. I wasn’t able to chat with all of the artists during the workshop (what a shame!). I would appreciate more time to catch up with others.

在工作坊開始以前，我和其中幾位參與者一同在咖啡店進行行前見面會。能以此機會多認識彼此、了解彼此是如此的難能可貴。因為在工作坊期間，我並沒有機會與每一位參與者交談，甚是遺憾。真希望能有多一點時間和其他藝術工作者深交。

When the workshop started, everyone was sitting in a circle. We’ve been asked to bring an object to share the story behind. I brought my practice, a painted rock with me. I wasn’t able to fully explain how important and why I choose it during the workshop and in the interview film, but lucky I can tell you the full story right now:

工作坊開始時，我們圍著桌子坐成了一個圓圈。每個人都被要求帶一樣重要的東西來分享箇中故事，我帶了我的彩繪石頭。在工作坊期間面對眾人的目光甚或會後面對攝影鏡頭時，緊張的我都沒辦法完全的詮釋為何彩繪石頭對我來說如此重要。但很幸運的是，我可以在這裡用文字娓娓道來：

I was suffered from depression after giving birth for two years. With no family and friends around and in a country with an unfamiliar culture, for me, it was big. I lost myself. Without the role of being a wife and a mum, I don’t know who I am. I stumbled into rock painting while the painted rock hunting game was on. It’s a game to encourage people to go out door with their kids to find the painted rocks or hide them to make someone’s day. Since then, I was hooked. I found the joy of painting, the quality time I can really be with myself while all my kids were sleep and husband away working, and the pure excitement when finish a piece of art work; all of these, were the light during my darkness time. Then I started doing the kindness rocks project: Painted rocks with positive message on it. Every now and then when I feel down, I asked myself what message I would like to see to get over this hard time. And this is the second time my rocks had saved me from misery.

產後我患上憂鬱症整整兩年。身處不熟悉的異國文化以及身邊並無任何的親朋好友，對我來說是如此的崩潰。我遺失了自己。卸下妻子與母親的腳色，我不知道自己是誰。我意外的接觸到彩繪石頭是在石頭躲貓貓遊戲盛行之時，這是一種鼓勵大人與小孩多去戶外找石頭或藏石頭利己利人的遊戲。從此之後，我就對畫石頭上癮了。我從繪畫中找到真正的快樂，在孩子們上床睡覺、老公出外工作時，這是唯一一段我能全然做自己、與自己心靈對話的寶貴時間，加上完成作品時的純然喜悅等等，這些，都是我在黑暗時期唯一的一盞明燈。後來我開始進行善心石計畫：在彩繪石頭上寫上正向的鼓勵文字。偶爾當我情緒低落時，我會問問我自己，像這樣的時候，我會希望能得到些什麼訊息來度過這一段？而這也是彩繪石頭所給予我在低迷時期的第二次救贖。

It hit me hard when the first time I open to the public to spread the kindness rocks project. Here’s the word that I wrote down that day. “There's one boy around 12-15 written something like "live your life to the fullest because you only live once." I was amazed really. I don't think when I'm in this age I'll be able to understand life like this. That boy had me thinking. I don't know what he's been through, but he definitely points me to the right direction: I have to keep the kindness rocks going!”

當我第一次對外進行善心石計畫時，我深深地被震撼到了。那天我寫下了這段話：「有一個年紀大約12-15歲的男孩寫下了類似『充實的過你的人生，因為你只活這麼一次』的字眼，讓我感到非常的訝異。我在他這個年紀時，連人生是什麼都毫無概念，這個男孩真的有啟發到我，我不知道他是經歷過了些什麼而有了這超齡的體悟，但是他絕對指引著我方向：我的善心石必須繼續做下去！」

With my practice, I had bought all different kinds of rocks. Some rocks are even original from my own country, Taiwan! The rocks had travel all the way to Australia to find an artist like me to give them a different life, to turn them from normal rocks to outstanding gems. I was chosen. At some point, didn’t I share the same destiny as the rocks? I came such a long way to be here in Australia, will I be lucky enough to find someone to value me and see my potential as a gem? It might seem that I, as an artist, give a new life to the rocks that I encounter, but indeed, the rocks were giving me a new life by offering me the chance to paint them. These realizations won’t even be here if it’s not because of this workshop.

由於做石頭相關藝術的關係，我買了許許多多不同種類的石子，有些石頭甚至是從台灣來的！這些石頭從這麼遙遠的地方來到澳洲尋找像我一樣的藝術家給予他們不同的生命，將他們從一顆普通不過的石子幻化為眾人矚目的寶石。我是被石頭選上的。在某些點上，我似乎也與這些石頭分享共同的宿命。我從遙遠的台灣來到了澳洲，而我是否有足夠的幸運能找到能看重我、了解我是一顆璞玉的人？也許在別人眼中看來，我身為一個石頭畫家，給予了我所遇見的每顆石頭新的生命，但其實卻是這些石頭提供機會予我，讓我能彩繪他們，而讓我有了全然不同的人生風景。而這些，都是我在參加工作坊後才有的一段深深領悟。

Sit, Drink, Share and Eat 會場布置、飲食與每個人所帶來的小品故事分享

I was never a quick thinker and I feel so frustrated when I can’t fully express myself in front of the people and camera. However, the workshop host, Remy, guided us to take time and be mindfulness to the place where we were, to the feeling of the temperature, and provoke us with some deep issues and feelings that arouse inside our body by asking questions like “Who’s been marginalized? Who’s artworks been undervalued? What’s the feeling and where’s the feeling locate in your body?” By naming the feelings and be aware of it while facing the challenge we had doing our practice, it helped us really look deep into ourselves.

我腦袋思考很慢，當我完全無法充分的在人前或攝影機前表達自己時，我深感重挫。工作坊主辦者瑞米帶領我們花時間靜心、察覺我們身處的所在、溫度，引導我們靜觀更深一層的問題，並感受情緒，他問了以下的問題：「是誰被邊緣化了？」「是誰的藝術創作被低估了？」「這是什麼樣的一個感覺？」「這個感覺在你身體的哪一個部位？」藉由說出情緒與察覺，連結了當我們藝術工作者在創作時所會遇到的困境，這個靜心方式幫助我們更深層的看入自我的內在感受。

We used lots of sticky notes to write down our challenges and stick them on the white board. Everyone was encouraged to have a look of all the struggles we had. One that catches my eye was “Fear of Difference.” It sums me up very well. I never feel comfortable while I’m in a group of majority white, it made me standout too much and I never like to be notice in that way. Then I think of my rocks. Rocks came with different shapes, forms, sizes and colours, just like us human being. While sorting out the rocks, rocks that are different from the majority will always be the first one to spot and pick out by me. And my feelings toward those rocks were always like this, how special you are! At one hand, I like to be the same like others, but on the other hand, I know my speciality is the spotlight itself to make me stand out from others. From an artist point, being different is so important, but since when we forget to apply it to ourselves and be gentle to our uniqueness of diversity? Since when do we feel so uncomfortable in our own skin while it might be the purpose of why we were here?

我們使用了許多便條貼來寫下我們所面臨的挑戰，並將之貼於白板上。我們被鼓勵前去仔細細看每個人的掙扎。其中讓我印象最深刻的是「害怕與他人不同」這樣的字眼，我覺得這根本道出了我的心聲。在一群的白人中，我從來都沒辦法感到自在，因為膚色的關係讓我實在太突出了，而我很不喜歡自己是以這樣的方式被注意到。然後我想到了我的石頭。石頭有許多不同的形狀、大小、質地與色澤，就像我們人類一樣。當我在分類石頭的時候，在群體中與眾不同的那一顆絕對是會被我首先注意並親自挑選出來。我對這顆石頭的感受總是，喔！你好特別喔！某一方面來說，我希望和大多數人一樣，但另一方面，我知道我的獨特性就是讓我與眾不同的聚光燈。從藝術家的觀點來看，與眾不同非常的重要，而又是從什麼時候開始，我們忘了把這樣的觀點應用在自己身上，對自我的獨特與多元用更多的溫柔去包容？從什麼時候開始，我們對自己的身體如此的不適應，但是不是很有可能這就是為何我們現在會在這裡的原因之一？

After lunchbreak, we did an activity to imagine our future generation was writing a thank you letter to us. The gratitude and appreciation that had been share in a small group was out of this world. Then we were asked to look back to those struggle sticky notes, and think of a way to bring those issues to be resolved and end up with the appreciation thank you letter in the future. What can we do right now to bring us to the bright future we all looking for?

午餐過後，我們進行了一個想像未來一代的後起者寫了一封感謝信給我們的活動。在小團體之間我們互相分享寫下的內容，每個人所分享的感謝與感恩之情完全超乎了我的想像。接著，主辦者要我們回頭看看那些掙扎不安、充滿困惑的便條貼，想像該以什麼樣的方式，將這些掙扎進行轉化、解決，而昇華為我們現在手邊所收到的未來感謝信般滿滿的感恩。我們現在能做些什麼才能把我們帶往心所嚮往的光明未來？

There were four aspects for us to ponder. From personal attitude, our art practices, and art institute then the societal and governmental level. We were encouraged to think of a different structure of the art world. Our group work from the bottom level of personal attitude and agree there should be more empathy, respect and appreciation. As for the art practice, we should have more freedom to experience in different kinds of ways. We feel like art institute were being very selective, and not everyone can really approach to it. So if we could push the boundary more, especially from culture to culture, it would have more chance for artists to be seen and heard. But at the same time we feel like there’s nothing really can change if the authorities do not come from the government level.

有四個方向值得深思：個人態度、創作、藝文機構和政府單位。我們被鼓勵去思考創造一個結構完全不同的藝術世界。我們這一組由個人態度基層開始，皆認同我們必須具有更多的包容心、尊重與感恩。創作方面，我們需要有更多的自由來體驗不同的組合與面向。對於藝文機構，我們深感現有的藝文機構都是非常有選擇性的，並非人人都能有機會接觸，若我們能將界線拉開，尤其打破文化與文化間的隔閡，這才能讓其他藝術創作者能有更多的機會被看見、聽見。但與此同時，我們又深感若無來自上層單位的權力，我們根本改變不了什麼。

Unfortunately the time is ticking quick, the discussion session just not enough for us. However, it’s very interesting to exchange our thoughts from all the other groups. And for me, the ideal art structure in 30 years time would be both the government and people work in a mutual way to meet the balance. It’s not from the top (government) to the bottom (people) or vice versa, but from a point to point based to form a flow circle that everyone was covered.

很可惜時間過得太快了，討論時間根本不夠用。組別互相交換彼此的想法與心得時非常的有意思。而對我來說，未來三十年後理想中的藝術結構是政府單位與人民共同互相合作達到平衡共識。這並非由上層來改變下層或由下層影響上層的單一方向行進，而是以點對點的互相流動形成一個圓圈讓所有人都能包含其中。

Struggle notes v.s Thankful letter, interview afterward 掙扎的便條貼與感謝信的對比，會後的攝影訪問

Stories From The Future workshops had definitely broaden my eyesight. It didn’t feel like a workshop but more like a reflection of us. The repeated gratitude and appreciation shown in the workshop were the highlight I reckon. If it’s not the past, there’s no present, so be thankful. And if it’s not the present, there’s no future, so be more thankful!

未來故事工作坊真的是讓我大開眼界。感覺自己並非參加了一個什麼工作坊，而更像是對自我的深層反省。在會中主辦人不斷表達的感謝與感恩之情對我而言是此工作坊最重要的一點。若不是因為過去，我們不會有現在，所以要心存感謝；若非現在，我們也無法前進到未來，所以要更加的感謝！

Last, I’m going to sum up with my practice; again, this understanding was credit to the workshop that I was lucky enough to attend. While doing rock painting, a smooth and round rock is always the best. But rocks don’t just come out this way. They have to be tumble by the river or wave to smooth out all the bumpy bits they had. Their outside might look different from the time being washed, but their quality inside remain the same. Or even their outside had completely been washed off and showing their true inner self. Arts and cultures influence us the same way. We need to be round and smooth with our relationship both to the country where we stay and the country where we belong. Doesn’t matter how much we’ve changed through the wash of the culture, we are all in one soul. We are never the same person again, because now we shine more.   

最後，我想用我的彩繪石頭來做總結，而這份體悟也要歸功於我何其有幸能參與的這個工作坊。當在彩繪石頭時，能找到平滑又呈圓形的石頭是最理想不過的，但是這些平滑又呈圓形的石頭並不是生來就這樣的，他們必須經過河水或浪潮的長期沖洗洗去一身的粗糙，他們的外表在經過長期的沖洗後看起來或許不同，但他們的內在卻仍是一樣的；或，他們的外表被完全的沖洗殆盡，而顯現出內在的本質。藝術與文化就是這樣影響著我們的，我們必須在我們所屬的國家和我們來自的國家中做人圓和與平滑，不論我們經歷了文化的改變有多少，內在我們都還是同樣的那個靈魂。我們將不再是同一個人，因為歷經洗滌的我們已變得更加閃耀，共勉之。