Friday, July 29, 2011

当年轻离我而去

GE2011(7 May 2011)已经落幕。前外交部长杨荣文(George Yeo)黯然退出政坛前,不忘以他独有的大智大慧与世界宏观,语重声长地提出PAP必须转型,并且恭祝工人党刘程强与他的团队凭着明知山有虎,偏向虎山行的大无畏精神,攻下PAP的堡垒--集选区。刘程强胜得光明,杨荣文输得磊落,赢得新加坡选民赞赏。

http://navalants.blogspot.com/2011/05/5-5-52011-ge.html

(杨荣文风度翩翩,坦然面对失败, 被尊称为可敬的对手。2011)

人生顺流逆流,不是成就是败,惆怅之余,无需以PAP一贯的思想形态,通过成败来论英雄。回首杨荣文之败,是败于时局大势,败于一股无法抵挡的时代洪流,非战之败。时势造就了楚霸王,时势也使他面对四面楚歌,有史可循。杨荣文之败,其实也是一个新时代的开始,使执政52年的PAP重新审核施政方针,寻找更具人性的良知之路,一时的失败也许是更长远的成功,风物长宜放眼量。

(李显龙总理在竞选结束十天内宣布大刀阔斧后的新内阁。2011)

杨荣文面对落选的心态与转身的瞬间是那么的优雅从容,举重若轻,大将之风,魅力无可抵挡。刘程强领军工人党,站在历史的浪尖,淡定自在,体现了新加坡政治历史新篇章的君子风范。

工人党赢得6个国会议席,加上两个非国会议席,8人团队是平衡两党政治的前奏,我希望日后回望,2011是个真正的转折点,是个满园春色关不住,一枝红杏出墙来,开创真正民主的新加坡的新纪元。

(WP最后一晚竞选集会,三万人陪着刘程强走出后港,挤爆Serangoon Stadium。2011)

(为民主欢呼,Serangoon Stadium。2011)

GE后的一个星期内,阿裕尼团队的部长级人马杨荣文、陈惠华(Lim Hwee Hua)和再诺(Zainul Abidin Rasheed )相继宣布不再参加来届选举,两位内阁元老李光耀资政和吴作栋资政也发表联合声明,退出内阁,为新加坡独特的资政体制划下句点。

We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future. We have made our contributions to the development of Singapore. The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation. The Prime Minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate. A younger generation, besides having a non-corrupt and meritocratic government and a high standard of living, wants to be more engaged in the decisions which affect them. After a watershed general election, we have decided to leave the cabinet and have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of our Singapore.

But the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation. This generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well-looked after.

短短的联合声明总共用了6个年轻(young, younger)的字眼,可见两位资政已经意识到家长式的管理作风已经成为过去,如果持续下去,大家都不可能改变对方,只能加深两代人之间的鸿沟。长江后浪推前浪,继往开来,最好还是放手。

(李光耀资政与吴作栋资政明白到代沟的事实,决定退出内阁,完全放手。2011)

李光耀是开国功臣,他和他的第一代团队打造新加坡,我对他们第一代人的领导贡献,给予我们一个国、一个家、许多梦想和希望心存感激,无限尊敬,虽然对他的行事作风未必苟同。

http://navalants.blogspot.com/2010/08/1-of-3.html
http://navalants.blogspot.com/2010/08/2-of-3.html
http://navalants.blogspot.com/2010/08/3-of-4.html
http://navalants.blogspot.com/2010/08/4-of-4.html

李光耀经历过殖民地时代的斗争,斗士精神已经成为他的血液。对反对党施加强硬的手段是他的一贯作风:

“If we had considered them serious political figures, we would not have kept them politically alive for so long. We could have bankrupted them earlier.”

- Lee Kuan Yew on political opposition, Straits Times, Sept 14,2003

在竞选期间,李光耀对阿裕尼选民发表“懊悔论”,说输了一个集选区没什么大不了,但是阿裕尼选民在接下来的五年将会懊悔不已。他这番话不晓得是故意使杨荣文出局还是帮倒忙,输了阿裕尼后隔天在Tanjong Pagar的集会上,他表示选民已经忘了过去五十年我们是怎么活过来的。他认为年长者还有感恩之心,年轻人则对新加坡一路走来一步一惊心的过去一无所知。

在五十年后的新加坡,这种李氏斗争式的手法早已不合时宜,或许李光耀一直活在唯唯诺诺的内阁团队中,没有人敢唱反调,才会使他认为过去的功绩可以使PAP永远长青,忽略了盛唐也有式微的一天。我们平民百姓在职场打拼,在家养儿育女,都很清楚在e-时代,有识之士不受气、年轻人不受教这个大时代变化的事实。跟他们相处之道在于平心静气地交流沟通,甚至agree on disagreed,否则离家出走,远走高飞,寻找一片属于他们的蓝天,吃亏的是自己。至于五十岁以上的年长人士(我刚好迈入此年龄层)正因为感恩而更不希望政府失去从政的良知,新加坡从此走上不归路。李光耀大智大勇,不可能后知后觉,不了解时局大势,或许只能说背后还有底牌,至于底牌是针对行动党内部还是对外,当局者清。

(选民选择以资深议员刘程强领军的WP党员进入国会,希望窗外有蓝天。2011)

吴作栋时代最大的贡献是“解放”新加坡,让新加坡享有较大的言论自由。我十分尊敬吴作栋的软实力,通过言论改革为国家带来较大的磋商的空间。但尊敬归尊敬,吴作栋以经济学家的手法治国,打造Singapore Inc.,同时把政治理想与人民的心态带入功利化的层次,失去宏观的视野,这是我对吴作栋年代的肺腑感言。

吴作栋处于夹心层,从政之路一步一惊心。在1984年的国庆群众大会上,被当时的总理李光耀公开点名当老二,在陈庆炎之后;如果不是王鼎昌英文能力不足,丹那巴南是印度人,可能排名更往下滑,接任总理好像是捡回来似的。1990年吴作栋接任总理后,隔年立刻解散国会,寻求“强有力的委托”,可是事与愿违,选票往下滑,还失去了Bukit Batok 和义顺单选区。一年后他再以自己的Marine Parade GRC来寻求委托,引进张志贤,借选民之手来加强自己的信心与政治筹码。

(李光耀秘密询问他的政治秘书对吴作栋、陈庆炎、王鼎昌、林子安和丹那巴南的评价。他宣布吴作栋是老二。c.1984)

接下来1997和2001两次选举,吴作栋都以屋子政治当筹码,把选举推入低档的私欲层次,选民的思想变得肤浅,自身利益的考量高于一切,吴作栋还为在任的最后一届(2001)夺得75%高支持率而沾沾自喜。2004年李显龙接手总理,面对的是遗留下来的功利主义的摊子。

GE2011, 吴作栋挺爱将杨荣文,不惜牺牲黄根成、马宝山等人,说黄根成管不好Mas Selamat,马宝山管不好住屋,他们都可以输,但是杨荣文何罪之有?这番话引起黄根成的不满,直面反驳,似乎发生内讧。

(黄根成、马宝山、林双吉,从内阁出局。2011)

吴作栋也使出李光耀一贯的手法,刻意贬低竞争对手,矛头指向他的前首席秘书,在SDP旗帜下参选的陈如斯,言语之间影射陈如斯不过尔尔,连当政治秘书都没资格。他似乎已经忘记1984年詹时中与马宝山在Potong Pasir对弈的结果。当时PAP重量级挺马宝山,说马宝山的O-level考获7科A,詹时中只得7科B,结果弄巧反挫,选票转向詹时中。后来詹时中更正说他只考获5科及格,还必须重考英文,但是他没有放弃梦想,最终成为执业律师。他这一番激励的忠言,赢得大家的尊敬。

至于吴作栋自己的选区,得票56%,低过PAP的全国平均率(60%),他埋怨是年轻的“玲玲”效应惹得祸(NSP的佘雪玲, 24岁;PAP的陈佩玲,27岁),我倒觉得更大的问号是堂堂吴资政怎么只可能栽在“玲玲”手中而对整个大环境无动于衷?

(陈佩玲与佘雪玲,玲-玲效应拉低PAP在马林百列GRC的选票?)

从民主的进程来说,人的思想必须经历过大起大落才能提升到另一层次。组屋提升热潮过后,大家的脑袋变得清醒,不为名利所动,而是为了更长远的未来,这是给百万政府的挑战。套用政府常说的话,不要把一切当成是理所当然的。

必须翻起多年前一则小经历,但对我影响良深的心路。1992年在纽西兰南岛Fairlie 的一个农村小住时,牧羊人教导我赶羊的要领是照顾跑在最后的那头羊,确保它不会掉队。虽然落在后头的那头羊会拖慢羊群的节奏,但是如果置之不理,每回牧羊都会有跑在最后的一头羊,到头来羊群四分五裂,越来越单薄,羊群就散了。.....

新加坡在PAP带领下,给人的直觉就是专注于那头领头羊,随时准备放弃因跟不上而掉队的那头羊。在中国,知青可以回到二线三线城市,回去农村;新加坡是一个单一城市,没有二线,没有农村,跟不上的那头羊,面对重重压力,何去何从?人心倒向,通过选票来追求民主是不是已经成为新加坡独特的群体公民意识的表达方式?

(后港与阿裕尼落入WP手中,PAP夺回波东巴西。2011)

(一笑泯恩仇?李显龙的新内阁就职典礼,刘程强问邻座的李光耀可否跟WP合照,李光耀答应了,彼此还寒喧几句。2011)

放眼滚滚历史洪流,大江东去,浪淘尽千古风流人物。人来人往,一代新人换旧人,的确没什么好唏嘘。我们应该庆幸我们有生之年,竟然能够站在历史大现场,见证一场没有流血、没有冲突,平和实在的民主转型。我们都在人生的过程中尽了一份绵力,促进人类社会的发展,那就足够了。

Friday, July 22, 2011

Orchid evolution

The outcome of Singapore General Election 2011 was termed as watershed which perceived to impact greatly on the future government policies and communication approaches for Singapore. After a cooling period of more than two months after GE, it is now appropriate to look back and capture some essential occurrences that would probably shape the future of Singapore.

(PM Lee agreed that 2011 GE was a watershed. Government has to review many policies and should refocus on people's concern rather than pure GDP growth. 2011)

George Yeo and co. lost their battle in Aljunied GRC on May 7. George Yeo pull himself out from the battle field and shared his great holistic wisdom as usual. He saw himself as part of the changing tide and his lost to Workers' Party was not a personal lost. Instead, it was a natural progression of Singapore's  version of democracy. He said he loved freedom and would not participate in the future elections. While many Singaporeans mourned for the lost of a capable minister, they also recognised the need for credible opposition members to balance the parliament was an essential step for future Singapore.

(George Yeo and co. thanked the 44% voters who supported them in Aljunied GRC. 2011)

GE2011 was seen as another watershed. Watershed not only because of Gen Y were having their taste to cast their first votes, it was also due to the fact that many die-hard pro-PAP supporters had decided to switch their minds to the other side of the camp.

http://navalants.blogspot.com/2011/05/5-5-52011-ge.html

Taking a holistic view from the past GEs, I believe 1984 was the first watershed that threatened the PAP's monopoly. PAP used to enjoy more than 70% vote share since independence. However, GE 1984 rocked the boat with about 65% votes and sent PAP back to reality. Since then PAP had been consistently hovering below 65% of total vote share.

Given its history and legacy laid by David Marshall (founder of WP), WP have been strong contester since JB Jayaretnam's first won in Anson by-election dated back in 1981. Since then, there were blips in between but WP was resilience enough to pick themselves up and provided people with credible alternative choices from time to time.

The only exception for PAP was 2001 GE where PAP garnered 75% of the total vote share. For that particular election, PAP returned to power on nomination day. Many constituencies were unchallenged. Goh Chok Tong who opened up Singapore through his exceptional consultative style, continued with his materialism ideology based on economic theories, going along with "asset enhancement" such as local HDB upgrade first articulated in 1997 GE. Voters' minds were masked with selfish intents and chased after paper wealth. The national issues were left aside.

Up to 2011 GE, Goh still felt very proud of this particular GE achievement. However, Singaporeans had moved on to beyond asset enhancement and became more politically awake, thanked to the hard work of some opposition parties and new social media. With such awareness, Goh's Marine Parade GRC could not be spared and could only garner about 56% of the total vote share. It was about 4 percentage point below PAP's average.

(Goh Chok Tong claimed that the Ling-Ling (Ting Pei Ling of PAP, Nicole Seah Xue Ling of NSP) was a major contributing factor in lowering the PAP vote share in Marine Parade GRC. 2011)

Since 1984, there had always been about 1/3 of the voters opposing PAP. They were also careful in choosing the right candidates to bring democracy into Singapore parliament. Given the credible candidates from WP in GE2011, it became very difficult not to give the WP team who contested Aljunied an opportunity to contribute to democratic progression. George Yeo was unfortunate to be positioned in Aljunied GRC to face such tide.

GRC may well be the ultimate weakness and unfair playing field that caused George Yeo to end his political career prematurely but graciously. At the same time, GRC system brought in some political babies through "safe heaven" from the other PAP wards. GRC seems to me was formed to protect PAP's interest back in 1988 and was like engaging a reverse gear, moving towards anti-democracy. It should not be exist then and it should be abolished now.

(A credible team assembled by WP for Aljunied GRC. 2011)

(Hougang SMC and Aljunied GRC went to WP. PAP managed to capture back Potong Pasir from Mrs Chiam with 50.5% vote share after 27 years. 2011) 

PM Lee Hsien Loong pledged to make changes to the way the PAP government works. As Singapore enters a new chapter in its political development, perhaps the utmost important task for the PAP technocrats, being MPs or ministers, would have to relearn was how to win not just the minds of Singaporeans, but their hearts too.

(Could PM Lee Hsien Loong's team of technocrats duplicate the heart and soul of Lee Kuan Yew and his team? 1959)

As an example on nomination day of GE 2011, a crowd of Singaporeans turned up at Deyi Secondary School to cheer their teams, waiting patiently in the field under the sun. After the PAP and WP teams addressed the cheering crowds, they went down to the field to greet supporters. Some PAP candidates being feted and carried aloft by supporters. But the WP team did one thing exceptional.

Low Thia Khiang led his team-mates to the gate of the field. They stood there humbly in line. Under the blazing sun at noon, they shook hands with each supporter streaming out and thanked them one by one.

That shows with people at hearts. That makes tremendous difference.

(Afternote: A post-election survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies has found that there were more swing voters in the latest general election compared to the 2006 election, especially among those in their 40s and seniors aged above 65. ---The Straits Times, July 9, 2011)
PAP's total vote share:
1959: 54.1% (First election - self governing)
1963: 46.9% (Operation Coldstore in Feb 1963 detained more than 100 BS members including the key leaders. Election was held on 21 Sep, 5 days after the merger of Singapore and Malaysia. PAP's Toh Chin Chye defeated BS's Lee Siew Choh in Rochor Constituency by 89 votes)
1968: 86.7% (First election after independence in Aug 1965. Barisan Sosialis boycotted parliament)
1972: 70.4%
1976: 74.1%
1980: 77.7% (2nd industrial revolution- economic restructuring for Singapore. The nation was filled with joy and hope)
1981: Anson by-election. (WP JB Jeyaretnam defeated Pang Kim Hin of PAP. 51.9% )
1984: 64.8% (Graduate mother scheme kicked in. WP JB Jayaretnam defeated Ng Pork Too of PAP in Anson. 56.8%. Chiam See Tong of SDP defeated Mah Bow Tan of PAP in Potong Pasir. 60.3% )
1988: 63.2% (GRC was first implemented. WP team Francis Seow, Lee Siew Choh and co. lost Eunos GRC at very narrow margin. 49.1%)
1991: 61% (Goh Chok Tong called for GE to seek "strong" mandate from Singaporeans afer he took over PM in 1990. Low Thia Khiang of WP defeated Tang Guan Seng of PAP in Hougang. 52.8%)
1997: 65% (materialism such as HDB upgrade was used as a GE tactic from now on. WP team Tang Liang Hong, J B Jeyaretnam and co. lost in Cheng San GRC. 45.2% )
2001: 75.3% (Tang Liang Hong was sued after the last election which might have generated some fear factors. 2 months after 911. Credible opposition candidates lacking)
2006: 66% (WP team Sylvia Lim and co. lost in Aljunied GRC 44%. Overall WP garnered 38.4%, including a 'suicide squad' contested in AMK GRC led by PM Lee and won 1/3 of the vote share)
2011: 60.1% (WP team Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh and Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap defeated PAP in Aljunied GRC. 54.7%. Overall WP garnered 46.7% of the total votes’ shares against PAP)

Friday, July 15, 2011

夢湖

小学时,学校四楼有间小小的音乐室,每个星期两节音乐课是天堂。年约六十的陈老师说她很感激校长让她自由发挥,不需要盲目根据教育部的教材,她可以随心所欲,介绍简单易懂的世界民歌名曲给我们。

多年以后才明白舍弃好端端的教育部音乐教材不用,把世界名曲引入小学堂是多么费神费力的事。我也很感激陈老师对音乐的激情。

世界因为有激情,向现实挑战的性情中人而美丽。

陈老师让我认识在苏格兰这个世界上某个角落的国家有个叫做罗梦湖的淡水湖泊。罗梦湖是什么样子的?老师说闭起眼睛,用心聆听潺潺的钢琴声,唱出心里的憧憬,罗梦湖就会出现了。

(罗梦湖 Loch Lomond, Scotland. c.1990s)

在美丽的沙滩在美丽山坡旁,那阳光照耀着罗梦,是我们常去游玩的地方,在那美丽美丽罗梦的岸上。

呵你走那高原而我走那平路,我将先你到达苏格兰,但我们由此就要分手,在那美丽美丽罗梦的岸上。

因为有激情,所以才会圆梦。很庆幸自己有生之年能够数度在英伦定居,火车沿着海岸线北上苏格兰,圆一个少年时代的梦。原来早在1841年,罗梦湖的英文版本The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond已经发表于世了。

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond
Where me and my true love will ne-er meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomon'.

Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road
And I'll be in Scotland afore ye
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

罗梦湖位于苏格兰中部,长39公里,宽度在1.2 公里至8公里之间,平均深度37米,最深处190米,是英国面积最大的淡水湖。我们的邻国印度尼西亚也有个美丽的的淡水湖叫“多峇湖Lake Toba”。多峇湖位于苏门答腊岛北部海拔900米的高原上,距离棉兰市约175公里。

多峇湖是个火山湖,是在七万余年前的一次超级火山爆发形成的。多峇湖长约100公里,宽31公里,大约相等于两个新加坡,而湖中的沙摩西岛(Pulau Samosir)则和新加坡不相上下。多峇湖少了1841年便开始流传的凄美的情歌,比不上罗梦湖的人气,不过多峇湖也有幽怨的故事。

(多峇湖畔峇达人的村落,1992)

(峇达人的传统建筑,牛角挂在羊头上,1992)

远古的传说有多种版本,这是其中之一:从前,有一个渔夫住在多峇山的峡谷中的小屋里。小山环抱着小屋,小屋坐落在河边。有一次捕鱼时,渔夫网中一条非常特别的大鱼。他把鱼放在小屋里,踱出屋门,思忖着如何美餐一顿。当他回到小屋时,却惊奇地发现那条鱼已经变成了一个美丽的姑娘,正在为他做饭。渔夫爱上了姑娘,问道:“你愿意做我的妻子吗?”姑娘提出渔夫永远不能告诉任何人她曾经是一条鱼,万一他食言,就意味着眼泪、分手和灾难,如果渔夫答应她的条件,她就嫁给他。渔夫欣然应允。

随后他们与独生女儿幸福和谐地生活在一起。女儿长大以后,母亲总让她给种田的父亲送午饭,不幸的是她有一个贪吃的坏毛病。一次,她把应该送给父亲的食物全部吃光了,当农夫发现女儿在街上大吃大嚼,怒火中烧:“你这个鱼的后代,你想造反啊!”

女儿回到家里,向哭泣的母亲询问这到底是怎么回事。母亲什么也没有说,只是让女儿赶快逃到山上去,躲避即将发生的灾难。刚过了一分钟,就发生了地震,紧接着洪水泛滥,很快便淹没了这个地区,农夫和女儿都被洪水淹没了。姑娘变回一条鱼,从此没再出现。经年累月后,这个地区变成了今天的多峇湖,小山则变成了沙摩西岛。

沙摩西岛原是一个半岛,在岛的西边有一宽仅200公尺的土地与陆地连结。1906年荷兰人在此处开通一条运河,从此成为一个真正的小岛,在当时的居民心中造成莫大的恐慌,担心沙摩西岛将会沉入湖中。

沙摩西岛是峇达族(Toba Batak)的故乡,开化前曾经是一个食人族,据说最后一次把犯人的尸体剁成肉泥,加上各种酸酸辣辣的调味品生吃也只不过是1816年的事,距今还不到两百年。德国传教士Normanton引入基督教,峇达人信奉基督教后,才改掉食人的习俗。峇达人Hendrick是北苏门答腊的末代皇帝,他留学荷兰,思想开放。1945年印度尼西亚脱离荷兰独立,Hendrick被杀,结束十四代皇族统治,还政于民。

(北苏门答腊的末代皇帝Hendrick是峇达人,1992)

(从棉兰前往多峇湖途中,Berastagi市容,基督教与回教并存,1992)

(峇达民族舞)

1990年代,新加坡还有好多旅行社承办多峇湖四日游,我最觉得写意的莫过在阴凉的湖边坐落一个黄昏。也很怀念设在小山坡的茶坊,高原略带寒冷的气候下,那杯姜茶驱走多少寒意。也忘不了那位沙摩西岛上卖织成品的年轻小妹,直说我的未来老婆cantik(漂亮),我说他俩saling saling(彼此彼此),两人兴高采烈地合照,保留了20年的照片还没发黄,但年轻小妹何处去?

(Sipiso-piso瀑布旁看多峇湖,茶坊就在左角,1992)

(Sipiso-piso瀑布旁看多峇湖,茶坊就在左角,1992)


(沙摩西岛上Tomok Village的年轻小妹,买什么都好,一律半价成交。1992)

1998年一场轰动全球的印尼排华事件,棉兰20%的华族人口也受影响,一时间风声鹤唳,有钱的印尼华人都往外跑。从此,新加坡旅行社不再承办多峇湖之旅,多峇湖似乎与我们越来越遥远了。

Friday, July 08, 2011

别让城市太拥挤

配合2011年5月15日淡然落幕的双年展(Singapore Biennale),国家博物馆的圆形大厅入住了一个用传统植物素材藤与竹创作的立体模型“Compound”。跟一位在博物馆工作的朋友倚在二楼的栏杆旁,俯视着这个利用模块方式叠合成的艺术品,朋友说现代艺术徘徊于抽象与具体之间,很难欣赏,艺术家似乎尝试为城市定位,可又说不出个所以然。

朋友欣赏艺术的角度不同,他喜欢水墨画和希腊雕刻所散发的灵气。人间境界真善美,科学追求真,宗教追求善,艺术则追求美,现代艺术如果真有美感,似乎美得太笼统,难以捉摸。博物馆华文义工惠萱曾经给我们上了一堂非正式的美术课,最近参观双年展后对我说,以前我们学的是美术,现在所学的不叫美术,美术已经转型称为“艺术”。

的确,现代艺术,所捕捉的不是永恒的美感,而是时空转换的过程,在乾坤大挪移中提供想象的三维空间。我们观赏着同样的创作,体会可以完全不一样,这就是艺术的魅力;如果点得太明,反而失去心灵的震撼。就好象达芬奇的“蒙娜丽莎的微笑”,梨涡浅笑中带着些许暧昧,多年来人们还在解读着微笑的含义,乐趣融融。

(张大千:写意荷花。传统水墨画的意境在于淡中出真味,常里出英奇。)

(达芬奇的油画:蒙娜丽莎的微笑,暧昧。)

当我们多花点时间,慢慢细嚼双年展艺术品,可以感受到现代艺术家通过充满时代感的表现手法,对日新月异、快速发展的城市提出反馈。现代艺术的呈现手法已不局限于平面绘画或立体雕刻,而是有声有色,味道则由访客去发掘。

Compound是柬埔寨艺术家Sopheap Pich 的作品。Sopheap Pich于1971年在柬埔寨出生,目前在金边定居。他在美国芝加哥与法国巴黎学艺术,回到柬埔寨从事绘画工作,后来自我转型,使用当地农村的现成材料如藤、竹及麻布,从事立体艺术创作。Compound使用简单的模块方式,叠造出大型的城市结构。

(柬埔寨现代艺术家Sopheap Pich,以藤、竹与麻布等当地农村现成材料创作。2011)

Sopheap Pich表示,Compound的灵感来自快速的城市发展及发展过程对环境所造成的影响:“纵观历史,建造与拆除是一个永无休止的循环。我们是否能够只有建造而没有拆除?”

如朋友所说,现代艺术需要解读,而艺术家本身也未必能够贴切地解读艺术的含义,只能笼统地介绍创作动机。在朋友眼中,Compound只不过是我们童年时司空见惯的鸡笼、鸽子笼和猪笼的集成品。

Compound,堆砌的城市.2011)

朋友的另一类解读方式其实给我不少灵感。在我眼中,Compound所表达的是一个拥挤的城市,在这个寸步难移的现代空间,人的生活素质正开着时代的倒车,跟当年被困在笼子里的家禽其实没有两样。当人们为家禽请命,禁止虐待动物时,可曾尝试换个位置来看看自己。不识庐山真面目,只缘身在此山中,把我们从尘市间抽离出来眺望,我们是不是也像笼中鸟,受困在拥挤的城市中,付出昂贵的价格,却牺牲人性的尊严?城市是否真的让生活更美好?(2010年上海世界博览会的主题)。

(城市太拥挤,我们人也是家禽野鸽,付出昂贵的价格,却买不回生活的尊严。2011)

在有限的土地上,sky is the limit,城市只有往上发展的空间;在发展的过程中,个人的“安全空间”其实很狭隘,甚至不受尊重的。 Compound的每一个模块都是透光的,城市中人不是光明正大的被监视着,便是在偷窥与被偷窥间生活,没有隐私可言。

如猪笼的模块竖立起来,围绕着城市,像宗教建筑,但更像导弹。发展拥挤的城市的过程是否也是逐步自我毁灭的过程,现在种下的因,是后人所必须承受的果?

而城市也是金钱价值的欲望追求,城市的土地与空间都可以通过金钱来衡量,我们乐于被锁在有限的半空中,妄想着土地给我们带来一生追求的财富。

生活在新加坡这个城市,我们没有躲避的选择。新加坡没有生活费较低廉的乡村,厌倦城市生活后可以避世,在浓郁的乡土气息中寻找自己,整装待发。我们受困在城市之中。
你以为呢?

Friday, July 01, 2011

金鱼缸外的世界

人外有人,天外有天。我们习惯在某一个圈子里过活,很多时候已经忘记了小圈子外还有个大圈子,大圈子外还有个更大的圈子。

金鱼缸内看外头的世界,因为通过厚玻璃与弧度,一切都变了形,可是我们总以为所看到的是真实的。当我们踏出圈子,看见另一个蓝天的时候,或许只是进入更大的金鱼缸,蓝天白云其实并不是我们所看到的蓝天白云。

偷得浮生半日闲,一窥金鱼缸外无垠的星空,苍茫大地,谁主浮沉?星空下有什么解不开、放不下的人事情仇?

(2010中秋夜,仰望夜空)

烟宵微月澹长空,银汉秋期万古同。
几许欢情与离恨,年年并在此宵中。
                                                       --白居易《七夕》

蓝蓝的天空银河里,有只小白船。….
度过那道银河水,来到云彩国。
走过那道银河水,该向那儿去?
                                                       --儿歌《小白船》

星空中气势磅薄的银河叫人神往。银河是天上的河流,小白船越过银河,飘向西方;牛郎织女鹊桥相会,鹊桥就铺设在天河之上。夜空中的牛郎星是天鹰座中最明亮的星星,在银河的东岸;织女星是天琴座中最明亮的星星,在银河的西岸。由于这两颗恒星清晰可见,容易辨别,所以郑和下西洋时,就曾以织女星作为航海的导航标志之一。古希腊人认为银河是天上的神哺育婴儿时流淌出来的乳汁,称它为牛奶道(Milky Way)。

(银河,德萨斯州,Texas)

牛郎星距离地球16光年(1光年约为 10万亿公里),织女星距离地球26光年,牛郎织女相距16光年,如果牛郎给织女拨电话,织女得等到16年后才能听到牛郎的声音。"七七相会"那道桥,肯定比光还要快上16光年。

(牛郎织女如何喜相逢?)

地球是太阳系里八个行星之一,冥王星(Pluto)质量小,被重新定义为矮行星,从九大行星中除名。地球上山河壮伟,海洋辽阔;一旦天云变色,地震海啸,火山台风,破坏力无穷。为地球带来光和热的太阳的体积比地球大一百万倍,质量是地球的三十万倍。地球在太阳的表面,只是一颗小黑点,还比不上太阳上的黑子(sunspot),地球与太阳相比,微不足道。

太阳也不过是银河系里一颗普通的恒星,银河系里有二十亿个与太阳类似的星球;至于比太阳质量大几十倍,光度比太阳强一百万倍的星星比比皆是。银河之广不可思议,我们用光的速度来旅行,飞到银河系的中心得花上三万多年(三万光年),抵达目的地,有缘一见银河真面目的不是我们,而是我们的千代子孙。

(朝阳是否天天升起?还是正处于宜居期?摄于我家附近)

月亮绕地球转动,地球及其他行星绕太阳运转,太阳和其他银河系的星球也是一样的绕银河系的中心运转。地球自转需时一日,月亮绕地球一周需时一月,地球绕太阳一周需时一年,太阳绕银河系中心一周需时一星系年(galactic year),一个星系年等于二亿五千万年。将天文数字推算一下,天上仅一秒,人间已八年!

银河系在整个宇宙里,其实只不过是一粒小沙石,类似银河的星系有三十亿,这个空间的直线距离有十亿光年,宇宙大不可测,遥不可及。

地球绕太阳一周,过程中缔造了春夏秋冬。春天万物复苏,植物种子发芽生长,由一粒种子延长出根茎叶花,由花结出果实,果实成熟时,植物进入秋收冬亡,一个生命期结束。春夏秋冬引发生老病死的循环,主要因素是温度的变化,温度适中是生存的条件。

银河系绕着更大星系运转一周的过程,也一样会产生类似地球绕太阳一周那样的生与死的过程。因此,地球生命的存在,只不过是在极热与极冷之间的合成品,就像植物一样,在宜居的环境中由一颗种子萌芽,开枝散叶,花粉传播生命,生生不息。外在环境不再宜居时,枝叶凋零,等待下一个气温怡人的春天,生命重新开始。以星系年来演算,下一个春天或许在二亿余年之后?

(当生命进入残冬.....)

当然这只不过是尝试解答“我从哪里来,该往哪里去”的许多探讨生命起源的模式中的一个,把我带入这另一类思维领域的是Stephen Hawking(1942-),近期出版的“ The Grand Design” 深入浅出,不妨一读。

Hawking has said; “One can't prove that God doesn't exist, but science makes God unnecessary.”