Recent updates : Hi from Shodoshima :)

 Today is up to 35 degree C and everybody is working so hard under the big big sun. We have 14 volunteers as of today in our group. What our first task here was cleaning the dormitory, we tried to empty the biggest room (former gym hall) and to convert it into a common area for everybody, we dine together on the table, have meeting together, play and chit-chat at night and most importantly work so hard altogether in this small area.

We have been doing the mini Chinese Music concerts and tea class everyday at 1:45pm and 2:20pm respectively. As there will be a seminar featuring all Asian artists groups working on Shodosihma on 21 Aug and a Chinese Music concert right after the seminar. Starting from today, we encouraged our musicians to give small music jamming session ( petit concert) in Wang san's bamboo pavilion at 2:30pm for 20 mins. Today's response of the visitors were very positive and some of them were very impressed on what we have been doing these days. We have 40 audiences and this is in fact the weekend visitor rates when we were doing it in the cafe (see photos).

As we have noticed that there are not lack of information of our artworks in the official booklet/ maps, so we made a little route map, putting all our artworks and our events and hanged it in the bamboo pavilion as well ( as we have a small corner there, originally we only sell drinks, yet we do think selling drinks for the cafe lady was not our first intention but cultural exchange and introducing what we (as hongkonger)are doing on the island is far more important), so we then made some little paper writing " we are from Hong Kong" in Japanese and we tried to put more information of our own projects around the village area. Somehow we know the products we are using right now maybe too raw and of no longer the perfect one, yet we believe once we started doing something like this, our smart participants will then follow up with more interesting and useful ideas on better the things we have.

Regarding the visitor rates of our artworks, i.e. Cornelia Erdmann 's Red Lamp Shades and Kith's glove "hand in hand"in the Primary school situated in Hitoyama, we have more than 250 visitors stopped by, participated and spent some time on our tasks (writing their wishes on a green paper and fill up the gloves on the wall). Please refer to the photos attached.

Life on Shodoshima is not easy, we have to walk and walk all day, sometimes working under the sun made us feel tired, yet this is a very good experience for us to overcome all hardship and we do treasure what we have done here, especially the friends we made between all Japanese volunteers, locals and visitors, not to mention all our beloved participants from Hong Kong.

Letter to all participants who can speak Japanese :)

Here is another message given by one of our participants - Mona:

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SUBJECT: Calling for Japanese-speaking participants!

Dear all Japanese-speaking participants,

Following my previous mails just now, I would like to explain a bit more about the cafe project. Now that we have ran it for a week, people have been enjoying the tea demonstration a lot. Chinese tea presents itself as a very interesting topic to local visitors.

To continue with the demonstration, we need Japanese interpreters to translate what the tea master is saying. He can speak in either cantonese or english. The demonstration last for about 30 minutes everyday.

I know from your registration that you speak Japanese. It's so lucky for us to have you = ) But at the same time we want to make sure you are comfortable with interpreting. Please let us know how well your spoken Japanese is, and how much you would like to handle this job.

Don't worry it won't be too hard, since we will have time to go through the content together before hand. Also, he is really nice = ) The more important thing might be that you are willing to share our culture with others, which I believe you all do = )

Kindly reply asap to Mona at monafpchu@gmail.com as time is running short. Should you have logistic questions, please do not hesitate to contact our volunteers in Hong Kong at 3487-4540 or info@senseart.hk.

Thank you.

See you all really soon!

Mona

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

Letter to participants :)

Here are the messages from one of our participants currently on-site - Mona:

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SUBJECT: Sense Art @ Setouchi : Calling for good cook :)

Dear Participant,

I hope summer is treating you well, and that you are all set for the exciting Setouchi Art Festival. You will be working with your fellow volunteers from HK to facilitate a couple of art projects.

As the team leader of a cafe project, I would like to give you some information about it, and see if you are interested in helping.

The cafe is opened by a local lady called Tachibana San. It runs from 12-6 everyday. The HK team is responsible for a Chinese daily tea demonstration from 2:30 to 3:00. We have invited a professional tea master to hold the demonstration. Volunteers will be facilitating the class, as well as preparing tea snacks to go with the tea.

Also, we will continue to sell the dessert from 3-6 pm everyday. Volunteers will have to prepare the food on receiving orders.

At the moment, we are thinking of fetching water from the nearby neibourhood for brewing tea, so to involve the community more. We might be approaching different households in the area. It will be a good chance to interact will local residents.

Due to the specific job nature of the project, it would be very helpful if you are interested/ good at cooking. Also, we need someone who speaks Japanese to be the translator of our daily tea class.

Sounds interesting doesn't it? Please let me know ASAP if 1) you are interested in the project, 2) you have the above mentioned skills, and 3) you have any other questions or suggestions.

Please email monafpchu@gmail.com. Please also contact our volunteers in Hong Kong should you have any logistic questions at 3487-4540 or info@senseart.hk.

p.s. please find the receipt we are currently serving here.

I am as new as you are to this project and this art festival. Let's work together to make it an interesting experience for all = )

See you all soon!

Mona

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

2010年7月7日

與小豆島相處已有一個多星期的時間，可愛的農村生活讓人忘卻都市的煩憂，卻喚起對親友的思念。

起床號還未響起，我已帶著矇朧的睡眼繼續昨天煮飯隊的工作，期望幫大家注滿一天的能量。我們吵吵鬧鬧地完成早餐後便向「小豆之屋」出發！「小豆之屋」是由台灣王文志老師用竹子作主要材料建造的一個大舞台，現在已到了編織頂部的時候，預計一個星期後便會完工。在一個毫無大型機器的農村荒地， 斗大強韌的竹子竟只需用一個有刀鋒的輪子破開， 看著那些有經驗的日本義工你推我拉，一聲施令發號下一口氣的把竹子分成五片，我們都興奮得歡呼拍手起來。然後我們也努力學習起來，起初，負責拉竹子跑的有時不夠力氣反被竹子拉回以至跌倒，也有負責把竹子對準刀口的有時手遲了放開而被扯進刀子受傷，經過幾番失敗與嘗試，我們也就熟練起來，於是整個上午我們就這樣和一片片青綠的竹片沐浴在猛烈的陽光下。

我是多麼的渴望與大哥們在那高築可擧的鐵架上一起編織我們的夢！然而踏在那搖晃的台架上實在令人膽憻心驚．．．．．．可是我是不能害怕的！大丈夫！在這重勞動力的地方，無論我多麼的不願也沒法像男孩一般大力氣，除此以外，我甚麼都願克服，我絕不希望被區分開來。

一如平日，我已習慣在午餐和休息時間與大哥們吃著說著，我們會分享同一個麵包，同一支飲料，無所不談，然後一同躺在竹台上睡午覺，看著那漸漸繁密的圓頂，感受著從竹縫透進來的陽光和清風。王老師和大哥們晚上還來了我們宿舍一起喝酒聊天放煙花呢！

由搬竹，破竹，修竹，織竹，到洗竹，「小豆之屋」上的每一根竹子每一片竹片都滿載著我們的血汗水，溢透著我們的手足之情。於是「小豆之屋」見證著我們的相遇，相處和分別吧。

Katie Ng

Architecture (1st Year)

University of Hong Kong

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

4.7.2010

Today I finally had the opportunity to work at an artist’s installation. The first few days here at Shodoshima I was assigned to other jobs such as the cooking team and cleaning at the primary school in Hitoyama. Our team today was only given a vague description of the location before we set out in the morning and we had to spend some time finding the site. We eventually spotted the white triangle-shaped tents far off in the rice fields.

One of the workers came forward to greet us when our party approached the river separating the rice fields and the tents. At that point, I suddenly realised only thing we knew was that we were here to help prepare Christanto Dadang’s, an Indonesia artist, art project. We weren’t told anything about what kind of work we would be required to do or who we would be working with. It was only after we were introduced to all the other project workers that I realised Dadang himself would not be here to monitor or guide the initial stages of the project. Furthermore all the workers present on the site were retired village locals that didn’t speak a word or English. At that moment I felt concerned regarding the general communication between the HK team and the locals, for no-one other than I could speak Japanese, and I wasn’t too confident in my Japanese skills either.

After helping set up two more tents for shade from the sun, the lead worker gave us an explanation about the project and a demonstration of what we needed to do. The project revolves around a soon-to-be-built bamboo structure. Each individual bamboo has four holes in the shape of circles, triangles, squares and other variations, carved in alternating segments, facing north, south, east and west. One thousand of these carved bamboo poles would eventually be assembled and essentially act as gigantic flute or ocarina whenever wind passes through, creating low, eerie sounds, hence the name of the work “The Voices of the Lost People”. Our work would be divided into two roles: pairs of worker would carve the holes into the bamboo using saws, hammers, chisels and drills while others were supplied with a small knife to clear up and refine the off-cuts and residue of the cut shapes.

Joshua Wong and I formed a team. Considering the working conditions of other projects that Sense Art Studio was involved in, I thought the work was relatively relaxing and less physically demanding. Although our jobs were repetitive, we were kept cool and protected from the sun under the tents, and could work while leisurely appreciating the beautiful green mountains and rice fields around Hitoyama. It was sometimes difficult to understand what the locals were trying to say to us, but we managed to get through our limited Japanese as well as physical gestures. All five of the local volunteers were retired villagers and not only were very familiar with this form of work, they were very patient and pleasant towards us, often teaching us small tips and tricks and even treated us to ice cream after lunch. We worked at our own pace, chatting with the locals and amongst ourselves, occasionally taking breaks whenever “休憩” (kyuukei) was called.

As an architecture student, I have yet to really learn anything new or find inspiration from this project that would compliment my studies as had originally hoped to when I decided to participate in preparing the Setouchi Arts Festival. However what shouldn’t be overlooked are the many things I can take away from this experience. Having the opportunity to communicate and getting to know some of the locals is one of the highlights of this trip. It shows that despite a language barrier, people can bond and share experiences over common interests or motives, such as the preparation of this art project.

Alfred Au

Design in Architecture (1st Year)

University of Technology Sydney

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

2010年7月3日

小豆島單車遊

小豆島是個美麗的小島。

陽光烱照著土庄港，刺眼的陽光與少少刺眼的小豆海相互輝映著，通透的能見度帶我看見一個令人熱到期待的小豆島。究竟小豆島是。。。

小豆島遊客中心前的石碑，屹立猶如泰山，旁邊樹立著一架又一架型格單車。我拿著單車匙，幾經辛苦，找到了，原來是架黑炆炆冇波轉的廉價單車，被微風一吹陽光一照，忽然頓悟到在這樣一個充滿斜路的小豆島，轉波是單車界一大發明。

坐在單車上，拿著小豆島地圖，沿大路走呀走，走呀走，原來小豆島街上的車真是少得要命，而車上的司機像帶著渡假的心情駕車，我把單車左扭扭右扭扭都無事發生， 小豆島真的很．．．安全。

小豆島土庄碼頭一帶有好多旅館，有小的，只可容納幾個遊客；也有大的，可以容納幾百個遊客 ；騎著單車，風馳電掣的去到全世界最小的海峽，在附近有座公廁，公廁旁有條迷失之參道，那條迷失之參道門口有個色彩斑爛的地圖，地圖上有很多花碌碌的圖案，入到迷失之參道，竟然還有免費wifi使用　﹣有可能是小豆島唯一的免費wifi！

經過一輪免費wifi之後，霎眼間就踩到巿中心，那裡有多間大型超巿，魚生、生果、飲品、雜貨十居其九令您眼花繚亂，甫一進入即流連忘返，行跛腳板。那裡有間超級巿場門口有免費洗手間提供，洗濯一番。

轉過超巿，左經大眾飯堂，是一間很地道的飯堂，進入門口有個很搶眼的玻璃櫃，內裡擺放著厨師是日推介，我去當日有厨師傳統醬汁煮鯖魚，什錦壽司，當日厨師推介便當等。我們可自助在玻璃櫃拿食物到自己的桌子上，店員就會轉瞬間呈上美味魚湯及更美味小豆島白飯一碗，也會擺上一壺壺冰凍麥茶，輕輕地呷一口，清涼可口；再喝，暑氣全走；第三口，精神抖抖。

大眾飯堂大作戰後，經過一條小橋，我向著右轉，就發現一間軟雪糕店，內裡除了有軟雪糕，還有好好味的急凍菠蘿，好像舊式香港戲院門口擺賣的手製急凍菠蘿一樣，果汁高達40%！

買完冰凍菠蘿反方向我們就是上肥土山的一段挑戰自我的單車路！可以分為四段，第一段公路，微微上斜，有很多司家車都必經公路，兩邊商店愈來愈少；第二段無人上山公路，踩兩踩已經耗盡您八成精力，過橋後第三段，我們抄小路行稻田路，直奔宿舍！

Mountain

Recording/ Live Sound

Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

2010年7月2日

慢步山野間

今天又是 cooking team 成員，這裡巴士由中山到土庄，早上8時55分，下班已是1時多，所以和team mate 決定步行到超級市場。來了3天多時間，這是等一次看真這個山區，在這裡，稻米是最主要的農作物。還記得童年時香港還有稻米田，小朋友還會去米鋪買元朗絲苗，大嶼山還有稻米田，但今天，這一切都消失了，雖然我不知道在時代的巨輪下是可惜或只是一種懷念，但使我想起粒粒皆辛苦的道理。

蟲送-小豆島肥土山

晚上參加了小豆島肥土山的蟲送，是當地每年把蟲驅走的節日，小朋友會拿起火把，由村裡的歌舞妓舞台，去到村的河邊。

其實節日的目的是什麼？節日往往將某個信息年年一代一代傳下去，農村的傳統，價值，就這樣傳下去，小朋友帶著開心的心情，與父母、親友和參加人事交流他們的快樂，節日的信息！

無論世界各地，火有一個重要地位，像香港大坑舞火龍，中秋節等，火往往聯系自然和人，這個節日都不例外！

雖然我不知經過時間巨輪下什麼會過去成為歷史，舊的過去，新的將來，但願節日是帶著的信息是快樂，像小朋友快樂的笑容，50年後，我們下一代在六四或七一是快樂的，不再是傷感的！

何耀忠

Systems Engineering and Engineering Management

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

01.07.2010

This is the first day I went to the primary school where the glove project will take place. The glove project is an art project by Kith Tsang, an Hong Kong artist. He did not arrive yet. And before the installation work, we have to clean up the place. The school was abandoned five years ago because the there are less and less kids in the island. There is no more students here. Some classrooms now are storage space of some other organizations.

The work would be set up in the principal’s room. There are lots of framed certificates and honours hanging on the walls - the principals must be very proud of the history and contribution of the school. In fact, the school has been in service since Meiji period. There is a piece of wood just above the door listing the past principals of the school.

Hell lots of dust and dead bugs were in the rooms, but the school was full of interesting things. In the staff room, which is just next to the principal’s room, there are many documents about the school such as photo albums of school events and newspaper clippings. My first impression is that, according to the documents, the people in this island really respect the nature. The kids would build bird houses. They would learn about farming. This is something city people should learn in first lesson.

Some other works are setting up in the school as well. For example, at the public area next to the staff room, there will be another installation with red lampshades, which are typical settings in Hong Kong wet market. The artist has not arrived yet, and the some guys from our team are setting up the electric supply. Upstairs in the school library, a Japanese artist will make another artwork there.

It is so unfortunate that the school is closed. Let’s hope that these works and the festivals could get more people to come and visit the place. It may not be possible and plausible to run the school again. Sad but true, the island’s population is shrinking and young people are moving out. There are not enough students for the school. At least, I hope the festival and the art works could provide an opportunity for the people to look at the school again, to experience a little part of what the kid used to do in school time. Old boys and staff can take the chance to go back to their school. Other visitors can get a chance to think about where they grew up.

Cheng Sui Hang

Fine Arts & French

University of Hong Kong

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

2010.6.30

The transition between the rushed pace of the Osaka railway stations and the immediate sense of calm felt by my first step onto Shodoshima could be best described as inspiring. Something that is not often felt when simply stepping of a boat however, this first step was my first step into the possibilities and potential we as a team could reap simply by lending a hand to the artistic pioneers already present. Communication in any foreign place is complicated but in Shodoshima this usually frustrating linguistic barrier diminished quickly as it turns out that the universal language of gesture and sign provided a mutual understanding between us and the locals which eventually led us to our destination. Overcoming at first what I thought would be a frustrating and meticulous task, communication between the locals; I began to understand the merit of the artists on Shodoshima. Just like the universal language that I share with the people of Shodoshima, the artists on the island try to communicate with everyone by expressing universally accessible concepts. This is essentially the goal of the artists here, to communicate with the people of Shodoshima and by extension incorporate the local people’s skills and lifestyles to collaborate with the expression of the artists here. The underlying goal is to highlight the diversity of personalities and differences within the community here on Shodoshima.

I am constantly reminded of the importance of community everyday spent in the dormotories where all the Hong Kong volunteers are staying. Every task and every chore that needs to be taken care of in the dorm will be handled. This is because of the way that everyone here is designated a task in the dorms to keep everything in order. Be it cleaning or cooking, the dorms are always clean and the volunteers are always fed all because of the careful attention that is paid to the full potential of everyone staying here.

Upon arrival I saw an immense bamboo structure just down the hill from our dormitories set against the backdrop of cascading rice paddies that lead right up to the entrance of the structure. The structure is one that has been worked on for days by a very diligent Taiwanese team. Looking at the structure from afar, the immense amount of effort it must have taken to create such a structure is visible, but it is only when the structure is viewed up close is it possible to see just how immense the project really is. The giant piles of bamboo quickly diminish as the team work on the structure, constantly painstakingly adding pieces of bamboo to the structure. Trucks come and go at least once every hour carrying more materials to be added to the structure. Occasionally the team rest inside the structure but not for very long, as the team is fully committed to the work required. We always offer to help and though our tasks are not as technically difficult as those carried out by the Taiwan team, they still appreciate our help as all hands are available to complete this breathtaking piece of art.

All over the island there is a sense that everyone has a task and goal to achieve to make the Setouchi International Art Festival both welcoming and emotionally evocative for visitors who will be arriving on the 19th of July. From what I have seen so far, I feel that this festival will be a success and will encourage more and more visitors to come each year and in return, attract more and more attention to the beautiful island.

Jack Cheng 雲飛
West Island School '10

30.6.2010

It was the last day of the month. In order to visit the site for the installation, I was assigned to clean the primary school. Talking about school, it was also the day of announcing who will be able to stay for the next year in my own school. It was only the foundation students, not including me. However, many of my friends were in their foundation years… I was nervous about them.

Anyways, coming back to Japan, Shodoshima. I found that I was very lucky having the chance cleaning up the school, and by the way, I was one of the first people who visited and cleaned the school. Therefore most of the furniture and settings inside were supposed to be the setting of the principal and the people.

It was a very valuable chance to know how the Japanese think and what would they do/ put in their room and some kind of decorations. Also, cleaning the school would help me look into each square inch of the school. Thus, I discovered many interesting characteristics in the architecture of Japan.

What was so impressive as a lighting student, of course, it’s the lights, shadow and the reflections of the rooms. Visiting the school and Chi Chu Museum leads me further into the relationship between light, shadow and reflection.

By the thinking and the design in the use of natural light in the building and houses, it leads me to think about the question of living and survival (生活vs生存).

After all, it started me thinking about the ‘Big’ issues in living and survival, and thus the meaning of life and living.

Billy Wong

LX System Design/ Technology

Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

2010年6月29日

樂

晨曦之光把我喚醒，我用號角把大家召起。

這天也像之前兩日一樣，去幫王文志師父。在那大竹屋拾拾抬抬，填平低窪地方，幫他們遞送竹子…聽起來像是小菜一碟的事，不過加上一個巨熱球在頭上，加上早已在前兩天將體力元氣消耗得片甲不留，透支的身體，很難不時時刻刻也喘噓噓地忙碌，更想求太陽伯伯可不可以不要笑得這樣燦爛。有時候累得像只是個沒有精神的靈魂拖曳著一個軀殼。但是一想起可以參與這個華麗且別樹一格的建築就感到很驕傲，而且離完成工程的日子近在咫尺就心中不禁精神一振，愈幹愈有！

王文志老師是一個非常友善的人，他雖然身體魁梧，力拔山夸。但是他做事細心，更不缺男人的幽默感。是一個不折不扣的藝術家！

他所設計的竹屋，如若你在那裡飯後躺休，你可能會一睡不醒…實在太舒適了！這就是為人的生活而設計的建築物；不是為城市的密集繁華而擠滿整個生活空間。竹與竹之間的空隙就像生活的自由、休憩。但竹竹相纏的有著唇亡齒寒的關係，就像人和人之間愛的羈絆，唇齒相依，缺一不可！

今天的工作完成了，拾拾抬抬，填平低窪的工作，才是建築的第一課…

周莊

天水圍循道衛理中學

Setouchi 2010 - Participant

2010年6月28日

大伙兒一早說好了，今天一定得早起往山本先生的烏冬店走一趟。對，即是說，清晨5時多就要起床了。也許昨夜在CAFÉ SALON話說得多，心掏得深，要醒來顯得特別困難。但一想到今天是直島之行最後一日，我們還是彈弓娃娃似的一個個乖乖梳洗出門 ﹣

啊，幸好我們好歹離開了被窩，才沒錯過這一塵不染的藍天。美乃家的老闆可能早知道我們渴睡，竟遠遠駕了小貨車來接，恐怕我們吃不到山本先生的功夫。一輪嬉鬧過後，我們成為店裡第一批客人。店家剛把材料下鍋，一時間整間店都屏息靜氣看他運帷握：喏，這裡一人份的烏冬，過去磨點大根（蘿白），加把蔥，放熱湯便成。語言於他完全不是問題。他的自信，來自大半生的紀律和堅持。我捧住噗噗冒煙的烏冬，看著店家和幫廚在大灶和料理台之間穿梭，不得不莊重起來。大家都低頭默默吃，沒作一句聲；麵條咬勁十足，是典型的農家味道；好吃，但那滋味又豈是「好吃」二字所能蓋括？

大學最後一年的暑假，撇下了香港熟悉的一切，因藝術之名大老遠跑到言通的日本來，身心都擺盪不已。車窗外的風景不住流動，但我們卻一再造訪那些體現人與土地緊密結連的藝術地方，教我不期然的問：我的土地，究竟滋養出什麼藝術來了？

BENESSE HOUSE，直島最後一站。最美麗的，原來不是碼頭上那個標誌式的斑點南瓜，也不是藝術館內疏落有致的展品，而是從館外回望腳下婉娫的海岸線。星期一清早，世界特別安靜；湛藍的海水和遠方的仙山，僅僅在等待一個被發現的藉口而已。

駛向高松的船上，直島和我們漸行漸遠，一吋一吋地消失於我們身後的地平線下。甲板上涼風習習，陽光猛得有點扎眼卻不傷人。友人胸前的小魚吊墜，迎著風竟再次活蹦亂跳起來，久久不歇．．． ．．．

好吧，到我們抵達小豆島的時候，所有看過的摸過的聽過的又當從我們手邊開始。

Gladys Chiu

Comparative Literature & English Literature

University of Hong Kong

Setouchi 2010 - Participant