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Surviving Natality

Chan Bee, Chan Ho Lok

19/1/21

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18/2/21

Just as one bears the burden of inheriting a despicable body, one must also be its guardian; the body is simultaneously a liberation and confinement. The significance placed by Chan Ho Lok on the physical body is inspired by the works of Taiwanese poet Chen Ke Hua and Buddhist teachings, in which he finds vivid observations and blasé descriptions of the body’s obscenities, ailments, and scatology.

The corruption of our contemporary time has sometimes acted as a strange comfort for Chan Ho Lok, who suffers from depression. Used to the feeling estranged from the harsh realities of the world, it was a relief for him to be able to identify and empathise with strangers traversing the same path. It is perhaps his innate tendency for self destruction that allowed him to find resonance in the ‘whatever-it-takes’ mentality. To Ho Lok, the serendipity of walking together is so heartwarming, yet so easy to to fall into indulgence, because it fits neatly into his imagination of himself as a ‘damsel-in-distress’; that a perfect solution could be achieved by indefinite postponement.
Hence, the publication and exhibition of ‘Surviving Natality’ is on one hand a dialogue between Chan Ho Lok and Chan Bee, and on the other hand, a burial. A full stop, a period, to mark a milestone, in order to prepare for the next one. Chan Bee is a woman born on Earth. She hopes not to leave any trace of her work behind, but through this collaboration with Ho Lok, some have been allowed to remain, like a knot tying up a gaping seam. All seven paintings exhibited are inspired by his writings.

《生之難》

19/1/21

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18/2/21

陳可樂 x 陳芘 雙人展

我們承受了一具被嫌棄的身軀,但也承擔起照顧這身軀的責任。身體一方面是解放也是籠牢。這份對身體的重視源於台灣詩人陳克華的詩,當中受到佛教思想的影響。對於身體各種孔洞、疾病、分泌物的白描與觀照。時代之敗壞,對陳可樂這類長期抑鬱症患者來說,有時或會有一點安慰。起碼一直以來自覺與現實世界那種格格不入的距離感,竟能收窄變成同路人之間的共感與同情;某種自毁的傾向,也可以與「攬炒」產生共鳴。這種「巧合的同行」,很溫暖,卻也很易沉溺,因為太符合我這個苦命人,對自身作為「悲劇女主角」的想像,繼而一直延擱去解決所有可以解決的問題。 

因此,是次《生之難》出版與展覽計劃,一方面是陳可樂與陳芘兩個靈魂的對話,另一方面也實在是一場埋葬,為上一個階段的人生劃上句號,然後準備開展下一個階段。

生於地球的女人陳芘,今生不留下任何作品,在此次合作中留下了記號,在人間世縫上一個結。展覽裡將展出陳芘的七幅作品,皆啟發自陳可樂的文字。

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