《請病假》概念藝術展覽

現今世代，科技發達，但都市病、癌病、關節筋肌病、職業病、傳染病、精神病、甚至不知名的疾病反而更廣泛地在我們身邊不脛而走。科技在醫學上的主要功能究竟是「證實發現世紀新疾病」，還是「有效治療現有疾病」？

最近，為患病的家人找尋橘核作藥用(橘核有行氣散結止痛的功效)，方驚覺原來自己經常吃的橙，不知從何年何月開始已不再有核。一種本對人體健康有幫助的東西，卻因現代人太忙，為了節省在吃橙時吐核的時間，而被基因改造，從此消失於現代都市。都市人往往為了一己方便，而不顧後果地改變甚至破壞自然生態，結果連自己病了也找不到最佳的自然良方，何苦？

香港近來大規模推行健康飲食、均衡飲食、有機飲食、環境保護的概念，雖反映市民對「健康」的關注有所提高，但這同時也反映，「市民身子弱，需要再教育」，甚麼健康、均衡、有機飲食、環境保護，似乎也是亡羊補牢。其實問題往往在於普遍許多人根本沒有足夠時間休息，因為休息是一般打工仔都玩不起的「奢侈品」。在沒有最底工時工資保障，在沒有「簽長約」的這個年頭，一般香港人都是「手停口停」，正所謂「得閒死唔得閒病」，誰敢輕言休息。

最理想的當然是，在未有疾病之前，已能夠有足夠時間及空間休息。不過，空間正正是香港人另一玩不起的「奢侈品」。在地價高企的這個城市，連原本該是公共空間的地方也往往被利用作商業用途，打工仔連喘息的機會都買少見少。這樣，最後只能透過「請病假」才可以休息，進行身體調節和修復，何苦？若真的「請病假」，建議請病假者可抽時間參觀藝術展覽、參與藝術活動，相信「有病可舒緩病情，無病可陶冶性情」。

是次展覽活動，邀請不同身份的藝術家參與，有老闆、教育工作者、藝術研究人員及全職藝術家。透過他們不同角色和身份，剖析「請病假」與他們的關係、「請病假」之前因後果的背後意義，以及怎樣通過「請病假」把自身短暫抽離體制化的生活。

主辦及策劃： C & G藝術單位

參展藝術家： 甘志強、李碧慧、蘇慶強、黃慧妍、張嘉莉、鄭怡敏(阿金)

開幕日期： 二零零八年四月十三日(星期日)，下午6:00

展覽日期： 二零零八年四月十四日(星期一) 至 二零零八年五月三十一日(星期六)

展覽時間： 下午2:00-7:30，逢星期四、五、六、日、一，(星期二、三及公眾假期休息)

展覽地點： 香港 九龍 太子 西洋菜南街222號 三字樓 (始創中心後)

"Sick Leaves" Conceptual Art Exhibition

Despite our advanced technology nowadays, more and more diseases appear, like various urban diseases, cancers, muscular diseases, occupation diseases, communicable diseases, metal illnesses and other unknown diseases. Is the function of technology to "label" new diseases or to efficiently heal the existed ones?

Recently, I have been looking for orange seeds for my family member as medical use (orange seeds are a kind of Chinese herbal medicine that can help with the circulation of "chi" and pain relief). Then, I realize the oranges I eat everyday have had changes for quite a while. They simply do not have seeds inside anymore. Orange seeds, which are helpful to our health, disappear under genetic manipulation by human, because we nowadays are too busy for seed spill.

The concepts of healthy diet, balanced diet, organic diet and being environmental friendly are more and more popular in Hong Kong recently. On one hand, this shows Hong Kong people care about their own health much more. On the other hand, it indicates Hong Kong people have neglected this issue for a long long time and need to be re-educated. The actual problem is that many people in this city do not have enough rest, since taking a rest is a "luxury" for the working class. Working without any wage protection and without any long-term contract, many Hongkongers cannot afford to stop working. In Cantonese, it is called "having the time to die but no time to be sick."

The ideal of course is if everyone can have enough time and space to take some rest before s/he is sick. However, space is another "luxury good" for Hong Kong people. Due to the amazingly high land price, even the public space in this city often is transformed to be commercial space. After all, having official "sick leaves" perhaps is the only way out. It allows one to have a break, and to have a chance for "rehab." It is suggested to take time for art exhibitions and activities during one's "sick leaves," since art probably can help a patient to recover, or just help a normal body to relax.

The current exhibit invites different artists, including a self-employer, an educator, an art researcher, and a full-time artist, to examine their relationships with "sick leaves," to look into how "sick leaves" allow one to take a break from the institutional living style, and to explore the meanings of the causes and consequences of "sick leaves."

Details¡G

Curated by¡G C & G

Participating Artists: KUM Chi Keung, LEE Pik Wai(Louise), SO Hing Keung, WONG Wai Yin(Doris), CHEUNG Clara & CHENG Yee Man(GUM)

Opening: 6:00pm, (Sun)13 April, 2008

Exhibition Period: (Mon)14 April 2008 - (Sat)31 May, 2008

Exhibition Time: 2:00 - 7:30pm, Thursday to Monday, (Closed on Tue, Wed and Public Holiday)

Address: 3/F, 222 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Prince Edward, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Behind Pioneer Centre)