《西九文化「大革命」區》觀念藝術展覽

主辦及策劃：C & G藝術單位

邀請藝術家：陳素珊、Chris COOK、鄧國騫、謝淑婷、張嘉莉、鄭怡敏(阿金)

開幕時間: 二零一零年十一月十九日(星期五) 下午六時

藝術家討論會: 十一月十九日(星期五)下午6:30至晚上8:00，討論未來西九文化區M+內的視覺藝術館的運作概念

展覽日期: 二零一零年十一月二十日(星期六) 至二零一一年一月十七日((星期一)

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 C&G 藝術單位(始創中心後)

展覽資料:

香港政府施政的文化源自英國殖民文化，加傳統中國文化，再加海港沙漠文化(即知道自己本身有資源，但缺乏應用方法，結果就是亂來)而成。前者令香港一切行政執行暢順，如同手腳；中者建構香港核心價值觀，埋藏心深處；後者建構分析思路，帶領腦部思考。這三種文化互相角力拉扯，因時勢、政局、社會變遷而造就其中某種文化抬頭。以這個頭、手、心結合的理論去解釋香港政府文化，會發現建構手腳及心的「異地文化」是民族性的國家普遍性的；而建構腦的「海港沙漠文化」則是極地區性的、本地性的、有追求但自卑的、自恃有良好資源又自認乾涸的自相矛盾思路。所以，香港政府一向以手腳及心先行於頭腦。這情況以中老年政府官員尤為明顯。

以爭拗過十年的西九笑話為例，政府一心只想「國際級」，一手豪擲萬金，可惜頭腦簡單，知道有錢可買國際級設施，卻不知道不能買國際級文化。莫非想把香港不夠國際級文化的責任推卸到市民不夠努力身上？最近，民政事務局局長曾德成先生提出豪擲四百多億申辦亞運的事件，同樣是頭腦簡單的例子，政府一心只想國際級，一手豪擲萬金，只知道有錢可買國際級體育設施，卻不知道有錢也不能買具國際視野的體育文化。還有最近令市民汗顏的施政報告……

其實政府不阻止、不妨礙文化藝術發展，就是對文化極大發展。如能這樣，幾個文化區都可以蘊釀，甚至形成出來，何待十多年甚麼西九。可惜政府仍未想通這點，加上兩大致命傷：一政府部門之間割裂未能協調及統一視野對待文化藝術；二是政府官員普遍不懂當今藝術發展形勢。因此，在頭腦簡單文化由上而下大步大步壓迫過來的時候，有需要作出理性反抗，革他的命。

甚麼文化區，一攪就十多年，以為官場文化就是香港文化，以為購買文化也是香港文化。甚麼文化區，要甚麼文化，只有實際文化工作者最清楚，斷不會是「官」。作為藝術工作者，對以文化為名的西九文化區極具期望，甚為關注，可惜該文化區的文化元素匱乏，不清不楚，至今仍未能指出該文化區如何提升香港文化，反而更曝露了政府的簡單頭腦。藝術工作者有需要由下而上，把文化期望直貫到政府，來一個西九文化大革命，是對政府作一次換腦手術。

本展覽是西九文化大革命的開始，展出作品之要求是具前瞻性及煽動性的。展覽於2010年11月19日(星期五)下午6時，在太子C & G藝術單位開幕，並於下午6:30至晚上8:00，舉行藝術家討論會，屆時將歡迎各位參與討論未來西九文化區M+內的視覺藝術館的運作概念，之後，我們會將討論意見歸納，交予西九文化區管理局。展期至翌年1月17日，費用全免，歡迎各界人士參觀，並希望各觀眾能看懂本展覽。如有任何疑問，歡迎致電239093232查詢

"West Kowloon Cultural 'Revolution' District" Conceptual Art Exhibition

Presented by:C & G Artpartment

Artists:CHAN Susan Chris COOK,TANG Kwok Hin, TSE Sara, CHEUNG Clara, CHENG Yee Man(GUM)

Opening:6pm, (Fri) 19, Nov, 2010

Discussion Forum:6:30-8pm, (Fri) 19, Nov, 2010, Theme: Concepts of the Visual Art Mususm in M+

Exhibition Period:(Sat) 20 Nov, 2010 - (Mon)17 Jan, 2010

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

Venue:C&G Artpartment, 3/F, 222 Sai Yeung Choi St South, Prince Edward, KLN, HK

Enquiry:M: 23909332 E: info@CandG-Artpartment.com www.CandG-Artpartment.com

Exhibition Data:

The administrative culture of Hong Kong government is a combination of the British colonial culture and traditional Chinese culture on top of our own "harbor-desert culture" (which indicates that we do have the resources, but are lack of ideas of making use of them.) Being the hands of Hong Kong, the colonial culture allows the smooth running of the government administration. On the other hand, the traditional Chinese culture constructs the hidden core values in the heart of Hong Kong, and the "harbor-desert culture" functions as the brain and help Hong Kong think. These three cultures have been around and wrestling with each other. Depending on the political and social situation at the time being, one of these cultures would dominate over the others from time to time. The culture of "others" that construct the hands and heart actually is national characteristic. The "harbor-desert culture" for the brain has a strong locality though: it involves many dreams, but not enough self-esteem, and, therefore, can never escape from its own self-contradiction. With the dysfunction of its brain, the Hong Kong government has to let its hands and heart to go ahead of its brain most of the time.

In the example of the West Kowloon Cultural District, the government has a strong desire to make the district "international." It is willing to spend lots of money to buy the "international" hardware, but does not acknowledge the fact that the "international culture" vision cannot be bought at the same time. Another example is the proposal for bidding to host Asian Games in Hong Kong. Again, spending a couple hundred billion would allow us to build facilities with international standards, but fail to purchase an athletic culture with an international stance.

As a matter of fact, if the government does not impose obstruction on the development of local arts and culture, it is doing a favor for the local culture already. Not able to acknowledge this is one mistake of the government. Another two significant weaknesses are the lack of interdepartmental integration and coordination over the issues of cultural policy, and the lack of knowledge of the development of contemporary art. With this simple-minded culture ruling from above, a revolution by the people underneath would be the most rational reaction.

The topic of the "Cultural District" has been brought up for more than a decade. "Hong Kong culture" has been interpreted as the "bureaucratic culture," and the "consuming culture." After all , what kind of cultures our "Cultural District" needs? The answer probably lies in the hearts of those who work in the cultural scene, but not those who sit at the government office all day long. Many artists have had certain expectation and strong concern over the West Kowloon Cultural District, but are disappointed to learn that this "Cultural District" does not involve much cultural elements. The "Cultural District" may not be able to help develop " Hong Kong culture" in the future, but sure is able to expose the weaknesses of our simple-minded government. In order to give a brain-surgery to the Hong Kong government, it is essential for artists to start a bottom-up Cultural Revolution at West Kowloon today.

The current exhibition is the beginning of the Cultural Revolution at West Kowloon, and will exhibit provocative art pieces with prospectiveness. The exhibition opening will start at 6pm on the 19th November, 2010 (Fri) and the seminar will start at 6:30pm till 8pm at C&G Artpartment, and the exhibition will continue through 17th January, 2011. It is free of charge. The public is welcome to visit. For enquiry, please call 23909332.