儀式感｜Rituality

關於生活中的儀式，與其帶給我們什麼樣的力量？

若生活是作為靈魂存在的一種儀式，在這種儀式中又產生了什麼儀式型態的活動呢？在儀式的本質意義被逐漸淡化後，儀式依然持續進行的意義又以什麼方式存在呢？帶著這些問題的思考，是次展出的作品以「生活」及「儀式」為題，進行探索與呈現。

展覽分為兩個部分，「生活」與「儀式」。「生活」的部分著重探索生活中在特定節日所進行的一些群聚活動。「儀式」的部分著重探索生活中由個人願望所產生的私人儀式。

Rituals in life and the type of power that they grant us.

If life is a ritual for the existence of the soul, what ideological activity comes of it? When the original meaning of the ritual gradually fades, what form does the meaning take when the ritual carries on? These questions are explored and presented via themes of "life" and "ritual" in this exhibition.

The exhibition is divided into two parts, "life" and "ritual". The "life" part focuses on exploring group activities during specific festivals. The "ritual" part focuses on exploring the personal rituals in life brought about by personal wishes.

《禮物》 Gift

“禮物，也稱為禮品，通常是任何人之間互相贈送的物件。目的是為了取悅對方，或是表達善意、敬意。”

禮物在贈送出去之前，並不是禮物。物品由物品轉換成禮物的過程中，它的性質也將被轉換，僅僅是一個贈送物品的動作/儀式，此物品的價值就發生了巨大的改變。物品在被製造出來，盛於貨架上，有著商家為它定義的估算價值。買家接受此價值而購入此物品，這時物品的價值還沒有發生變化。因為擁有此物品的主人，從商家轉換成買家，買家個人擁有該物品，該物品的價值以買家個人定義，而買家接受購入該物品時所定義的物品價值。

但是當此物品被贈予第三方，就此“贈予”的動作，此物品的性質與價值就被改變。因為物品的價值不再被單方定義，而是雙方以自身角度定義。對於授予者而言，此物品的價值或可以是“免費”或可以是同等值的回饋，也可以是一種情感價值交換。

價值的定義，於個人對外而言是主觀的，也是瞬變易動搖的。一場事件、一個動作、一句言語，人與人之間相互的價值判斷便會改變，如此簡單。

《禮物》中的“獨角獸女孩”帶著玩具娃娃般的面孔與獨角獸的角。獨角獸象徵著“純潔”，與象徵著“擺設”、“收藏”的玩具結合，暗喻著一種人的心理狀態。人習慣掩飾求利己而利他，物品的性質轉換有它的目的性。

"Gifts, also called presents, are usually things that people give to each other. The purpose is to please each other, or to express kindness and respect."

A gift is not a gift until it has been gifted. When an item is converted from an item to a gift, its nature will also be converted; the mere action/ritual of gifting said item marks a significant change in its value. For example, an item was manufactured then put up for sale at a store, bearing the estimated price defined by the merchant, after which, gets purchased by a buyer. As the new owner of the item, the buyer now defines its value. Because the buyer has accepted the price of the transaction to be its value, its value remains unchanged at this point.

But when the item is gifted to a third party, the nature and value of the item are changed by the action of "gifting", for its value is now defined by both parties from their own perspective, instead of one party. For the recipient, the value of this item can either be "free", paid back with a material of the same value, or it can be an exchange of emotional value.

The definition of value is as subjective to the individual as it is transient and volatile. All it takes is an event, an action, or a word for the interpersonal judgment of values to change.

The "Unicorn Girl" in the "Gift" series has a doll-like face and unicorn horns. The unicorn symbolizes "purity"; when combined with dolls that symbolize "decor" and "collectibles", this becomes a metaphor for a person's psychological state. People are used to masquerading for both self-interest and altruism; thus, the transformation of the item’s nature has its purpose.

《福檯》 Fortune Altar

手持大袋小袋，踏入廟宇，先是雙手合十彎腰鞠躬，提起物品擺上木檯，放的是零食、水果或飲品。點燃煙香，先是敬天空上的神明，再跪坐於廟內的神明之前，許著願望，晃著白煙，頻頻低頭，起身。讓香留在爐上，待它被神明吃掉。神明作為回報，把祝福，埋入木檯上的物品。使用或食用這些物品，形同持有神的祝福。

這是童年，經歷無數次的儀式，作為孩童，多數對這些舉動的意義不盡明瞭。只知道大人們說，神明會以這種方式保佑大家，我們才能健康無事地長大。

以此為經驗，取其形式，便形成此作品《福檯》。人們提供自己的生活物品，在展覽期間，觀者可以透過關注物品、完成儀式過程，與物品產生能量連結，從而給予物品一些祝福。物品便和觀者一起參與了此展覽，而物品除了接收了觀者的能量，也得到了此展覽的經驗。

We step inside the temple, clinging to bags large and small. Hands are placed together, then a courteous bow. Snacks, fruit, or drinks are to be laid out upon the wooden altar. Incense is lit. First, we worship the deities in the sky, then kneel before those in the temple, white smoke rolling with the movement, making wishes while nodding frequently. Finally, we arise. We leave the incense on the pot as an offering for the deities to consume. In return, they will imbue their blessings into the items on the altar. Using or eating the items will bestow those blessings upon us.

This was my childhood, going through countless rituals. As a child, I couldn’t fully comprehend a lot of these actions, only that these deities we worship will then protect us and let us grow up safe and healthy, according to the adults.

“Fortune Altar” is created based on these experiences. Personal items are provided by various people. During the exhibit, the audience can bless these items by observing them, completing the ritual, and forming an energy bond with them. As the items accept the audience’s energy, both the items and the audience will have actively participated in the exhibit.