祈冬前 / qi dong qian : Apple Doesn’t Fall Far Away From The Tree

作者/ Artist：
葉卓棠 / YIP Cheuk Tong, Moon

裝置/ Installation：
祈冬前 / qi dong qian : Apple Doesn’t Fall Far Away From The Tree

這個作品取我外婆《祈冬前》的名字為題，它勾劃了我兒時的回憶；亦代表了舊年代一個幸福女人的故事，總結了我外婆的一生。

外婆一生刻守婦道，相夫教子，持家有道，建構了我眼中女性的標準、定義了我心中女性的美，姑勿論這是基於我逃不開傳統舊時代思維的導化和影響，或只是我忘不了我愛的逝人模糊的追朔，事實上它已植根在我的心脈裡，我彷彿沒有選擇。

相傳，有一隻金雞因為妒忌新娘子的美麗和幸福，會在新娘子出嫁的當天飛來啄害她，人們會灑紅米引開衪注意來保護新娘子，期望新娘子能順利抵達新郎的家門，開枝散葉，然後遵從和執行傳統女性的三從四德換來一家半世人都幸福，快樂和溫暖。

從前，要當一個堅貞的「好女人」，不論是傳說中或現實中；在命運驅使或社會的前設下「看來」都一樣難、一樣苦、一樣沒有選擇。

這刻，也許大部份我們已經忘記了骨子裡早代人的血液和基因，在大聲呼叫平等和自由的年代下，人們對舊有女性和其美的標準都給必然地以後現代思緒和意識作出強烈的瓦解，在重新定形之前，自由選擇「好像」是多了，混沌間究竟女性怎樣才是美 ﹖

I am using my grandmother’s name “qi dong qian” as the title of this work, which conjures up numerous childhood memories. It also symbolizes her life story as a traditional woman.

My grandmother had perfectly played the role of the “good woman” of strict feudal morality and social construction in her family. And it has seriously influenced my values and my life. It seems that women did not have many choices in the older generations. However, I could see she has lived happily.

As time goes by, the gender roles of women have changed greatly from the old generation. Nowadays, women have more choices. The traditional definition of the “good woman” is now in question/ no longer exists after various equality and freedom movements.

If you were a woman, what would you choose to be?

Jan 2009