生活中，多少需要一點探索家的熱情和好奇。
走在石屎森林中幻想，若城市變成人，香港會穿著怎樣的衣服？而這狂想變成靈感，本地藝術家石家豪 Wilson 決定把它融合中國工筆畫，實現在畫紙上。
那一個個精緻的紙偶，擺著同一個 Pose，身上拼貼著各種典雅的衣裳，趣味十足又別具一格，更讓人憶起童年換裝紙偶的小玩意。這是 Wilson 備受好評的試身室系列，尤其建築系列最引人注目。
然而，這次把紙偶從畫布、畫紙變成一面巨型壁板，置於中環置地廣場內的 JPS Gallery，舉辦 Wilson 的個人展覽「石家豪：雜碎 2008-2022」。
回憶的「雜碎」 走進畫廊前，那偌大的玻璃已透視了一整牆上所貼的畫作——以 1941 年的香港大學作單色背景，立體地呈現被放大的張愛玲紙偶，新奇且奪目，彷似讓人置身畫中，吸引著人們進內探個究竟。
以工筆畫見稱的 Wilson，擅長用毛筆細緻地描繪，並融合當代的事物去呈現和記錄他眼中的香港故事。讓人們最為熟悉的，是他筆下的主題都多與香港流行文化、赫赫有名的人物有關，他以自身的成長故事，引發大家的共鳴。如玻璃門的下方，也貼上了一個印有 Wilson 樣子的紙箱 Logo，被打開了的一角露出模糊的手腳剪影，暗示了 Wilson 的代表性紙偶創作。
Wilson回看細數，這十四年間的創作早已不計其數，這亦是他的第十次個人展覽。
「做過太多作品，有時候見到某些作品都會問自己：這是我做的？我有畫過嗎？所以這次籌備到展出，也是在 recall 著我的記憶。」Wilson 笑言。
雖然作品不勝枚舉，但 Wilson 回顧時也強調 2008 至 2022 年是至為關鍵——自搬進火炭工作室後，開始作不同嘗試的探索期。
而取名為「雜碎 Chop Suey」亦是緣份，「同一系列的作品有些早已賣出，只剩下零散的數幅；又或是些實驗性質的作品，為數不多又無法歸類，也一直著等待機會曝光。這似是餸頭餸尾炒成一碟，把這些作品集合在一起。」
畫廊內的廿五個作品也被劃分為四個系列，除了精緻的《更衣紙偶》，還有人物試身室概念的《四季》、 屬於 Wilson 少年時代的歌曲 playlist《雜錦卡式帶》， 更引人入勝的，大概是從未曝光的《金句文字》系列，以及全新作畫的由周潤發主演的「秋天的童話」，更在畫廊一隅放置了一張圓桌、鋪上白檯布和數張酒樓椅子，打造出場景內的一幕。
「《金句文字》和《善男或信女》等，是我雜碎中的雜碎，已收藏很久、從未曝光的 idea。」
這些為數不多的試驗品，也揭露了他的跳脫和不拘一格。「大部份畫家可能會有固定的風格或特色的元素符號，但我特別怕悶，所以我總在做 A 時，腦袋裡已按捺不住地同時構思著 B、C、D 等。而當我聚精會神地完成一個作品後，定會跳出前作的框架、嘗試不同的東西，因此出現了不少零散之作。」
當相隔十年後，再重畫和回顧舊時的作品，也讓他感受頗深。「雖然是次展覽大多都是舊作，但回顧之下，竟讓我察覺到有些作品仍有 extend 和 develop 的空間。」
在侃侃而談中，Wilson也忍不住感嘆，「以前太急促，總是迅速地做完一個作品就跳格，未有時間梳理就投入下個作品。而這次的展覽也有別以往，不是為呈現新的作品或系列，而是我這十四年來累積的成果。我也想藉此驗證一下，那些經典或沒曝光的作品，還有沒有價值呢？」
「雜碎」本身價值雖少，但匯聚後，卻能創造出另類的魅力，使展覽搖身一變如同一張新曲加精選的專輯，也有所驚喜。「讓我感到意外的，是今日再展出往日受歡迎的作品，幸運地人們仍有感覺、有興趣認識和了解，驗證了它經歷長時間的洗禮後仍企得住、未過氣。」
或許流行的未必再盛行，但他亦盼作品可留下曾流行的、曾觸動過彼此心底的片段。
無論是精選的舊作，或未曝光的新作，於他都是別具意義的回憶碎片，作品也似是他的回憶憑證和致敬。
「雜碎」雖零碎，也未嘗不是一道美味的菜餚，相信「雜碎」會得到青睞。希望大家前來品嘗這道豐富的菜餚時，可慢慢細味屬於工筆畫和 Wilson 的魅力。
Sometimes in life, we need a little curiosity and passion of an explorer.
Imagine walking into a forest of concrete, and the city turns into humans, what kind of clothes would Hong Kong wear? This crazy thought became an inspiration, local artist Wilson decided to fuse it into a Chinese fine brush painting.
The little paper puppets all had the same pose and were collaged with various elegant clothes. They are uniquely interesting, reminding us of the paper puppets we had in our childhood. This is the widely-applauded fitting room series, while the architecture series also attracted many.
This time, the paper puppets were transformed into a giant wall panel from canvases and painting paper, and exhibited at JPS gallery in Landmark — Wilson’s solo exhibition “Wilson Shieh Chop Suey 2008-2022”.
Before “Chop Suey” entered the art gallery, there was a wall of art behind the huge glass — a monochrome background of Hong Kong University in 1941, and a magnified Eileen Cheung paper puppet in three dimensions. It was quirky and eye-catching, placing viewers inside the painting waiting to be explored.
Known for his fine brushwork, Wilson is an expert in depicting meticulously with a brush, and integrating contemporary events to show and record the stories of Hong Kong in his eyes. Most of his well-known works involve Hong Kong pop culture and famous people. He uses his childhood stories to resonate with the public. On the bottom of the glass door, there is a cardboard logo of himself, and the opened corner reveals vague silhouettes of hands and feet, alluding to Wilson’s signature paper puppets.
Looking back, Wilson had countless creations in the past 14 years, and this is his 10th solo exhibition.
“I’ve had lots of creations, but sometimes when I see a certain artwork, I’d ask myself: Did I draw this? So when I was preparing this exhibition and even when it launched, I kept recalling my memories.” Wilson said with a smile.
Although his works are numerous, Wilson thought that 2008 to 2022 were key in his career — after moving into a studio in Fo Tan, he was starting to explore.
And naming it “Chop Suey” was fate, “Some works of the same series were sold out long ago, and only a few were left; there were also some experimental works, which accounted for a few of them and cannot be grouped. These works have been waiting for an opportunity to show themselves to the world. Putting all these works together is like mixing all the dishes and turning them into a new one.”
The twenty-five artworks in the gallery have been classified into four series, other than the exquisite “Fitting Room”, there are “Four Seasons” which was the original concept of “Fitting Room”, and “Assorted Cassettes” which belonged to Wilson’s childhood music playlist. What’s more fascinating is the never-seen-before “Golden Quotes” series and the all-new “An Autumn’s Tale” starring Chow Yun Fat. A round table covered in white cloth, and restaurant chairs are placed in the gallery to relive these unforgettable scenes in the movie.
“‘Golden Quotes’ and ‘Kind Boy or Devout Girl’ and others are the ‘Chop Suey’ of my ‘Chop Sueys’. They are ideas that have been in my collection for a long time, never seen before.”
These few experimental works also revealed his eccentricity and eclecticism. “Many artists have a certain style, an element or a symbol. But I’m scared of boredom, so whenever I’m working on A, I can’t help but think of B, C, D and more. And when I put my mind to finishing an artwork, I’ll jump out of it and try different things, that’s why I have lots of unclassified artworks.
After 10 years, looking back and repainting these artworks also touched him. “Although most of the works in this exhibition are old, looking back, I felt that there is still room to extend and develop.”
During the chat, Wilson couldn’t help but sigh. “I was too impatient in the past, quickly finishing one artwork before jumping to the next. I didn’t have time to sort them out and went straight to the next. But this exhibition is unlike any before, I’m not showcasing the latest artworks or series, but my results over the past 14 years. I also want to find out if the classic or never-seen-before artworks still have value.”
Although “Chop Suey” might not be worth much, it creates a different kind of charm when put together, transforming the exhibition like a new album with a curated selection of songs. “What surprises me is that many people are still touched, interested and willing to learn more about the artworks that were popular in the past. It really shows that they stood the test of time.”
Maybe what was popular may not last, but he still hopes that his artworks were once loved, and had touched many lives.
Whether it’s a curated selection of old works or never-seen-before new works, they are all fragments of memories that are special to him, these works are a tribute to his memories.
“Chop Suey” may be fragmented, but it’s nevertheless a delicious dish, “Chop Suey” will still be loved by many. We hope that before you guys come and try it out, take a second and savour the fine brush painting and charm of Wilson.
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