Brandon 陳百堅
百堅很有親和力,具有共同協作力和感染力,是擔當主動走進社區,發掘連繫人物和事物新「點子」的重要角色。他從來就不是喜歡躲在工作室𥚃創作的人,所以當他走過街巷,停頓一刻,再駐留社區,探索和對話,社區創作的空間的維度讓他更發揮自如。今次在土瓜灣社區,跟孩子做小動物木工,我看到許多有別家裡寵物的動物,孩子把許多沒真實相處過的動物,如把南非動物大遷徙去土瓜灣,想像動物和社區的故事,編排出不同的人物性格和場境。玩意和玩法跳出樂高和砌積木的框框,因為每件小木粒,都是取於社區餘下的木碎。社區營造的故事,像鏡中的無限延伸,一切始於百堅,到孩子的幻想動物,再到廢棄的社區物資和現實中的人物,本身就是個好玩的故事。
百堅說:「創作過程顯得特別重要,讓我感受到孩子對街道和所居住社區的想像力,從「玩」中發放出來。」他不但帶出歡樂,還有對這個社區的了解。
Brandon is a people person who has the ability to collaborate and influence others. He plays an important role in engaging the community and discovering new "ideas" that connect people and things in the community. He has never been a person who used to seat in the studio. When he walked in the streets, he paused to explore and talk with people of the community. A broader dimension of social creative practice enabled him to enact more freely. In the To Kwa Wan community, he made small wooden animal with children. I saw a lot of animals different from pets normally found in our home. The children created many animals that did not live with them. They imagined stories in the community that composed of different animal characters and situations. It is almost as if a large-scale migration of South African animals to To Kwa Wan. There were various meanings and ways of playing that go beyond Lego and building blocks as each small piece of wood is taken from the community. The stories of the community are like an infinite mirror. It starts from Brandon, then it extends to the fantasy animals of the children, and to the waste materials and characters in reality. It is a “playful" story in itself.
Brandon said: "The creative process is particularly important. It allows me to feel the children's imagination of the street and the community in which they live through ‘play’.” Not only did he bring joy, but he also knew more about the community.