Tones of Milk Tea
38x56cm
watercolour on paper
疫情期間，我困在家一段時間。相信您也跟我一樣，心裏祈求這段辛苦的時間快點過去。我很想跟大家談談天，解解悶，分享一下這段難得的「自閉期」給我的感受。
I have been staying at home for quite some days during the COVID-19. I bet you are like me too, hoping for the virus to be gone sooner. I want to talk to you a bit about what I feel during this special time of self-isolation.
Drowning in Memories
25x20cm
acrylic on canvas
這段日子我比平時更專注創作，用心翻看自己儲存下來的相簿與素材，看看有什麼可用的。我的相簿裏面，香港的街景佔大多數。看著街道的照片，原來以往習以為常的日常，可以突然這麼難求。
During these times, I suddenly gained more time to focus on my art. I flipped over my photo-album for ideas and material that I haven't used. Hong Kong street is the subject that takes up most parts of my album. Looking at those photos, I realised that the ordinary days and lifestyle in the past is something extraordinary now. I miss the ordinary.
Neon Tears (sign demolished)
50x60cm
acrylic on canvas
以往在街道寫生很平常，一個禮拜總有一兩次。以往走過舊街老店，不覺得他們有那麼快消失。可是，最近越來越多老店、餐廳抵受不住疫情而結業，伴隨著店面的招牌、故事和歷史，也無一幸免。我在家中收到網上不同專頁發放的結業消息，覺得這次疫情猶如一場洗劫，自己困在家中，連最後一面也無法好好畫下。
In the past, sketching in the streets is my weekly ritual. I used to pass by the old corner shops thinking that they shouldn't get closed down for so soon. However, waves and waves of old shops and restaurants are closing in Hong Kong these days because of the virus. Alongside, their shop signs, history and story are demolished, at least visibly erased from our streets. The virus feels like a tsunami that engulfs these ever-standing local icons. While I am locked at home, not being able to witness their last moments.
Timeless Treasure
(Mido Cafe is temporarily closed)
50x60cm
acrylic on canvas
這種情緒，有悲痛也有憤慨。我恨不得自己能將這些本土語言和文化，收納收藏，好好轉化、吸收、提煉，變成一套屬於香港的視覺語言，填補自己內心的虛無感。這種情緒，令我好好思索，並轉化到自己的最近的系列之中。
I feel sad and irritated by what's happening to the local scenes. I wish I could work fast enough and to collect, transform, and extract from all these local nutrients and textures. I want to contribute by eventually being able to develop a set of visual languages, good and mature enough for my home city.
Five Metals Street
61x92cm
acrylic on canvas
我的日記是這樣的 This is my diary：
「對於我這樣一個九十後，第一次畫皇都戲院、與第一次畫嘉咸街街市，都是準備清拆要請願保育的時候。許多第一次繪畫的歷史建築，都是前輩寫生人帶隊去畫才認識。聽著導賞說著歷史故事娓娓道來，心中對舊時光的想像油然而生，卻感嘆自己「生不逢時」，定還是有哪一種詛咒，令自己畫的東西都存在生命危機？
奇就奇在，舊物自然產生的鏽跡、塵埃、朦朧美，讓我這種九十後有種久盼渴望的安穩感。他們說與我們這些年輕人成長的，不應該是那些摩登大樓嗎？怎麼妳都不畫畫新景象啊？
我也搞不懂，可能我五行缺金，總愛觀看鐵皮招牌；又或許我愛木給人沈穩的感覺，總對玻璃反光的物料沒有太大歸屬感，畫得不起勁，倒不如不畫了。
在我成長階段，香港城景不斷不斷在變，究竟有沒有一些符號，能讓我這輩遊牧遊民，稍微喘息依附一下？
畫畫，讓更我了解自己的喜惡。我偏愛使用大地色系，沉沉穩穩。層層疊疊的水跡，染出若即若離的距離美感。我承認，我不曾屬於那個時代。但是從這個時代觀看那個時代，則產生了一股物哀感 — 安穩最終都必將逝去，能抓住最後一股回憶線索，就好好畫下，這可能是我內心的想法。」
我希望跟大家抒發我最真摯的感受。如果大家最近有什麼想抒懷一下的，歡迎回信。
祝安好！
This is my feeling that I want to share with you, very truly from my heartt.
I hope you healthy and all the best. Please write back if you have anything mind or in need (maybe?).
Elaine
P.S. 我開設了我的線上城市寫生課程，讓有興趣學習水彩的朋友可以遙距學習，詳情可以點擊這裡。敬請支持！ I have online sketching course right now!
