行行重行行 Walking on

行行重行行

很多人，尤其是刚开始参与城市的眼睛的人，都要求我们用很简短简单的方式告诉他们，城市的眼睛到底是一个怎样的活动。我们用的字眼常常是“保留文化”、“集体回忆”、“纪录即将消失的人事物”、“用影像关怀社会”、“人文活动”等等。到底这些简短的文字能不能概括城市的眼睛活动呢？城市的眼睛到底是一个怎样的活动呢？

我很喜欢跟拍摄照片回来缴交的参与者闲聊，有些人兴高采烈分享他们和家人朋友聚会玩得很开心，然后顺便拍照，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人兴奋的说他们从来不知道他居住工作的环境有“这样”的人或事或物，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人告诉我们他们预备了一年，高兴终于拍到他们想拍的，或者可惜来不及拍到他们想拍的，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人偷偷告诉我们他们去了以前从来不知道不熟悉的地方拍了照，我听了故事点点头收了照片。有些人失望的告诉我们，他今年没有想到好的题材，没有拍到好的照片，我听了故事点点头收了照片。

我喜欢一部小说改编成张艺谋的电影《活着》。有朋友看了电影不明白，说电影没头没尾，我就告诉他就是一个人怎样“活着”。只要你还没有死，你就必须得走下去。走出去就有路，但是每个人因为际遇不同，走的道路就不同，虽然道路不同，毕竟是一条自己走出来的路。我想：他们行行走走，回来后，都应该对城市的眼睛到底是一个怎样的活动有些看法。

我一直觉得城市的眼睛是一个播撒种子的活动，我们要做的是把信念化成一颗种子，把它撒在大家的心里面。他什么时候开花结果，开什么花、结什么果，甚至会不会开花结果都是一个疑问。因为开花结果每个参与者自己要负责的，我们只是负责撒种子。

城市的眼睛从2002年开始主办，我们这组人自2004年接手，至2010年为止，一共九年。城市的眼睛走的也是一条不平的道路，我们几经波折，几次几乎要停办，但是都熬下来了。当我们在2011年11月初宣布要停办的时候，很多人都说可惜。我想：其实宣布停办活动，让大家更觉得珍惜，是不是也是一种获得。有时候停下来，空下来的时间和空间，反而能让大家有机会能够进行更深刻的文化心灵思考。

2011年12月，柳文斌先生和张三丰先生正式向我们提出他们想要接手主办城市的眼睛，我们很高兴。文斌和三丰参与过城市的眼睛活动，他们想从一个新的方式主办城市的眼睛，我们没有意见。

新的主办者，新的操作方式，新的内涵，一定跟从前的城市的眼睛不一样，开始的时候可能不太习惯，但是我们希望大家能够继续支持城市的眼睛活动。无论如何，我希望大家要用各自的方式，继续走下去。

走啊走啊......不停的走......走啊走啊......不停的走......

汪忠良

城市的眼睛

2004--2010

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Walking on

Many people, especially those just starting out on their Eye ē City journey, had always asked us to explain in simple terms what exactly is Eye ē City? We often reply with the words “preservation of culture”, “collective memories”, “to record what that may be disappearing”, “to care for our society through images”, “a socio-cultural movement”, etc. Do these words give a complete picture of Eye ē City? What is Eye ē City?

I like to talk to participants returning to submit their images. Some will happily share that they had taken photos whilst having a wonderful time with their family and friends. I listened, nodded my head and collected the images.  Some will excitedly relate about how they had never known that such a person, event or thing existed in their neighbourhood or workplace.  I listened, nodded my head and collected the images. Some tell about how after a year’s preparation, they finally captured their desired image or express their disappointment in not being able to. Again, I listened, nodded my head and collected the images. Some will secretly reveal that they had gone to places unfamiliar to them to take photos. Still, I listened, nodded my head and collected the images.  Some dishearteningly tell us that this year they were not able to capture any good images as they could not find any good topic.  I listened, nodded my head and collected the images.

I like the movie, “To Live” which was directed by Zhang Yimou and adapted from a novel. I have a friend who commented that he did not understand what the movie is about and that it has no head or tail. I told him this is how it is “to live”. As long as you are not dead, you just have to keep walking. As long as you keep walking, there will be a road. However, everyone has their own fortunes which lead them down different paths. Despite this, it is a path chosen by oneself.  I think after returning from the journeys you have since embarked, you will have some thoughts on what Eye ē City is about.

I have always felt that Eye ē City is a movement that sows seeds. What we need to do is to sow the seeds of our beliefs in everyone’s hearts. When will it blossom? When will we taste the fruit? What kind of flower? What kind of fruit? Will it even blossom or bear fruit at all is anyone’s guess. It is the responsibility of every participant to let the seeds grow. We only sow the seeds.

Eye ē City had sustained a total of nine years since it began in 2002. We took over the reins of organizing the event from 2004 to 2010. It has been an arduous road through the years. Many a times, we had wanted to give up. But somehow, manage to pull through. When we announced in early November 2011 that Eye ē City will be discontinued, many expressed their sadness.  If by discontinuing the event has made everyone hold it dearer, it may be a gain after all. Sometimes, stopping to smell the flowers may give us the time and space to develop a more profound cultural and spiritual thinking.

When Mr Martin Liew and Mr Aaron Teo officially offered to take over the organizing of Eye ē City in December 2011, we were elated. Both of them had been participants and volunteers and had new ideas for Eye ē City which we do not object.

New organizers, new procedures, new content, it will certainly be a different Eye ē City. It may take getting used to. However, we hope that you will continue to support Eye ē City events. In any case, we hope that you will in your own way, continue walking.

Do walk on and not stop.

 

Ang Chong Leong

Eye ē City

2004 – 2010

(Translated by Tan Siang Bee)