2014年夏天，MaD 和十多位年青藝術工作者，走到天水圍天秀墟。這個地方本意扶助區內經濟，可是在各種因素下，效果事與願違。MaD規劃舉辦為期一個月的「天水營造社」，看看有甚麼創意方法，可以帶來新的可能性。

 

當親身體會到天秀墟有多熱、人流多少、在困難環境中，人與人之間的張力……在面對着更急切關注的基層社區，「創意公民社會」的辭彙突然失語。

 

七月天雨連連，「天水營造社」的進度和成效都與不如預期。天氣預報，風雷雨打將會繼續。烏雲密佈，原定於月尾進行的總結活動「天水納涼祭」需要延期。連串應變之後，「天水營造社」突然多了兩個月。願意花更多時間慢慢營造的朋友，在檔與檔之間，和檔主交朋友，學溝通的語言，找藝術的位置。

 

做雕塑的朋友成為做維修和招牌的「師傅」

攝影師和藝術策劃逐家逐戶拍攝「雜貨圖」

 

檔主問：「你們是不是學生做功課？」

 

大家微笑打招呼

檔主說：「有東西喝」

往我們手裡塞進香甜的花生

 

「天水秋涼祭」的主角是大家

當晚「五臟廟」有郎叔叔教造的餃子、葉小姐送出的海燕窩

神秘禮品包來自我為人人的二十八檔

 

七月下種的秋葵，秋風下人一樣高。熊太打算留下種籽，明年春天再種。

 

 

Together with ten odd young art practitioners, MaD ventured into Tin Shau Bazaar in Tin Shui Wai. The small market aims to support local economy by giving room to humble businesses, but good intentions are met with all sorts of challenges. “Tin Shui Collaborative,” originally a month-long program, was conceived to explore creative possibilities.

 

Very soon, we found ourselves in oppressive summer heat, and tension way beyond our imagination. For the first time, we realized that the principles of a creative civil society could not be taken for granted.

 

Our progress was dampened further by incessant rains. On a stormy day, we decided on postponement – “A Midsummer’s Night Fair,” the planned finale, would take place much later, after mid-autumn.In the two additional months, we got our heads together and looked into the interstices. We befriended the tenants, learnt to speak a new language, and found a place for art:

 

Sculptors got hands on with business signs and repairs

Photographers and art administrators shot a sale brochure

 

 “Are you here for a school project?” asked a tenant

 

 "Hello" started to come with a grin

 “Get a drink – help yourselves”

We received a handful of fresh peanuts

 

Everyone had a share

Among our chefs were Uncle Long and Aunt Shanghai

Gifts in goodies bags sourced from twenty-eight tenants

 

A ripe okra sways in autumnal breeze. The seeds will be saved for next year.