The Third Sector
2023
single channel video, 10mins, color, sound
第三部門
有人說和平是一個偽命題，也有人說和平並非遙不可及，這兩種說法都反映了非牟利機構（NGO）的工作，這是一個似乎永無止境的過程。
我對於在這種意識形態下工作的人感到十分好奇。藉由這次展覽的大廈，擁有多間NGO的場地，我訪問了三位在NGO工作的人（L、C、Kit），希望能透過她們了解處理群體中矛盾的智慧。經過三場訪問和一次集體工作坊後，我注意到她們在工作中並不是追求名利，或是一般認為的宏大意義。
錄像作品運用了氧化的舊照片，把眾人帶到彷彿相同的成長時空。內容關於受訪者討論成立新的共同目標的NGO時所牽扯到的各種事物。作品以成年人的視角回訪童年時殘缺的記憶，旁白是作者為這段討論撰寫的備忘錄：到底成長中對身份的疑惑可以透過NGO的工作獲得補完嗎？
Some say that peace is a false proposition, while others believe that peace is not something distant. Both perspectives indirectly highlight the work of non-profit organizations (NGOs) as an ongoing process that seems never to cease.
I am deeply curious about people who work under this ideology. Through this exhibition building, which houses several NGOs, I interviewed three people working in NGOs (L, C, Kit) to understand the wisdom of handling conflicts within groups. After three interviews and a group workshop, I noticed that they do not pursue fame or the grand meanings that are generally assumed in their work.
The video work uses oxidized old photographs to transport everyone to what seems like the same growing-up era. The content revolves around the various matters involved when the interviewees discuss establishing a new NGO with a common goal. The video work revisits fragmented childhood memories from an adult perspective, with the narration being a memo written by the author for this query: Can the doubts about identity during growth be resolved through NGO work?
The Third Person
2023
225頂綉字帽子, 以工作坊進行；在星期日明報展示
對於我來說，「三」是一個矛盾的組合，是創傷與希望共時的載體。例如「家」與「群」的基礎組成是三個個體，例如非營利組織（NGO）有「第三部門」的別稱，他們介入社會問題或社會上對立的關係，倡議理念。當中不難發現NGO的工作成效，傾向「永遠都不會成功的」（例如和平、平等、環保），是一種「不會停止的追求時」，於我而言，這是「群體中必然存有的矛盾關係」的一個「奇怪的」意識形態。這種徒勞，它成就了怎樣的意義？
《第三身》 (2023)的創作過程中，我訪問了三個八十後，九十後的NGO工作者（在小規模NGO工作，不是隸屬受政府資助的大型社會服務機構）。由他們小時候的退色照片說起，談成長談現在的工作。每人大約一小時的對話中，我把組成句子的「名詞」和「是XXX」、「不是XXX」，「像XXX」的短語抽出來，做成225頂綉字帽子。這些他們經常遇到的想法，被碎片化地成為「第三身」的概念。於是我運用這些帽子進行工作坊，邀請未必相識的參加者嘗試三五成群合組NGO，為這個短暫的組織撰寫宣言。
流程如下：
一場來到，我們嘗試以開放的態度一起做實驗吧。
請隨意選一頂帽載上，各人請分享這句話引起你想到的一些經驗。
只運用這幾句關鍵詞，組成一個NGO。請討論和寫下這NGO的理念宣言，和相關的主要活動。
為NGO改名。
請用不多於 45分鐘的時間討論和寫出來，之後貼到牆上。
找一天，組員約出來一起實行。
註：比較受歡迎的帽子有「想像的練習」、「像永遠都不會停的過程」、 「是uncertain的」、「像藝術一樣」、「不是這樣 work 的」、「是在揼石仔」，「像程展緯」。
我收集到的宣言中，臨時成立的NGO有：
正正地修念機構、餘樂無窮機構、不太好機構、非黑非白流動機構、中間狀態機構，NOTHING IS SURELY BUT SLOWLY WE MAKE IDENTITY ORG、我地唔肯定我地肯唔肯定機構、SOCIAL WORKER FOR ARTIST, TANG PING ORG、念死無常機構、MOMENTOUS BELIEF。
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由這工作坊中，我想到的問題是：
這些組織不同於網友或網上群組，它們要求現場參與，鼓勵行動力，並要求共同書寫宣言。聆聽、對話、討論，然後再找時間一起實行。最大的成本是45分鐘的時間，以及未到最後都未知的口頭共識：不同背景、不認識的人，能否找到想一起實行的小事情？
每個人都有微不足道甚至永遠不能成功的追求，嘗試去實踐它會讓人產生有意義的感覺嗎？
這樣的追求若有伙伴一起實踐，就是NGO組織的基礎。當很多這樣的組織出現時，就如同許多小眾被認同一樣，會是一種多元社會的體現嗎？
這樣的實踐會讓人建立怎樣的一種身份認同？這會是徒勞的原因嗎？
第三身
2023
255 embroidered hats, workshop activation, disseminate at Sunday Mingpao
"Three" is a paradoxical combination for me—a vessel that holds both trauma and hope simultaneously. For instance, the fundamental composition of "family" and "community" involves three individuals. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), often referred to as the "third sector," engage with social issues or conflicts within society, advocating for specific ideals. When examining the effectiveness of NGOs, we notice a tendency toward pursuits that seem perpetually unattainable—such as peace, equality, or environmental sustainability. This relentless pursuit, in my view, represents a "strange" ideological contradiction inherent within groups. What significance does this futility achieve?
In the creative process of The Third Person (2023), I interviewed three NGO workers from the post-80s and post-90s generations. These individuals worked in small-scale NGOs, distinct from large government-funded social service organizations. Starting with their childhood faded photographs, we discussed their growth and current work. From each person's hour-long conversation, I extracted phrases that formed sentences—nouns and the phrases after the word "is," "is not," or "is like." These fragments coalesced into 175 embroidered word hats, representing the recurring thoughts they encountered. Using these hats, I conducted a workshop, inviting participants who might not know each other to form small groups and create an NGO. Their task: to write a manifesto for this ephemeral organization.
The workshop followed this process:
1. Participants arrived, let’s embark on an open-minded experiment together.
2. Each person randomly selected a hat and shared the thoughts it evoked.
3. Using only these key phrases, they composed an NGO's mission statement and outlined its main activities.
4. The NGO was then given a name.
5. Within 45 minutes, they discussed and wrote down their ideas, which were later displayed on a wall.
6. Finally, they scheduled a day to put their plans into action.
Noteworthy hats included phrases like "the practice of imagination," "is an never-ending process" "uncertainty," "like art" "is not working as expected," "is slowly but surely" and "like Luke Ching"
The impromptu NGOs that emerged from this process included:
The Mindful Repair Institute / After Work Joyful Unlimited / Not Quite Good Organization /Neither Black Nor White Mobile Foundation / Space in between / Nothing Is Surely But Slowly We Make Identity Org / We're Not Sure If We're Sure Organization / Social Worker For Artist / Tang Ping Org / Contemplating Impermanence Foundation / Momentous Belief
Here some questions I come up from the workshop:
1. These organizations differ from online groups or forums. They require physical presence, encourage proactive engagement, and demand collaborative manifesto writing. Can people from diverse backgrounds, who don't know each other, find common ground and meaningful actions within 45 minutes of discussion?
2. Even if pursuits seem insignificant or perpetually unattainable, does attempting to realize them lead to a sense of purpose?
3. The pursuit of such endeavors, when shared with partners, forms the foundation of an NGO. When multiple such organizations emerge, akin to acknowledging various niches, does this reflect a manifestation of a diverse society?
4. Does engaging in such practices contribute to a unique sense of identity? or could this be the cause of futile?
