藝術家曾皿堅Kenneth Tsang Painter 創作了油畫《如果聖誕在香港》，思考耶穌如果生於今日香港會怎樣？
二千年前，馬利亞和丈夫約瑟連日長途跋涉；無法找到住宿，他們租借一處馬槽誕下男嬰。如果換成今日，馬利亞和約瑟會到哪裡留宿？可能會在深水埗某舊式唐樓劏房，窗外有霓虹光管招牌，閃耀着「純粹租房」。
「他跟所有嬰孩一樣脆弱、無助，也散發着平和、清澈。這強烈的對比，讓我重新思考我們紀念聖誕的方式。」剛成為爸爸的曾皿堅說。「我想，這才是聖誕的真義──關於連係、關於愛。」
香港人正經歷艱難的時期──面對全球最高的樓價、最長的平均工時、不合理並且加劇的政治問題。身處這些混亂中，逃離不會是出路，帶關懷的行動才能帶來改善。
「這個聖誕，不妨花些時間跟你所愛的人共處，又或者，聆聽陌生人說他的故事、分享你擁有的資源、探望無親的人、送禮物給討厭你的人、給鄰居製造小驚喜、為未能互相明白的朋友發一個訊息；這些事做起來不算容易，但也許會開啟一道道門，帶來意想不到的結果。」藝術家如是說。
【The Culturist Recommation】The Adoration of Magi in Hong Kong
Astist Kenneth Tsang’s work, named The Adoration of Magi in Hong Kong, would love to raise “what would happen if Jesus were to be born in Hong Kong today?”
We rarely think about what actually happened on the first Christmas two thousands years ago – a woman, heavily pregnant, traveled on a donkey for days because of an order for census which require everyone to return to their hometown. One night in this harsh journey, she and her husband couldn’t find a place to stay because everywhere was full so they had to spend the night at a noisy, dirty and smelly manger with a bunch of animals.
If this situation happened in Hong Kong, Mary and Joseph would probably have to stay at a cheap motel with one of those 純粹租房 (“purely room renting”) signs on the fifth floor of a rundown building with no lift in Shum Shui Po.
Hong Kong people has been going through a tough period – we have the most expensive housing in the world, the longest working hour, and our political tension is growing. In this mess, our way out is not to escape but to love, starting from the person near you. The stark contrast made me rethink the way we celebrate Christmas.
“Lets celebrate differently this Christmas!” Kenneth said.