After not seeing the movie yesterday, I decided to head to Hong Kong station to visit one of my favourite spots in the city. This space reminds me of when we first arrived, not knowing anyone, but were here wanting to share art in this beautiful new city. It has murals across the tunnel, always changing art exhibitions and thousands of people passing through it every night.
When I arrived last night, there were many people just sitting on benches waiting, looking around, unsure with what to do with their time. I thought this was great, as I too had no specific idea why I was here alongside them.
There was a trumpeter playing Christmas songs at the beginning of the tunnel and an old lady asking for money at the end of it. For some reason, I was drawn to this area where she was on her hands and knees with her face on the ground begging. I have seen people in Canada non-chalantely leaning against the wall, with a cup in front of them, but this was a passionate PLEASE to every single person who would go by. I've only seen this type of desperate pleas here in Asia, first in Thailand, and then in this tunnel. I have been wanting to give out buttons, and I thought this was the perfect place to share, by her side.
I stood about 15 feet away from the end of the tunnel. I'm right beside where all the people are sitting, and quite close to the lady asking for money. I wasn't there selling anything, so I felt uncomfortable trying to convince people to look or take. I tried telling some people they were free, then immediately felt like that's not even the context I'm wanting to give in. At one point, the manager of the tunnel (yes this exists lol) told me to not have my bags in a certain area, or I'd have to pay money. It wasn't the most welcoming of situations. So I just stood there with the button board to my chest, observing people passing by, comfortably waiting for people to talk to me or approach first. Many people made comments to their friends, long glances, and especially children would stare until they couldn't see me anymore.
Then there was a group of super loud, happy girls who walk right by the lady begging. They're taking selfies by the murals and art exhibit. They're laughing away, hoping to find someone who can take their picture. I, of course, comply, as I stood there quietly for a good 15 minutes thinking about how/why I ended up in this situation. They're super thankful and give lots of appreciation. They ask me "What are you doing? Where do you come from? How much does it cost?" all at once. I was having ultra-sensory overload as I was so contemplative and in my own brain a minute before. Then I explain how I made some Christmas buttons that I thought people should enjoy. I've been carrying my button board for a while, and it was time to show new people! They were so excited that they could have one, so they actually started looking at each button. Before they spoke to me, they saw me as a random dude standing in the middle of a tunnel selling things. With that out of their mind, now they can see how each button tells a sweet story.
They tried giving me money for it, their jaws wide open when I said I wasn't selling them. I think they just felt bad for assuming so. They tell me "here in Hong Kong it's going to be hard to convince people you're not selling things. People just aren't going to be very nice." I tell them "I don't think that's why I'm standing here. I'm here to reward the people who do talk to strangers. The ones who have time to curiously ask "what are you doing?" like you guys!" I told them if they insisted on parting with money for a button, they should give it to the lady who was begging at the end of the tunnel. I usually do free or pay-what-you-like, but it just didn't feel right taking money when someone who clearly needs it more is right beside me. They AWWWWWW'd in unison, almost blowing my eardrums. Then the mother hen of the group excitedly runs over to the lady, puts 50 dollars into her hat and points to me. The lady starts bowing to me and thanking me from afar. Hey, I wasn't even the one who gave her the money, it was the happy girl, so I pointed at her, she kept pointing at me. We probly looking like a couple of goofs just pointing back and forth hahah. What an awesome moment that I got to be a part of! All the girls are giggling even more than before, and are just asking me hundreds more questions. Finally, they take a selfie with me, of course, and they're off with their new swag. My favourite button they took was one that Jen made with outer space on it that says "Enjoy the Journey". There's a painting of it that used to hang in our creativity room. It was perfect yesterday because I was feeling like an alien visiting a different planet. With this interaction, we were all able to come from the same place, one of love and kindness, influencing all our journeys.
Less than a minute later, I see the lady isn't on her hands and knees anymore. Then a couple minutes later, she's packing her things and she disappears. I'm standing there thinking holy shit, it worked! I didn't even know what it was, but all I could think was IT worked! I wish this was the end of the story, where I can say, "and then she never begged for money ever again..." but it's not. She came back about half an hour later, but she didn't beg the same way she was before. She was laying on her side comfortably as people passed by, putting money into her hat. I was just so happy that she got that half hour to do anything she wanted. A movie wasn't in store for me yesterday, but I will remember these moments far more than any 3D blockbuster movie I could have seen.
Please share your art and your stories, no matter how silly it may feel. You never know how it will affect those you encounter.
When I arrived last night, there were many people just sitting on benches waiting, looking around, unsure with what to do with their time. I thought this was great, as I too had no specific idea why I was here alongside them.
There was a trumpeter playing Christmas songs at the beginning of the tunnel and an old lady asking for money at the end of it. For some reason, I was drawn to this area where she was on her hands and knees with her face on the ground begging. I have seen people in Canada non-chalantely leaning against the wall, with a cup in front of them, but this was a passionate PLEASE to every single person who would go by. I've only seen this type of desperate pleas here in Asia, first in Thailand, and then in this tunnel. I have been wanting to give out buttons, and I thought this was the perfect place to share, by her side.
I stood about 15 feet away from the end of the tunnel. I'm right beside where all the people are sitting, and quite close to the lady asking for money. I wasn't there selling anything, so I felt uncomfortable trying to convince people to look or take. I tried telling some people they were free, then immediately felt like that's not even the context I'm wanting to give in. At one point, the manager of the tunnel (yes this exists lol) told me to not have my bags in a certain area, or I'd have to pay money. It wasn't the most welcoming of situations. So I just stood there with the button board to my chest, observing people passing by, comfortably waiting for people to talk to me or approach first. Many people made comments to their friends, long glances, and especially children would stare until they couldn't see me anymore.
Then there was a group of super loud, happy girls who walk right by the lady begging. They're taking selfies by the murals and art exhibit. They're laughing away, hoping to find someone who can take their picture. I, of course, comply, as I stood there quietly for a good 15 minutes thinking about how/why I ended up in this situation. They're super thankful and give lots of appreciation. They ask me "What are you doing? Where do you come from? How much does it cost?" all at once. I was having ultra-sensory overload as I was so contemplative and in my own brain a minute before. Then I explain how I made some Christmas buttons that I thought people should enjoy. I've been carrying my button board for a while, and it was time to show new people! They were so excited that they could have one, so they actually started looking at each button. Before they spoke to me, they saw me as a random dude standing in the middle of a tunnel selling things. With that out of their mind, now they can see how each button tells a sweet story.
They tried giving me money for it, their jaws wide open when I said I wasn't selling them. I think they just felt bad for assuming so. They tell me "here in Hong Kong it's going to be hard to convince people you're not selling things. People just aren't going to be very nice." I tell them "I don't think that's why I'm standing here. I'm here to reward the people who do talk to strangers. The ones who have time to curiously ask "what are you doing?" like you guys!" I told them if they insisted on parting with money for a button, they should give it to the lady who was begging at the end of the tunnel. I usually do free or pay-what-you-like, but it just didn't feel right taking money when someone who clearly needs it more is right beside me. They AWWWWWW'd in unison, almost blowing my eardrums. Then the mother hen of the group excitedly runs over to the lady, puts 50 dollars into her hat and points to me. The lady starts bowing to me and thanking me from afar. Hey, I wasn't even the one who gave her the money, it was the happy girl, so I pointed at her, she kept pointing at me. We probly looking like a couple of goofs just pointing back and forth hahah. What an awesome moment that I got to be a part of! All the girls are giggling even more than before, and are just asking me hundreds more questions. Finally, they take a selfie with me, of course, and they're off with their new swag. My favourite button they took was one that Jen made with outer space on it that says "Enjoy the Journey". There's a painting of it that used to hang in our creativity room. It was perfect yesterday because I was feeling like an alien visiting a different planet. With this interaction, we were all able to come from the same place, one of love and kindness, influencing all our journeys.
Less than a minute later, I see the lady isn't on her hands and knees anymore. Then a couple minutes later, she's packing her things and she disappears. I'm standing there thinking holy shit, it worked! I didn't even know what it was, but all I could think was IT worked! I wish this was the end of the story, where I can say, "and then she never begged for money ever again..." but it's not. She came back about half an hour later, but she didn't beg the same way she was before. She was laying on her side comfortably as people passed by, putting money into her hat. I was just so happy that she got that half hour to do anything she wanted. A movie wasn't in store for me yesterday, but I will remember these moments far more than any 3D blockbuster movie I could have seen.
Please share your art and your stories, no matter how silly it may feel. You never know how it will affect those you encounter.