我們在四國愛媛縣美術館看到一張熟悉的海報，那是用報紙撕貼製作的兩尾蝦子及檸檬，創作者是在網絡一直被傳頌、90歲高齡的婆婆 —— 木村 Setsu（木村セツ），而展覽地點則寫著「岡山縣瀨戶内市牛窗瀨戶内市立美術館」。
「在岡山！從四國回去岡山時可以去看呢！」我們這趟旅行沒有計劃必要去的地方，但凝視著《96歲 Setsu 的報紙撕貼畫原畫展》的海報時，我們對望： 「牛窗在哪？瀨戶內海很大，哪瀨戶內市呢？去吧！去看撕貼畫的真跡吧！」
岡山縣的面積是香港6倍之大，本來還擔心路途遙遠，但其實只要從岡山火車站坐火車到邑久站，再轉瀨戶內市市內巴士，一小時左右便直達位於牛窗的瀨戶内市立美術館，但班次只有一小時一班。
「現年96歲的木村 Setsu，生於昭和4年（1929年）奈良，2018年時因為老伴先行回到天家，在女兒幸子的鼓勵下，於2019年1月1日開始以報紙製作撕貼畫，後來孫女把木村 Setsu 外婆的作品發表在 X（當時的Twitter）後，成為了話題⋯⋯」我不會日文，用著笨拙的翻譯軟體，逐一翻譯展覽中的文字，這是展覽中的簡介。
「我成長在戰爭中，丈夫也曾被派去當兵，記憶中都是艱苦的日子。現在每天製作撕貼畫是我最快樂的時刻，一旦開始製作，我就不想留到明天完成，女兒常常說茶都涼了。」90歲才開始創作，今年1月7日踏入96歲，還是常常製作撕貼畫。這次海報中的蝦子是她94歲生日時跟女兒去吃的蝦子套餐慶祝生日後，網友建議她製成撕貼畫的作品。
「『快樂是痛苦的種子、痛苦是幸福的種子。』有句老話是這樣說，如果你先努力奮鬥、剩下的就會很容易了，我媽媽常常說。」木村Setsu相信她年輕過得辛苦，所以現在可以過得輕鬆簡單，這是96歲的創作者的信念，但如果辛苦是幸福的必經階段，我希望看著作品的我們此時此刻就是幸福了。
「我在超市找靈感，看到我日常喝的牛奶。從前沒有男人去購物，現在超市裡到處是男人。」翻譯出來的文字有點不暢順，但還是能夠感到婆婆的創作既嚴謹又日常，解說的文字都是她的日常說話。每次作畫，她都先在A5大小的白紙上描繪主題，再巧妙地使用報紙的色塊、調整紙碎顏色的角度，黏貼出漸層效果，有時是直接貼、有時是先揉後貼，使作品更立體、真實。
木村Setsu婆婆有著強大的觀察力及自律，她每天八時左右起床，化妝、念經、吃早餐，製作撕貼畫兩小時，十二時半吃午餐，一時半吃飽便去午睡，到了下午三時起來，準備晚餐，晚飯後繼續製作撕貼畫。「如果沒有規律是不行的。」92歲時木村Setsu這樣說，但在很多作品的簡介中，都有說到婆婆因為很想完成作品而忘了已是深夜時分。
這次展覽是首次展出木村Setsu 130幅作品的大型展覽，也是全日本巡迴展的開始，參觀當天場內有很多長輩來看，他們開著車遠道來到海邊的美術館一心一意看這個展覽，他們撐著拐杖耐心地排著隊，逐一細心靠近欣賞，相互討論那是什麼、如何製作。「真希望老了，我還擁有這樣的心態出門跟老朋友去看展覽。」看著這些長輩及96歲的高齡創作者，作品跟場面都很感人，我泛起了點點眼淚，旅行總令人多愁善感。
During our visit to the The Museum of Art, Ehime in Shikoku, we stumbled upon a striking poster that features a vibrant collage of shrimp and lemon crafted from newspaper clippings. The artist? The remarkable 96-year-old Setsu Kimura, whose work has captured the hearts of many online. She is holding an exhibition at the Setouchi City Art Museum in Okayama Prefecture.
“In Okayama! We should check it out on our way back from Shikoku!” Our trip was unplanned, but as we gazed at the poster for “The Original Collage Exhibition of 96-Year-Old Setsu,” we exchanged excited glances. “Where exactly is Ushimado? The Seto Inland Sea is so huge; which part of Setouchi City should we visit? Let’s go! Let’s see the original collages!”
Okayama Prefecture is six times the size of Hong Kong, and I was initially concerned about the distance. Luckily, it’s just a train ride from Okayama Station to Uchiyama Station, followed by a local bus to the Setouchi City Art Museum—about an hour’s journey, though buses only run once an hour.
“Setsu Kimura, born in Nara in 1929, embarked on her artistic journey after the passing of her husband in 2018. Encouraged by her daughter, Sachiko, Setsu started creating collages from newspapers on 1 January 2019.” I don’t speak Japanese, so I relied on a translation app to decode the exhibition text, which included this introduction.
“I grew up during wartime, and my husband was conscripted. My memories are filled with struggle. Now, making collages every day is my greatest joy. Once I start creating, I can’t bear to leave it for tomorrow; my daughter often says my tea goes cold.” At 90, Setsu began this artistic venture, and now, at 96, she continues to create with passion. The shrimp featured in the poster pay homage to a birthday meal she shared with her daughter, inspired by a suggestion from an online follower.
“There’s an old saying: ‘Happiness is the seed of suffering, and suffering is the seed of happiness.’ My mother always said that if you work hard first, the rest will follow easily.” Setsu believes that her challenging youth has paved the way for a more relaxed life now. If hardship is a stepping stone to happiness, then perhaps, in this moment, as we admire her work, we are indeed experiencing joy.
“I find inspiration at the supermarket—like the milk I drink daily. In the past, men didn’t go shopping; now, they’re everywhere.” The translated text may feel a bit awkward, but it reveals Setsu’s meticulous yet everyday approach to her art. She begins each piece by sketching her theme on A5-sized paper, skillfully using colored newspaper clippings to create stunning gradient effects. Sometimes she applies the paper directly; other times, she crumples it first for added depth and texture.
Setsu embodies remarkable observational skills and discipline. She wakes around 8 a.m., applies her makeup, recites prayers, has breakfast, and dedicates two hours to collage-making. After lunch at 12:30 p.m., she naps for one and a half hours, rising at 3 p.m. to prepare dinner. “Routine is essential,” she states, although many descriptions of her work reveal that she often loses track of time, working late into the night.
This exhibition marks the first major showcase of 130 of Setsu’s works and kicks off a nationwide tour in Japan. On the day we visited, numerous elderly patrons made the journey to this seaside museum, driven from afar to see the exhibition. They patiently lined up with their canes, carefully approaching each piece and engaging in discussions about what they saw and how it was made. “I hope that when I’m older, I can still have the mindset to venture out with friends to see exhibitions.” Watching these visitors alongside the 96-year-old artist was profoundly moving, bringing tears to my eyes. Travel has a way of stirring up deep emotions.
