最近上映的電影《Everything everywhere all at once》中，兩位主角經歷多種宇宙的自己後，於其中的一個宇宙中變成兩顆石頭。由不斷跳躍於多重宇宙的畫面，突然歸於一遍寧靜。當我們對人生許多抉擇都感到苦惱、想要嘗試過不同的人生時，倒不如像石頭般靜下來，好好地做自己，才能有更好的體悟。
一位來自日本、喜歡到海岸搜集石頭的人，因為很純粹地喜歡石頭，所以稱自己為「石の人」。「對我來說，石頭就像一個喚起回憶和『心象風景』的裝置，又或是能夠放在身邊的一個最小的宇宙。看著各式各樣的石頭漂流到大海，每一顆石頭彷彿都載有一個故事。當我一邊聽海浪聲，一邊漫不經心地拾石頭，內心會感到很平靜。」
石の人從小時候便喜歡搜集石頭，但是隨著成長，慢慢沒有繼續下去。直到有一天，他的同事帶來一塊從家鄉的大海拾來的石頭，喚起了他兒時搜集石頭的回憶，並想起他曾經是喜歡石頭的。隨後的週末，他便出發去搜集石頭。「在我的收藏中，有的是形狀抽象的石頭，圓的、四方的，也有奇形怪狀的。另外，也有些是形似某種東西的，如山、貝或船的石頭。大多的石頭都是介乎鵪鶉蛋和雞蛋之間大小，比較易於收藏；但我最近卻喜歡上玻璃彈石般大，或更小的顆粒石。比起表面粗糙不平的河川石頭，我偏愛被海浪沖擦、表面光滑的。我曾經在青森拾得一顆形狀像木星的石頭，圓形、茶色、大理石條紋、光滑的表面，如雞蛋般的大小。那是一顆十分漂亮的小石頭呢。」
「在搜集石頭的過程中，我發現了一個有趣的現象。有時候在兩個相距不遠的海岸搜集到的石頭會有很大分別；我也曾在相距幾百公里的兩處拾到相似的石頭。比如說，在靜岡縣的一個海岸，有百分之二十以上的石頭都是石英石頭、在福井縣則會拾到千層蛋糕模樣的石頭，在新瀉縣更會間中找到帶有如胡麻斑海豹斑紋的可愛石頭呢！」在海邊搜集石頭期間，石の人常常會被別人當成怪人，亦會招來好奇的目光。「在這種情況下，我會煞有介事地裝成謎之研究員，抱着胳膊，發出「嗯」的聲音。不過，這舉動也很奇怪吧（笑）。」
能放到手掌心的石頭，說穿了就是地球的碎片，沉積岩、變質岩、火成岩、隕石或是化石等等，經歷風化作用而變成碎片。「人類跟石頭存在著很深厚的關係，以我所知，地球是岩石行星，而石頭就是這行星的碎塊。地球是基於重力聚集而成的宇宙灰塵。這麽說，石頭可以說是宇宙本身。歸根究底，萬物皆為同一物，但石頭作為一個個體，帶有一種純綷物質的存在感。」石の人收集到石頭後，會以命名為樂。他會根據某些主題或平衡各種因素，選取十二塊石頭，並列在木板上，命名為「十二石」。他又試過在水盤中放水，再將石頭放進水中作裝飾，命名為「空想的海濱」。「其實說白了，不外乎是並列的石頭和浸於水中的石頭。當我望著石頭的時候，心裡懷念拾起石頭的大海，同是投射著『心象風景』。有時候，純粹地放空凝望著沐浴於晨光或夕陽中的石頭也不錯呢。」
說起喜愛的石頭，石の人說喜愛的石頭實在有很多。「在此我介紹其中的兩顆吧。一顆是猶如夜空中的星星，黑色配上透明的點點很美。而且背面有支撐位，容易擺放。另一顆是木化石，或稱作矽化木。它的木紋、形狀、顏色和觸感各方面都太美了，猶如是富有歷史的寺廟，實在無可挑剔，看到它時還以為是在做夢呢。」本業是美術指導和平面設計的石の人，遊走於手繪和數碼繪畫，活用偶然性，而這跟搜集偶然形成的石頭有很大的連繫。「我的畫展現出日常生中產生的偶然、夢境、精神世界和想像中的宇宙盡頭。偶然性才是最應該愛，最了不起的。」因為無法掌握，偶然才顯得更珍貴，讓人如此地著迷，就如人生。當我把一顆石頭捧在掌心時，想起電影裡的「大魔王」說：「宇宙之大，遠遠超乎你的想像」。
The recently released, Everything Everywhere All at Once, depicts a multiverse-jumping adventure. Near the end of the movie, somewhere in the multiverse, the two protagonists are seen sitting as rocks overlooking a deserted landscape. This quiet scene elevates all the chaotic moments of multiverse-jumping that surround it. In life, we are often troubled and desperate for a rewind. During times like these perhaps it’s better to pretend to be a rock and be still? In the stillness you can find your truest self and your vision will become clear.
There is a man from Japan who is so fond of collecting stones on seashores that he calls himself, Ishitoumi (Stone Man). “For me, the stone is like a device that evokes memories and takes me to various psychological landscapes. It’s also like a tiny universe that I can keep right next to me. Every stone drifting to the ocean carries with it a unique story. As I collect them and listen to the sound of the ocean waves, I find peace within.”
Stone Man’s interest in collecting stones started in childhood, but it didn’t last long. The enthusiasm died down as he got older. It wasn’t until later in life that a colleague of his brought back a beach stone from his hometown that he suddenly remembered the good old days when he would go hunting for stones; he used to love stones so much. Since then, Stone Man sets off to collect stones every weekend. “I have a collection of stones in different shapes; abstract, round, square, and oddly-shaped. There are some that resemble a mountain, shell, boat etc. But most of my collection is sized between a quail egg and normal egg. It’s easier for storage. Lately, I’ve fallen in love with stones that are of marble size, or sometimes even smaller. Compared with river stones that are often rough on the surface, I like the seashore stones more because they have a smooth surface from being washed by the ocean waves. I once found a stone in Aomori that has the shape of Jupiter. It’s round, brown, with marble stripes, and a very smooth surface. It is around the size of an egg. It is really beautiful.”
“I found something really interesting when I collected stones. It’s that the stones collected from two different shores that are very close to each other could indeed be very different; though I have also found similar stones from two different shores that are hundreds of kilometers apart. For example, on one of the seashores in Shizuoka, more than 20% of the stones are quartz; while in Fukui, there are stones that look like layered cake, and in Niigata, there are stones that have black speckle pattern like a Gomafu seal.” Stone Man often draws attention and curiosity from other beachgoers as he’s stone-hunting. “Usually I pretend to be a researcher, cross my arms, and start mumbling. It probably makes things even weirder. (laughs)”
Stones, whether they are sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous, meteorites or fossils, are fragments of the earth. They have all gone through the weathering process to become what they are now. “There is a profound connection between humans and stones. As far as I know, the earth is a terrestrial planet and stones are the fragments of it. Earth formed when gravity pulled cosmic dust in to become a planet. In that sense, the stones are intrinsic to the universe. At the end of the day, all is one; even though the stones themselves are unique. Stone Man takes joy in naming the stones he collects. There is a collection titled, “Twelve Stones”, in which groups of twelve stones of similar nature or theme are orderly displayed on a wooden board. He has also placed stones in a bowl of water and called it “Imaginary Seashore”. “After all, it’s about arranging the stones for display or putting them in water. When I look at the stones, I think of the ocean where I got them from and the relevant psychological landscape will come into view. At times, I’d just stare at the stones that are bathing in the morning light or setting sun.”
Stone Man has quite a few favorites among his vast collection. “Let me introduce two of them to you. The first one is like a bright star in the night sky. It has some clear, transparent spots on its dark surface, and a shape that makes it perfect for display. It’s really beautiful. My other favorite is a wood fossil. Also known as petrified wood. Its pattern, shape, color, and texture are just stunning. It’s like an old temple with a long history. Simply impeccable. It felt like a dream when I first saw it.” Being an art director and graphic designer, Stone Man is experienced in both hand-painting and digital painting, and what’s more, dealing with chance and randomness. With such a background, his love for collecting stones that are formed by chance comes naturally. “My paintings depict the everyday randomness, dreams, spiritual world, and the imaginary end of the universe. Randomness is remarkable and we should cherish it.” Life is mesmerizing for we can not predict what comes next. I held a stone in my palm and a line from the movie came to mind, “The universe is so much bigger than you realize.”
