The Seyip Association of New Zealand Inc (Established in 1949)

In the last mid-century, the most common gift for a new home or office was a mirror-plaque. It conforms to the format of traditional calligraphy and painting to compliment the receiver. It usually hangs conspicuously high above on the wall calling attention to both the giver and receiver. I never liked it when I was young. In time, I realised that it is a tribute to the interpersonal relationship between individuals and groups.

 When I visited The Seyip Association of New Zealand Inc it was a bright sunny morning. I posed the delightful members as a reflection on a glittering mirror-plague hanging on the wall next to the window. The mirror-plague was a gift from the then committees of the Association to celebrate the opening of the first building in 1950, inadvertently showing a trace of respect. Wishfully, I have connected the past and the present.

When I asked the members what kind of objects could represent the Association, they showed me a large wok and aprons with the Association's name printed. Yes, what is jollier than having good food in a gathering? I hung the bright-white aprons under a framed deed that has listed the members who funded the purchase of the current property in 1981. Together they are a harmonised pair, bland and light; like Chinese rice-porridge, they compliment the taste of food and the lighthearted friendship between members. The Chinese say: the friendship between gentlemen is as bland as water [君子之交淡如水]; lingering on forever.

King Tong HO

2020

新西兰（一九四九年注册）四邑会馆

在上世纪中叶、最普遍恭贺新居入伙送的礼物是镜框牌匾，其格式跟随中国传统书画：附有日期、祝贺词及上下款。儿时我并不喜欢这些高高挂在显眼地方的镜框，主要是觉得上、下款送礼及受礼人的名字显得太张扬。年长后，才了解到这是对个人或团体人关系的称颂。

拍摄四邑会馆那天，早上阳光普照，会员们雀跃地配合我营造的社团氛围。会馆内墙上窗旁挂了一个画框，是一九五零年委员们为庆祝首间会址开幕所送赠的，我决定拍摄让会员们的反影在这镜框上，使过去与现在融为一体。

当我询问会员们有什么物件可以代表会馆时，他们提议我拍摄一只很大的烹调镬或印有会名的围裙。维系社员的感情，莫过于透过愉快地分享美食。我将洁白明亮的下厨围裙挂在一画框下，该画框列有一九八一年资助购买会馆现址的会员名单，不经意地显现出对资助者的一丝尊敬；淡淡的，尤如白米粥，更能衬托出主食的味道。古语说: “君子之交淡如水”，细水长流。

何经棠

2020

新西蘭（一九四九年註册）四邑會館

在上世紀中葉、最普遍恭賀新居入伙送的禮物是鏡框牌匾，其格式跟隨中國傳統書畫：附有日期、祝賀詞及上下款。兒時我並不喜歡這些高高掛在顯眼地方的鏡框，主要是覺得上、下款送禮及受禮人的名字顯得太張揚。年長後，才了解到這是對個人或團體人關係的稱頌。 

拍攝四邑會館那天，早上陽光普照，會員們雀躍地配合我營造的社團氛圍。會館內牆上窗旁掛了一個畫框，是一九五零年委員們為慶祝首間會址開幕所送贈的，我決定拍攝讓會員們的反影在這鏡框上，使過去與現在融為一體。

當我詢問會員們有什麼物件可以代表會館時，他們提議我拍攝一隻很大的烹調鑊或印有會名的圍裙。維繫社員的感情，莫過於透過愉快地分享美食。我將潔白明亮的下厨圍裙掛在一畫框下，該畫框列有一九八一年資助購買會館現址的會員名單，不經意地顯現出對資助者的一絲尊敬；淡淡的，尤如白米粥，更能襯托出主食的味道。古語說: “君子之交淡如水”，細水長流。

何經棠

2020