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Literature includes writers' creative works that convey the sentiments connected to daily life, living places, travelling and love. Affections closely related to daily life can be read between the lines in both Chinese and Western literary works, and may also be expressed in photography, paintings, lyrics, films and the performing arts. The 9th Hong Kong Literature Festival opens today (June 28) with a variety of lively activities for the public to appreciate the myriad emotions in literary works from different angles.
Presented by the Hong Kong Public Libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the festival, with the theme "Affections between the Lines", runs until July 15. Thirty interactive literary activities will be organised, including a thematic exhibition, symposiums, Hong Kong writers' talks, guided reading sessions, a good read series, group reading workshops, poetry recitals, dialogues with creators and interflow programmes. All the events will be held at the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the Public Libraries Advisory Committee, Professor Leong Chi-yan, pointed out that literature is the art of conveying one's ideas and feelings in words, and said that literati over the ages have expressed their emotions in writing and produced numerous classics that tug at readers' heartstrings.
In connection with the "Affections between the Lines" theme, the festival has invited eminent writers, scholars, critics and cultural organisations to share views on the different affectionate aspects of literature to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the many emotions in literary works, he said.
One of the festival highlights is a thematic exhibition entitled "Affections between the Lines", being held at the HKCL Exhibition Gallery from tomorrow (June 29) to July 15 to explore the various sentiments that can be read between the lines in the literary works of local writers. With photos, illustrations and multimedia, the exhibition comprises five parts, namely "Journey through life", "Embrace our city", "A traveller's heart", "Reflections on everyday life" and "All about love", to showcase local writers' affections connected to daily life, growth, living places and travel in their literary works.
In the section "A traveller's heart" is a display of poems on travel by Professor Yip Wai-lim, inspired by the artistic photos taken by his son Mr Jonas Yip, a renowned photographer. Their "Paris: Dialogue" exhibition was previously on display in the San Diego Museum of Art last year. Alongside the exhibition, local poets including Mr Quanan, Professor Leung Ping-kwan, Ms Chan Sui-hung, Mr Yip Fai, Mr Liu Wai-tong, Mr Tsai Yim-pui and Mr Woo Kwok-yin will share their works on travelling in the "Poetry Recital and Sharing of Sentimental Travel Poems" on June 30.
A distinguished panel of local and overseas writers and scholars will participate in a symposium entitled "Sentimental Essence of Hong Kong Literature". In a series of three seminars, panellists including Professor Zhang Longxi, Dr Ng Mei-kwan, Professor Chan Kwok-kou, Dr Su Wei-chen, Professor Lo Wai-luk, Dr Chu Siu-cheung, Mr Chan Kam-kuen, Professor Kwan Sze-pui, Mr Cheung Chi-wo, Dr Ge Liang, Ms Law Tsin-fung and Professor Chou Fen-ling will examine and share their views on Hong Kong literature and its lyrical tradition, the similarities and differences among various art forms in articulating feelings, and how the literati and writers merge their genuine feelings into fictional characters and stories. They will bring up interesting topics like Amah Rock, Nathan Road, contemporary poems, translated Japanese literature in the 1980s, the films of director Evan Yang and the writing style of Eileen Chang.
Literature is not just writing and reading. The popular "Dialogue with Creators" will invite writers and creators from different disciplines including Dr Leung Wai-sze, Mr Chow Pok-yin, Mr Lau Wai-ming, Mr Leung Wai-lok, Mr Hui Tik-cheung, Mr Lau Wai-shing, Professor Fong Chee-fun, Mr Shu Kei, Mr To Kwok-wai and Ms Chan Wai-yee to share their experiences in the relationship between literature and various forms of creative works in lyrics, writing, editing, scriptwriting and translation of film subtitles in a relaxed and casual atmosphere.
"Good Read Series", a new programme jointly organised with three universities, will feature scholars analysing local contemporary works, Chinese classics on Cantonese opera and Western literary works such as Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" and "Pride and Prejudice". In another new programme, "Group Reading Workshop", which is being held especially for secondary school teachers and students, writers will guide participants to appreciate and recite literary works of various genres, such as plays, fiction, classical poetry and prose, translated pieces and more.
Young academics, the last cohort of Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination candidates, famous poets and veteran editors and writers will share their literary friendship and explore the important value of literary creation in the writers' talk series, "Literary Friendship - Talk Series of Hong Kong Writers". Awardees of the 11th Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature will also exchange their views in guided reading sessions on the creation and writing skills that went into their winning works.
Not to be missed are the lively and interactive "Interflow" programmes presented by three arts and cultural organisations, namely Fleurs des letters, Ssissue and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. They will present insights on recent literary developments abroad and the literary creations of secondary students as well as share their experience in scriptwriting.
As a prelude to the festival, several activities including "Literary Walk & Talk", in which walks guided by historical scholars trace the footsteps of literary scenes, have been organised. The content of the walks is now available on RTHK's Internet programmes.
Prizes were awarded today to the winners of the three pre-festival competitions, the "Affectionate Discourse" Letter Writing Competition, the "Literature and Film" Short Video Competition and the Literary Performance Competition. The competitions received an enthusiastic response. Participants in the Literary Performance Competition fully demonstrated their creativity and imagination in their fluent performance. For the "Affectionate Discourse" Letter Writing Competition and the "Literature and Film" Short Video Competition, contestants expressed their creativity and the vitality of literature through writing, video and storytelling. The winning entries are on display at the HKCL's Exhibition Gallery throughout the festival period.
The Fans of Literature Festival has been launched again this year. Literature lovers are encouraged to become fans and to receive festival souvenirs and updates on future literary activities organised by public libraries.
All activities are free. Festival booklets are available at all public libraries. For more details, see the website: www.hkpl.gov.hk/9hklf. Enquiries can be made at 2928 4551.
Ends/Thursday, June 28, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:36
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