2011年9月21日下午8:22
女藝會的好朋友們 很傷心的告知消息~~ 香君在幾個小時前到另一個國度了 請為她祝唸 希望她放心喜樂的在另一個世界生活~~ mali

Dr Elsa Hsiang-chun Chen 1969 - 2011

請留下ㄧ些話語 讓我們一起緬懷香君
Remembering Elsa: Share Your Memories & Condolences

2011年10月22日

陳香君老師 高雄追思禮拜 10/30下午3:30約珥靈糧堂

南部女性藝術家為追憶香君對南部藝文界的貢獻與付出,
敬邀您一同蒞臨她在高雄的追思禮拜,
1030這一天,
為她祝禱。

2011年10月20日

陽光不曾降臨的美麗 In Memory of Elsa Chen by 黃孫權

        認識香君是在我研究所的時候。我與她先生啟明兄先結識,隨後因為同學殷寶寧的關係認識了她。那時我每週在羅斯福路上的寶島新聲主持一個談論地下音樂歷史的節目,有一晚,她與殷寶寧騎著摩托車跑來「探班」,並在錄音間外聽了我講了段英國龐克音樂的社會歷史脈絡與文化。若不是日後她提醒我,我完全忘了這段經過,香君一直溫著人與人的記憶。
        她與我提起這段的時候,還在英國撰寫博士論文的最後階段,我們兩個博士都念了很久,只能每晚在skype上討論彼此的進度,互相打氣盯進度,免得我們兩個都放棄。我們常常從台灣時間凌晨兩點聊到陽光穿透黑暗,從批判理論聊到棠棠,從未來志向到愛情挫折。她會突然說:「啊!我害你都沒睡覺,趕緊去睡,明天才有力氣,要記得給我下一章啊!」即使她對我研究題目不甚明白,仍花了大量時間仔細閱讀,提出批評與寫作上的建議,她也寄給我她的博論初稿,我老推說她英文太好我哪能給什麼意見啊,她則盈盈笑著說:你這麼厲害,一定可以提出批判的,不要小氣。她知道我有情緒問題,常常關切我,並從英國寄了非常多聖約翰草給我,還包裝的像是書,怕進不了海關。這就是香君,她老是用清甜的聲音叮嚀著人們:你可以的。無論何事。

2011年10月11日

親愛的香君走進我在里茲大學的辦公室,是為了擦亮她那閃亮奪目的智慧光芒,並讓她那激昂的政治學更加精準,令她那具有感染力的笑容更加溫暖。
我很榮幸在她多年來撰寫博士論文期間,花費大量時間與她一同思考歷史、創傷與記憶。
她為我的世界開啟了許多新面向,讓我意識及瞭解到台灣的藝術與歷史。
我能為她做的最後一件事,就是確保她會「出席」美國大學藝術聯盟的女性主義百年專題討論會。
如今這篇以她冠名的論文及介紹,都在第十三屆文件大展的網站上。此乃對世界女性主義與藝術史裡,這個強烈又感性的聲音聊表一絲敬意。
我欽佩並熱愛香君,對所有認識她的人來說,她真是一道光明和一個喜悅。我表達我最深刻的敬意,當作一份微薄的獻祭,這是我出於愛的誠摯之舉,
我將永遠珍惜這位美妙女子、
我的友人的記憶。

PROFESSOR GRISELDA POLLOCK

憶香君 by 阮啟民 2011.10.10.

感謝大家今天來送別香君,1010對我而言是個特別的日子,不僅今天是香君的生日,23年前的今天就是我幫香君舉辦她20歲的慶生會。 印象非常深刻的是在那個時候香君許下的願望之一便是要成為一位學者,研究她所喜愛的藝術史。 香君當時候的心願也成為了我一直以來守護與努力的目標。

我跟香君是大學的同班同學,與香君相識24年,結褵15年以來,我看到香君真的是用心深刻的過著每一天,有幸能與香君一同經歷過人生大大小小的事情,而香君也順利的從澳洲、英國完成了她的碩士、博士學位並於UCLA、高師大、陽明大學任教。 感謝在這些歷程中指導香君的老師以及香君所教導的學生們,你們帶給香君在學術研究上最大的支持與成就。

香君是個重情重義的人,從小就離家在外,除了家人,她更重視朋友。  香君總是為著對方著想,總是帶給大家正面與熱情的溫暖,對於她所經辦的事情總是盡最大的努力去完成,感謝來自明道中學、台大同學、女藝會、藝術界朋友以及世界各地的朋友們對香君的關心與愛護,香君總是念著哪一位朋友曾經幫過她什麼忙,並總是想要更多更多的回報回去;香君是這樣一個溫柔善良卻又堅強獨立的人,她永遠都是將像春風般的笑容帶給她周遭的人,卻不願造成別人的困擾與麻煩,堅強的自己默默承受著一切困難與苦痛。

今年以來,香君飽受病痛之苦,但她是個勇敢的生命鬥士,自己承受病痛而把歡樂與笑顏帶給大家並積極的為他人代禱。 感謝細心照顧香君的成大、榮總與馬偕醫院的醫護團隊,特別是香君的看護BYA,與來自教會肢體的弟兄姊妹,你們就像是天使般守候著香君。 香君臥病時幾次的跟我說,她已經放下屬於世間的勞煩,得著來自天父的安慰,感謝主!我相信現在香君正安息主懷,我們也約好將來還要再相見。

最後,我想要用自己的方式來記念香君,十月初當我收到國藝會的通知說香君的論文以及作品集獲得出版補助並確定要出版成書,我知道這些年來心心念念的願望可以卸下了。 同樣也是在今天這個日子我要立下另一個願望,就是要讓香君跟我所愛的棠棠得到加倍的愛並且快樂的成長。我也深信香君溫柔的話語與堅強的精神會像落在地裡的麥子,永存在我們大家的心中。

The blessed lady who saw the color of death by Li-ling Wu

We learn that life can bring unexpected times of suffering; because we live in a fallen world.
   To the person who is suffering, hope can seem so distant.    

Elsa ever asked, is it that her sin caused her in this incurable illness?   We said no, it’s because we live in sinful, fallen world.    If God being good means he has to get rid of sin, it means he would have to get rid of sinners; because suffering is connected to sin; if God were to get rid of suffering, he'd have to get rid of sin, and then he'd have to get rid of sinners.  神愛世人God is a merciful God, He won’t do that.

You all know Elsa; she was a 很努力的人, not a person who would easily give up.   Time with Elsa, I can see 3 stages of growing in her. 

1)   with hope that God can perform a miracle to heal her.   She was right, God IS able; but many times, HE chose to heal our hearts and not our body. 

When Fan Lan and I first started visiting Elsa, she had already laid on bed for 6 months, the doctor had already told her, no more treatments can be done that would help her to get well.  She was under pain relief treatments for cancer.   She took very good care of herself with the hope that God would heal her miraculously that she would someday be able to get up and walk again and have a body free of cancer cells.  

She broke down in tears a couple times in our visits; she wrestled with God, ‘why me?’  questions that every one of us will ask when in suffering.  She questioned why God allowed her to suffer and that she had to die early; there were yet many things she wanted to do, to accomplish…     We have to admit that this was a tough question for us to answer.   Especially when times seeing her in great pain, we couldn’t do much but to hold tight to her hands and cried out to God with her till the pain killer started kicking.  Fan Lan often told her to tell everything to God, ‘為什麼讓我這麼痛’…  

Pastor 多倫 and 炳宏 shared on Friday for those who attended Elsa’s 入殮禮拜 that our body will decay, its temporary tent that our souls live in.    I understand the message from the bible, but when it comes to sharing it with Elsa, I felt weak, don’t know how to speak to her, so that she could understand our hope is in Jesus where our soul returns to at the end.    I thought of Joni Erickson Tada’s, her recent issue, ‘A place of Healing’; so I passed on that book to Elsa.  I thought Joni’s words would be best related to Elsa.   They both suffer chronic illness and disability.  Joni’s journey helped her, brought her new hope in many ways gradually.

2)  Praise the Lord, Elsa was wise enough to understand and to grab on the hope.  She knew Jesus is the breath of life.   She chose to submit to God, but still fear of death and pain took over her.  She said to us, she prayed that God would take her home in her sleep.  

No one can prepare for death, but God can.  And that’s what God did for keeping Elsa till HIS perfect timing came and took her home.

3)  The miracle.   About the end of June of beginning of July after Elsa had waken up from a month long semi-coma, she was granted the glance of heaven, the true Hope – Jesus.    

As most of you knew that Elsa was in a semi-coma stage for almost a month.  A few times we visited her; she couldn’t express herself clear in words, but would always give out her best smiles to everyone.  It was like her body was with us, but she mind and soul were somewhere else.    

Surprisingly, she woke up one day and phoned many of us, with a joyful heart, talked normal like she was never sick.  She said, she saw the color of death; it was bright light, shining places, it was very peaceful, no fear…  and I remembered she said, 原來死亡不過如此.  I told her, what she saw was heaven!!      

Ever since, Holy Spirit filled her heart, she made a few brave statements without fears. 

She said, she had 2 books are yet to be published; she wished God would keep her life till the end of December, it not, she will submit to God also, it doesn’t matter.

She also said, from now on, she would submit to Kevin, he is the head of the household, he ought to be the one taking charge and making decisions, she would submit to him as a wife.  She said it with joy; she expressed how thankful she felt towards Kevin.   She was able to tell me and Fan Lan that she has 2 special gifts for Candy, her cross and her dissertation.  She wanted Candy to go through her clothes, and then whatever does not fit her, Beya gets to pick.    She also started fasting for lunch, she devoted her time to prayers for her family, Kevin and Candy, sisters, brothers, parents in laws, friends……..

Elsa understood what it meant in
1 Peter 2:21: "To these hardships you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps."   This has brought me great encouragement. 

Suffering prepares us to face death.  None of us, in our culture of comfort, know how to prepare ourselves for dying, but that's what we should do every day.  We don't just walk through the valley of the shadow of death when we feel a lump on our body, get a medical report or when we survive a stroke.  When we say yes to the grace of God, we are learning how to die.  It is in Elsa’s case.

God healed Elsa’s heart.  She was granted fruit of the good Spirits that carried her far.  God kept Elsa this long, cuz HE wanted to show Elsa who HE is before taking her home.   

I thank Elsa; she witnessed hope before my eyes.   Her prayers were answered; she was taken home without fear, she is with our God in heaven.  You and I someday will go thru suffering and face death.   May the Lord, who had mercy to Elsa, do the same to us.   I know it will happen, because she prayed for you and me on her bed.

*Special thanks to 怡清 at Veteran’s who had watched and cared for her like one of her own family members.  God bless you.

2011年10月10日

穿越火,走向風中 陳香君:這一本有關女性、記憶、創傷的燙金之書 / 高千惠 ( 10/7/2011)

香君這本書,有幾個關鍵字:台灣、當代、藝術、創傷、歷史、文化、跨域遷移、性別差異、社會議題、權力關係。但是這些都是「明示義」,這本書還有她的「隱示義」,是關於她的世代、她的情感、她的家庭、她的角色、她的記憶、她的傷痛。
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藝術文字工作者在藝壇是一個非常不易有成就的生存空間。藝術家所有養成的作品,會隨時間而積累或增值;論述者的作品,一篇是一篇,不但不能随時間而出現風格化,也不可能随時間而有實際的增值。它最多被印刷、被影印、被摘錄,它原有書寫上的靈光乍現,只有作者和當時書寫的當下曾經交會,無人可分享。

藝術書寫者當中,屬於論述型的作者,更是必須隱藏感性的自我,在理性、推敲、反覆辯證中作自我對話,以便随時間建立一個脈絡,因為唯有成形的脈絡,才有可能變成終生一件值得留下來的作品,而且是要能成為被應用的文本材料,才算有可供承傳的無形價值。

一個藝術家走了,過往的作品成為其藝術生命的圖象,連草圖都可能被珍藏;一個藝術作者走了,運氣好的話,其過往的作品可能被結集。因納粹廹害而流亡自殺的班雅明,便因為漢娜鄂蘭的編纂,使其文字出土,並成為經典。然而,有許許多多的作者還在思想建構的途中,還在匯集與尋找的階段,其藝術思維和藝術生命歷程,就變得非常精神性,只有作者本身,可以體會到其精神狀態中的藝術性。

台灣一位學成而正要發揮的藝術文字工作者,陳香君在2011921走了。香君走的那一時刻,我正在學校看李沛峰的個人化記錄片〈白銀〉。影片中談了」生與死過程中的一些暴力問題。随後,我在手機裡看到香君的訊息。儘管,我一直有心理準備,但香君的訊息還是讓我相當激動,並體會到「難以言語」、「難以書寫」,但卻心情激盪不已的情境。香君具有强烈的藝術家性格,同時也是治學相當嚴謹的年輕藝術學者,我不知道如何在她不在現場的情况下,談論她的人她的研究,而能夠作到忠實她,忠實我、忠實我們學習不鄉愿、不唬弄、不消費彼此的相互尊重模式。

注意到香君,是她在一篇有關女性展覽的文章,提到有的女性不夠愛女性,並在註脚上指出,就是在下我。我看到時笑了起來,一是覺得她不在正文指出,竟在註腳點出,的確比我懂得人情世故;二是我們當時不了解對方,我偏於獨來獨往,她偏於結合模式。但我想,所有的女性不一定都會無條件地愛護所有的女性,女性之外還有人性上的問題。我一直沒有加入任何女性藝術團體,一是地理距離,二是我認為組織化的團體最後常會人為變質,落入雄性激素下的權力慾或控制慾之管理方向。

2004年,我第一次遇見香君,我由衷地稱讚她甜美的音質和拋頭露面找贊助的勇氣。之後,她約我在長安西路捷運站口的冷飲店聊天,我們逐漸變成了朋友。我後來告訴她,我知道她名字的原因。她有些不好意思,但很高與我能直接地說出來,讓我們的交往沒有陰影。從2004年至2011年,在她出書、辦展,赴英寫論文、在加州大學作後博士研究、回台教學的七年間,我們一直保持聯繫,一起走過彼此需要精神扶持的時刻,也包括對彼此領域的直接溝通。在女性各種人格原素中,我跟香君的情誼與「母親」這個角色認同有關。在藝術工作領域,具有「母親」這個角色的人,會彼此了解,我們不是把時間分兩半,而是把時間當二倍使用。

我跟香君有將近九天的共同旅行經驗。2007年我們曾在瑞士巴塞爾青年旅舍住了三天,其中兩天,她随我到南德的弗來堡,在這個哲學重鎮的小城市集,我們很誇張地吃完一大袋實在太便宜的櫻桃。在古老的彩色玻璃老教堂,我們把聖徒圖象命名為「穿黑絲襪的男人」。原本要去蘇黎士走達達之路,搭錯車,我們竟變成到伯恩山上的牧場看牛小妹。在山上休憇亭園,我們喝了一下午咖啡,那時,生命是清淨美好,如山風如草香。

我跟香君在卡塞爾車站分手,她往南我往北,事後我才知道,她當時旅費已盡,她就是說,硬是坐了十多小時的火車回威尼斯,連杯水點心都省了。然而,她的倔強沒有妨礙她的熱情。香君總是搶著先付出情感。在我們認識的七年間,香君會從台灣、英國、加州與我联絡。她很願意與人分享她的資訊,但也很講究學術倫理。她的認真與堅持,使她比很多人都辛苦;她的靱性與毅力,也使很多人看不見她的辛苦。

20082009年期間,香君在加州大學洛彬磯分校作後博士研究,我想把我的台灣當代藝術資料全送給她,先寄給她一箱,她也訂機票要到我的地下室翻一翻。但該行程一直沒有履行。她曾邀我去UCLA演講,熱情地接送、與其家人共處。一晚,我們去看一場當代表演藝術,她帶著還在幼稚園的女兒棠棠,很自然質樸地夾在一群小資樣態的觀眾群間。我印象很深刻,我看到母親角色和藝術角色的香君,在同一時空內是這麼地自然交融,不在乎任何外在情境。香君離美前,把那箱台灣當代藝術資料又寄回給我了。似乎,她為我維繫了我與台灣藝壇的某種關聯。就像傳統的人際往來,她在箱內又塞進許多生活小東西。像比賽式地,香君總是不喜歡負於人。她常要付得多,但在各方面資源還未茁壯之前,不免就容易心力交猝。

香君從2007年,健康便出現問題,但她一直作好多事,教學、辦研討、辦展覧,以至於外人很難想像她的身體一直處在燃燒殆盡的狀態。2009年我們原本要一起去倫敦,但她已在加州作醫療,同時又得開始找正式教職工作,還要面對舉家是否再遷移的問題,幾乎是一根蠟燭三段燒。她認真好强,一些研討會的行政與發表過程,也讓她在精神上消耗很多。

在藝術領域,藝術家和其作品的出現、展現與詮釋,大家都必需尊重其「主體性」,認為藝術活動的形成,便是在為藝術稱家和其作品服務,要求服務者要有高品質。對於香君的定位,台灣藝壇(根據伊通公園官方網訊) 在她走後,只能擇項地稱她為「策展人陳香君」。我以為香君不止於此,以香君的養成訓練和工作態度,己被浮濫化的「策展人」一詞,實在委屈她了。在多次對話中,香君常透露,策展工作和展覧評述之類,都是「業界性質」。我會謔稱,那麼介入業界與官界的學界工作,就該算「學業領域」。她認為藝評文字多沒學問系統,我也認為學術文字多沒創見與生命力。但最後,我們都同意,藝評是可以作為一門學科。

香君囿於健康與現實,但她所花用在藝術領域上的心力,絕不亞於許多「學界」、「業界」或「學業界」的藝壇有力人士。2010年,因健康與家庭關係,她從高師大轉調陽明大學,亦積極要我到高師大任教。五月間我在美國東北角走山拜訪華爾騰湖,她是12道金牌連環叩,連申請資料都想代作。在她嚴峻的現實狀態裡,她沒法想像我逐漸把却現實生活和理想人生的選擇,當作一種自我生命的書寫。於她,她時間緊迫,她沒有過多的生命選擇。

但儘管在她愈來愈沒有選擇的生命後期,她仍然關愛很多人事。她擔心我會不適應在地生態現實,不斷要在電話中陳述交待,怕來不及把她的生存經驗統統告訴我。她擔心她的研究生、擔心課程設計、擔心理論基礎;認為她正找到一條可篤定發展的研究路線:以精神分析、藝術醫療的方向與功能,來面對受創的身心,積極地面對傷痛。基於一種生命階段的嚐試,我到了高雄。我必需承認,正坐在她辦公室裡的我,面對的不是「我與外界」的關係。我比香君幸運,我有選擇的餘地,可以去思考「我」在「being」與「becoming」的主體性問題。相對於藝術工作的入世情懷,我愈來愈面向一個身份認同:我們的一生,都是一本書,我們都是這本書的作者。日日夜夜,就是字字句句。

香君也是一本書。她這本書,如火紋過,有了燙金般的熱度。這本書的主角,是性情中人,她很敏銳犀利,但又很熱情人世,也很渴望疼惜。此書,頁數不多,是中篇,但有精彩的自我歷程。比許多藝術家深刻,她體驗到身心的傷與痛、生與死的宿命與自主性。

從香君開刀之後,我返台時會儘量抽空去看她一下,時間總是很短,短得讓我不安。201199那天,與盈瑛同行,那是我最後一次看到香君。走出醫院,我有一個幻想,香君就要變回人魚,重返上帝守護的仙鄉。她的腰腹以下正在痛苦的質變中,在分裂與連體的狀態拉扯;她手臂和五指的肌膚神奇地白晳柔嫩,不是皮包骨,而是像月光敷在骨上;她異常削瘦,但聲音依然有著往昔的清甜,只是語詞的邏輯己幻散。神來之筆,她由衷地望著生命晚期常去看她的盈瑛,溫和地稱讚:好漂亮哦。而對我的意象聯想,是像兩個作壞事小孩的默契告白:我們把那個人罵了一番。我回說,是啊,我們把好多人罵了好多番。她微笑了。

香君這本書,有幾個關鍵字:台灣、當代、藝術、創傷、歷史、文化、跨域遷移、性別差異、社會議題、權力關係。但是這些都是「明示義」,這本書還有她的「隱示義」,是關於她的世代、她的情感、她的家庭、她的角色、她的記憶、她的傷痛。閤上這本書,我要說的是:這是一個認真的好作者,她勇敢地書寫出了可以無悔的章篇。



緬懷香君

香君澳洲老師的來信 by Bill Butcher

Dear Friends,
Elsa first came to Australian academic life as a commerce student in the beginning of 1993. In my business law class of that year, she shone as a gentle, quiet spirit who could, seemingly from nowhere, pierce academic and unwieldy bubbles with that disarming intellect and charm.  It will surprise no one that, while she did well in her study, the world of business did not touch her mind or her heart. Elsa was always meant for the humanities and while we were sorry to lose her, it was with delight that we saw her choose the study of art at the University of Sydney.  It was a path that matched her perfectly, with its beauty, its intellectual challenges and its social importance.  In Elsa’s early Sydney Uni days, her dear friend Chin and I found ourselves in unfamiliar territory as we struggled with our proof reading of her work on Margaret Preston and on the place of Kuhn’s paradigm in art, carried along only by Elsa’s teasing and warmth and cups of tea .  Margaret Preston was new to us then, but she has always had a place in our hearts since. 
From there, Elsa went on to do fabulous things.  It was with immense pride that I learned of her achievements, through emails or her occasional visits to Sydney, but such was her way that it is only now, upon reading what many of you have written here, that I see just how wonderful those achievements were.  That was her way, of course, always modest and always quiet about herself, ever behind that joyful wit and radiant, mischievous smile. 
Now, a brilliant light has gone out in our world. It is an awful loss, deeply felt, but I am grateful and blessed to have been Elsa’s friend. 
My heartfelt sympathy to Kevin and Candy, and my best wishes to all,                                        
Bill

Bill Butcher | Associate Head of School (Education) | School of Taxation & Business Law
Australian School of Business | The University of New South Wales

2011年10月2日

香君大學老師朱靜華的慰問信

Dear Kevin and Candy:

We have never met, but I know about you from Hsiang-chun.  I am so, so devastated to hear about Hsiang-chun's passing.  I am very sorry I was not aware of the seriousness of her health or I would have said good-by to her.  I really feel very bad about my not knowing earlier.  I do want to thank you for informing me of this sad news.  Please accept my deepest sympathy.

I knew that Hsiang-chun was struggling with health issues, but did not know of its seriousness.  It was very much how Hsiang-chun was—she never complained and was always positive.  Hsiang-chun was very special.  She was my student when I first started to teach in Taipei.  Her eagerness and enthusiasm was very encouraging for me as a young and inexperienced teacher.  Hsiang-chun was also my very first student to continue in art history and, more significantly, she was one who went far beyond the little that I started her out with.  She was extraordinary in overcoming obstacles she encountered in her journey to becoming a prominent and influential art historian.  Her persistence was inspiring.  Hsiang-chun always remembered to keep me informed about her life, either with a phone call or a simple email.  I continue to find it quite humbling that, after she was making an impact with her exhibitions and her writings art and I was using her work for my teaching, she continued to talk to me in the most unassuming way, as a former student.  I am proud to have been part of Hsiang-chun’s life and am very saddened that she is no longer with us.  I will miss her phone calls and hearing her sweet voice.

Sincerely,
Jane

Jane C. Ju 朱靜華
Associate Professor
History Department
National Chengchi University
Taipei, Taiwan

2011年10月1日

有話說與香君聽 Remembering Elsa: Share Your Thoughts & Memories

錦華謝香君讓我們在此相遇
妳說年過四十,大約沒有人的生命不是千瘡百孔的。我們也是。索愛,然後發現愛裡面有傷害、有恨、有砂有石;求尊嚴,努力在專業上做到最好,卻還是偶然冷不防被屈辱絆倒。
似乎道盡了女性角色的某些處境真是心有戚戚焉
且讓這片小小園地提供大夥兒有抒發心情的管道訴說對香君的不捨與感佩---