Kendra Tang
2010-4-1
大家最近有沒有留意CULTaMAP裡多了很多動物走來走去呢?這些造型可愛非常的小動物 Zizi, Freebie, Avian, Shu-Qi, Willy, Humphrey and other junior baby 都是出自理大畢業生Yvonne和Meng的創作。別小看這些小動物，它們肩負了一個重大的任務。
關係乃故事靈魂
對他們而言，有名的漫畫，不只是公仔取勝，最重要的是其背後故事所帶出的信息。他們不約而同地想到，想用某些性格表達特定事物。「例如，我們一開始的時候，只有兔子出場，後來衍生出很多小兔，然後覺得應該有鴨子，小雞和小蛇，最後成了一個農場的雛形。」Meng更形容，這個Barn是他們世界的縮影「公仔的構思參考身邊朋友的性格，例如小蛇Zizi本來是一份生日禮物送給屬蛇的朋友。」由於朋友英文名字的發音跟蛇的叫聲相似，加上她的性格開朗健談，喜歡保護朋友，所以在Black Sheep Barn 的故事中，Zizi被設定為保母的角色，專門照顧較弱小的動物。因此，沒有故事的小動物，就像一個失掉靈魂的空殼，缺乏生命力，所以農場裡注重的是關係。不論是動物與動物之間的、還是動物與大自然之間的關係，都是構成故事的主要元素。
環保!? 不宜太理想化
環保對他們而言是一個世界性的題材，不只侷限在香港發生的事情。他們認為，近年「環保」一詞被廣泛濫用，很多人假借環保之名做生意，實質破壞環境。以市面上部份organic cotton為例，表面上好像很環保，但是仔細深究過後，就會發現漂染過程中的漂白水最後如何處理，廠家從沒透露。宏觀地看，這不能算環保。另外，種植棉花樹須使用大量優質土地和水，造成資源浪費。Yvonne希望透過農場裡的小動物來傳達的不是陳腔濫調的環保，而是更深入地讓別人認識食物和物料來源，從根本之處認識環保到底是怎麼一回事。
多方面的創作媒介
Yvonne和Meng給被棄掉的東西，重新賦予生命，「我們有朋友是在毛巾廠工作，經常會丟掉布匹樣版，那麼我們會收集起來，將別人所謂的垃圾，製作新的物品，推廣環保的信息。」Yvonne堅定地說。除了用布碎製作產品之外，插畫也是他們現在選擇傳達信息的媒介。通過小故事作載體，以軟性的方法表達繁複的意念，這樣會容易感動別人。「由於想表達的東西太多太複雜了，很難把那麼複雜的環保觀以幾幅圖濃縮交代清楚，所以我們想試驗多方面的創作。」二人從事專業設計和攝影，只是利用工餘時間為「農場」工作，希望日後能從事多方面的創作，例如用鞋盒為小動物製作舞台劇、以黏土形式製作動畫、製作電腦小遊戲等等多個範疇，以宣揚正確而複雜的環保概念。
The Underlying Meaning of Their Little Handcrafts －
Interview with Yvonne and Meng, the Designers of Black Sheep Barn
Kendra Tang
Have you seen many lovely animals appearing in the current published CULTaMAP? Actually, they are Zizi, Freebie, Avian, Shu-Qi, Willy, Humphrey and other junior babies, designed by Yvonne and Meng, who are graduated from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Don’t look down on these little animals, they are going on an important mission.
The Relationship is the Soul of a Story
In the eyes of the Black Sheep Barn, the success of a comic can not only attributed to the lovely designed cartoon characters, but the messages behind the story. Sometimes, describing different personality of characters is a way for them to express meanings. “In the very beginning, there was only a rabbit, but many rabbits appeared afterward. Later, we decided to add ducks, biddies and snacks, and the barn had been formed finally.” said Meng. She added that the “Barn” is the reflection of their world, since they create the characters according to the personality of their friends.
Let’s take Zizi (the snake) as an example; Zizi is originally designed as a birthday gift for a friend. Not only because she is born in is the year of snake, but also the pronunciation of her English name is similar to the hoot of “snake”. Their friend is outgoing, and willing to take care of others, that are the reasons why Zizi is designated as a protector to the small and weak in barn. Black Sheep Barn view relationship as the essential factor in story. Therefore, the story without the relationship between animals, as well as the relationship between animals and the nature is soulless and heartless.
Environmental Protection!? Don’t take it too realistic
For the Black Sheep Barn, environment Protection is a global topic rather than a local problem. However, this term is usually abused by the corporate to seek profits and ironically damaging the environment. They blamed the production of organic cotton which is not “environmental friendly” at all. Firstly, the production industries never reveal how they deal with the bleach after the coloring of cotton. Secondly, planting of cotton trees leads to the extreme consumption of fertile farmland and water, this is waste of resources.
Yvonne prefers conveying the true message of environmental protection by the stories of their animals, instead of the stereotyping expression. People should know the sources of foods, and origin of resources, and it is a way to realize the real meaning of “Environmental Protection”.
Various Creation
Yvonne and Meng like to bring the abandoned items alive. “We collect abandoned sample of clothes in the industries where my friend is working in. And we recreate that so-called rubbish, in the hope of promoting environmental protection.” said Yvonne.
Apart from the recreation of clothes, Black Sheep Barn is trying other methods to fulfill their vision. Now, through illustration, which is a channel for them to deliver the message up to now, they want to touch the readers and change their mindset. However, the big problem is it is too hard for them to do so during leisure time, as the concept they express is too much and complicated.
Engaging in professional design and photography, Black Sheep Barn are looking forward to create in different area in their spare time, such as having a small drama for small animal displaying in a shoebox, producing animation in clay, even flash and computer games in the future, in hopes of promoting the complex concept of environmental protection.
