Reborn - The Silk Road Arts Exhibition

Reborn - 絲路之旅藝術展

送給馬可孛羅的禮物

 A Gift for Macro Polo

 木, 金屬, 茶包, 線, 玻璃茶杯, 沙

Wood, Metal, Tea bags, Glass tea cups, Sand

2009

馬可孛羅先生敬啟:

值此次展覽，給你送上一份禮物。部分歷史學家因先生編寫的《東方見聞錄》內缺少了茶的記載而質疑先生有否來過中國。是忘記? 是遺留? 經歷萬水千山來到中土，相信鐵鞋踏破千百雙，在此送上一雙用茶葉親自縫製的鞋，茶葉既可消腫;又可除臭，口乾時亦能泡茶解渴，可解先生路上之苦，更加不會因忘記帶回而招人口實，敬請先生笑訥。
                                                                          
視覺藝術工作者 劉學成上
 

Dear Mr. Polo

On behalf of this exhibition, I am hereby presenting this gift to you. Some modern historians questioned about your voyage to Ancient China as evidenced by the absence of any records about tea in your travel book, Oriente Poliano. Was it only a minor mistake to miss such things in your writings?

Starting from Venice, you sailed all the way through the oceans to the Orient, including Ancient China. As a courtesy, I sewed a pair of shoes with threads and tea bags as a gift for you. Not only tea leaves can relieve swelling of your feet, but it can also be used as an deodorant. Whenever you are thirsty, you can help yourself to a cup of tea during your journey. Most important of all, it reminds you to carry some tea leaves back to Europe.
I hope you will like this present.
 
Yours sincerely,
Hanison Lau Hok Shing,
Visual Artist