文藝青年們的聚會 (二) / Gathering of Artsy Youths (Part 2)

奇怪的是，展區有一塊區域，與周邊的氣氛迥然不同，滴答聲此起彼落，有的沉穩、有的清脆，彷彿不同時代的時間，同時在這個空間裡流動，原因是這裡展示著各式古典或新潮的時鐘，我好奇地與某家攤位的姊姊詢問一下，得知這個展覽有同時邀請鐘錶工業同業公會參展，所以各家廠商也帶來了各式新款商品展示並販賣。

是否大家曾疑惑鐘錶是否會被淘汰，因為用鐘錶看時間的需求，已經被人少一機的手機所取代掉，這樣看來鐘錶已經沒有存在的價值了吧，但是，鐘錶看起來並未被淘汰掉，而轉型為裝飾品或工藝品，看著現場 Holle Kitty 時鐘，眾多 Holle Kitty 的粉絲們紛紛為它駐足詢價，就知道，它的銷量應該不錯，此外，店家還可以讓客戶訂製自己想要的時鐘，讓時鐘成為獨一無二的紀念品或禮物，聽店家介紹起來，還蠻不錯的。

經過一家攤位，這家攤位主推達文西玩具，達文西是一位中世紀時，文藝復興時期最傑出的天才，他集藝術家、科學家、發明家於一身，名作《蒙娜麗莎》和《最後的晚餐》就是他的作品，達文西玩具就是以達文西的發明與手稿為靈感，設計出的STEM教育模型與積木玩具，之前我在某處百貨商場見過，沒想到，這裡也有商品展示，當我看到攤位展示的投石機、槳葉船及飛行機器，覺得不但好看，且時尚感十足，其實，也可以當作擺設作品作為家中裝飾之用。

這幾年，展場的一番賞玩法，往往能聚集起不少的人潮，抽獎區通常會把所有獎項清楚地陳列出來，從最大獎的限定商品，到中獎的抱枕、壓克力立牌，再到最基本的小物，一字排開，讓人一眼就能看見他們的目標，工作人員會熱情地介紹玩法，提醒剩餘的獎項數量，而有提供一番賞的攤位，生意總是比較好。

幾個小時候，我們已經逛了幾圈，且逛累了，於是我們找了個角落席地而坐，手裡捧著剛買的明信片或小物，討論著哪件作品最值得帶回家，這樣的展覽，往往會讓人迷失了理性，買了很多不追求大量生產，而是帶著創作者的性格的獨特商品。

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Strangely enough, there was one area in the exhibition that felt completely different from the rest. The steady tick-tock sounds filled the air—some deep and calm, others light and crisp—like time from different eras flowing through the same space. That was because this section was filled with all kinds of clocks, from classic designs to modern styles. Curious, I chatted with one of the booth staff, and she told me that the exhibition had also invited the Watch and Clock Industry Association to join, so many manufacturers brought their latest products to display and sell.

A lot of people might wonder whether clocks and watches will eventually become obsolete. After all, the need to check the time has pretty much been taken over by smartphones. From that point of view, it feels like clocks shouldn’t be necessary anymore. But clearly, they haven’t disappeared. Instead, they’ve transformed into decorative or craft items. Just look at the Hello Kitty clocks on display—fans were stopping by nonstop to ask about prices, which pretty much guaranteed they were selling well. Some shops even offer custom-made clocks, letting customers design something unique as a keepsake or a gift. Listening to the shop owner explain it, it actually sounded pretty appealing.

As we walked on, we passed a booth that focused on Da Vinci toys. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest geniuses of the Renaissance, a master who was at once an artist, scientist, and inventor. Famous works like Mona Lisa and The Last Supper are his creations. These Da Vinci toys are STEM educational models and building kits inspired by his inventions and sketches. I’d seen them before in a department store, but didn’t expect to see them here as well. When I looked at the trebuchets, paddle boats, and flying machines on display, I thought they weren’t just cool but also very stylish. Honestly, they could easily double as decorative pieces at home.

In recent years, lucky draw booths like ichiban kuji. That have become a guaranteed way to attract crowds at exhibitions. The prize area usually lays everything out clearly, from the top prize limited editions, to mid-tier items like pillows and acrylic stands, all the way down to small goodies. Everything is lined up so people can instantly spot what they’re aiming for. Staff members enthusiastically explain how the draw works and remind customers how many prizes are left. Booths that offer this kind of lucky draw almost always do better in business.

After a few hours, we had already walked around the venue several times and were completely worn out. We found a corner, sat down on the floor, and held the postcards or little items we had just bought, chatting about which pieces were the most worth taking home. Exhibitions like this often make people lose their sense of restraint. You end up buying lots of unique items that aren’t mass-produced, but instead carry the personality and spirit of their creators.

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