Various Shapes of Wandering
Water, wood, damage wardrobe, glass jar, pump, ready-made
120×140×190 cm
2017
Military villages are one of the unique living patterns constructed by the historical factors of Taiwanese society, being an important cultural asset. They form the cultural landscape of Taiwan by their architectural form, the function of the space, the occupation, daily routine, and interaction within the community of these residents, with the passing of time and devotion. A lot of these villages are demolished due to urban planning. Heart Village in Beitou District, Taipei City, is one of the few that has not been torn down, and therefore reserved the abundant culture of military villages. It originated from “Former Japanese Soldier Garrison Hospital Beitou Branch”, and the present Tri-Service General Hospital Beitou Branch. The forming of Heart Village has a strong bond with the development of the two hospitals mentioned above. The architectures in Heart Village were slowly reconstructed through time from the dormitory of nursing home built during the Japanese colonial period, demonstrating the military village-style from both the colonial and the R.O.C. period. The surrounding of the village carries a particular character of evolutionary change in time and space, giving a crucial explanation to the development of military villages.
This work is made during the artist’s residency in Heart Village. The idea derived from the life experience of the military villages’ residents after the post-war migration to Taiwan. They were forced to move from city to city, fighting and fleeing from the hostile force during the war. They crossed Taiwan Strait, defeated the surge of the tide, endured the seasick and disease, after retreated from China. Their social identity shifted constantly due to the turbulent state of society and government after arriving in Taiwan. No one knew that they would be staying in Taiwan for 40 to 50 years, let alone their entire lives.
This cabinet was tilted to the corner of the room when it was first discovered. With two hollow legs that have been eaten by termites, the cabinet was deformed and collapsed due to the incapability of supporting its own weight. The tilting and instability within the corruption, shows the damages caused by time. The qualities above linked the drifted experience of the residents to the medium of water, with their similarity in fluidity. Water is a constantly changing, unbounded, and unstable material. Its existence represents materiality within the special life experience of these residents. It was an extremely precious supply, as the water of life, during the war. It was the sinister tide while they were retreating. It is the water of gentleness and therapeutic in Beitou.
不定的數種模樣
水、木材、舊櫥櫃、玻璃罐、泵浦、拾獲物
120×140×190 cm
2017
眷村是台灣社會因特殊歷史因素，所形成的獨特居住型態，是重要的文化資產。其建築形態、空間使用方式、居民的職業背景、生活常態、鄰里關係等，經過時間的推移與深根，在台灣形成特殊的文化地景。現今許多眷村因都市計畫逐漸被汰換拆除，位於台北市北投區的中心新村，是至今尚未拆除的眷村，保留許多豐富的眷村文化。中心新村的發展源於「前日軍衛戍醫院北投分院」，及現今國軍北投醫院，其形成與該院區發展密切相關。村內建築物由日治時期療養所之宿舍慢慢改建而成，涵蓋自日治時期到民國時期的眷村型態，整體環境有時間空間演變之特殊性，於眷村發展史上具有重大意義。
此作品是藝術家於中心新村的駐地創作。發想於眷村居民過往因戰亂，必須不斷遷移，最後甚至漂泊，來到台灣的生活經驗。在戰亂時，因生存和戰況，不斷逃難與敵軍抗衡，被迫從一座城鎮遷移到另一座；直到撤退，橫渡台灣海峽，同時抵抗洶湧潮水、同時忍受狹窄船艙漫延的暈眩和疾病；來到台灣，因時局動盪，在各種社會角色間不斷轉換，沒有人知道一來就是四、五十年，甚至一輩子。
當初發現這只櫥櫃，它就傾斜倚靠在房間中的牆角，其中兩只腳已被白蟻啃食殆盡，呈現中空狀態，因無法承受櫃體的重量變形坍塌。這樣傾斜且不安穩的敗壞，歷經時間消磨而損壞，使我聯想到以水作為媒介，用其本身極為變動的自然特性，與眷民的漂流經驗產生連結。水，是不斷更迭、非固定、不安穩的物質，是眷民的生命經驗中，特殊的物質性存在。在戰亂中，是極其珍貴的補給資源，是生命之水；在撤退時，是險惡的潮水、黑色的夢魘；在北投，是溫潤而療癒的泉水。
