【Humans of Taipei】國民美術

“I teach art in Wanhua Community College. I also have a session in Hsinyi Community this time, held specially for petition of preserving the whole area of Taipei Railway Workshop.

“The art circles of Taiwan had been distancing themselves from the people. That’s why I decided to take the hobos in Wanhua to my art class. I’d like to help the people living in the bottom of the society to have a chance to create something and through their creations, I wish they can use their imagination and build their self esteem. The most unforgettable project is that I asked them to imagine they have a twin brother or sister, another sibling that looks just like them. One of the student drew a big clock and his round face in the middle of the clock. He said ‘time’ is his only belongings and time is fair to everyone in this world…

“I like to use the idea, ’end of war era’, to describe the time we are living in. After the war, there were ‘white terror’ and the Taiwanese painter, Tan Ting-pho, was murdered. All the active painters before the war were forced to keep a low profile and their creation were turned to landscapes and flowers and birds. Even the time we live in, our biggest chance is the crumb provided by “Cultural and Creative Industry”, planned by the government. But what exactly is this ‘industry’ bringing us? Does it only mean that we can sell expensive designed products?

“There had been too many precious places and remains uprooted. Those had a chance to be kept were re-designed into a place alienated from the local people. Take Ximen Market as an example. The fee, the coffee shop, they are all too expensive for the old generation there. That’s why I hope more and more people come to the Railway Workshop and get to know the problem we are facing. And I hope the old workshop can be kept and transformed into a place where everyone is welcome.”