TsaiTaYuan

“The creation is supposed to start from one’s memory and the place where he lives.” Such is my basic belief in creation. Kaohsiung is where I live at present; therefore, it naturally becomes the inspiration origin to the subject of my creation.

In this subject, I attempt to arrange a section of love story to transmit the atmosphere of Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era. The story took place in Hamasen, Kaohsiung, in the Japanese occupation era. Therefore, the buildings and the scenes selected in my work are the prominent constructions around Hamasen district during that time.

Less than two hundred years, lots of stories happened in the small island of Taiwan－the indigenous inhabitants, the immigrants from Holland, Spain, and the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Japanese colonists, the arrival of National Government to Taiwan, and the American-aiding time. Whether it’s visible or invisible, the memory stayed behind may be traced everywhere on this land. I am totally overwhelmed with the scenes which exist at present, interlocking the space and time, so real and touchable despite of being a part of history. It is the old houses, shops, temples, and narrow back alleys in the area still used in daily life that formulate cultural texture of the district.

Whenever I pass through Hamasen district seeing the old buildings in the Japanese occupation era, my heart thrills with joy . To know it more, I also look for some related historical data and pictures concerned, and make the record of photographing Hamasen as well. I find it an interesting matter to make the comparison of the ancient pictures or scenery and the ones which still exist at present, trying to open up a new dialogue of harmonization between modern and old spaces.

Tsai TaYuan
2008.12