LS project, Taipei– week 1 museum

Week 1— Museum visit to 台大人類學博物館
NTU Museum of Anthropology, one of the earliest artefact collection and studies done during the Japanese colonial era. Although many still have misintepretation, but nonetheless its a treasure throve and understanding not only of the indigenous cultures but also the thinking and methodologies of the academics (thanks posak & bff)

Week 1— MOCA museum visit 災難的靈視 Co/Inspiration in Catastrophes exhibition and some of inspirational pieces. What would it take to transpire catastrophy? isnt our human condition already one? (thanks shih-tung)

LS project, Taipei– Week 1

Week 1— 2nd production meeting at NTCH, check out some props and the freshly produced Direct Mailer Postcards. (thanks PY and team, Annie and Grace)

I get confused which is which, but I think that is the National Theatre

production team

layout camera notes

program scheduling

Direct Mailer

passive interaction festival installation

Week 1- Arrived Taipei, 70+kg of luggage, 10 cameras, tripods and mountings. check in with OCAC. (thanks OCAC)

70kg of gear and equipment

luggage 1– tripods and mountings

luggage 2–cameras, mobilr darkroom

check in luggage

OCAC– Fan chon stay in the first few days.

Reflection– on self

Artist’s Reflection– When Kanta Box Kamra (2014) & KANTA portraits (2017) project started out searching for concepts of identity, little was known of the outcome or the expectations of what will be found. Many of the processes and methodology were developed organically from the experiences and circumstances. The journey has been very revealing and challenging; physically, mentally and spiritually. Being in both local and foreign countries, understanding the social construct of how states project and form social strata, leading to which are the circumstances we are found in and responding to.

Indigenous groups and tribespeople have always been living in-between or at the crossroads between their existence and the ‘known world’. Identity therefore becomes the need to define, to be ‘known’, and to a certain extent, to conform, assimilate, integrate or be restricted and contained. Building archetypes as references to a structure of the human condition, the known world we live in has disabled and enabled the way we define and identify ourselves, either from our inherent past, genealogy, geospatial, polities. Understanding their predicament, is in a way to see our past and foresee a future.

Experiencing these conditions and circumstances from the studies and field trips, I have developed my thinking and understanding on the subject of identity. At this moment, I am still researching and reflecting. With time, I hope to either produce artworks or a publication on the experiences. (Taken from Cendana final Milestone report May 2019. edited).

Film Screening & Presentation– KMTX NML in Penang

Film Premier of Kanta Portraits collaboration with Taiwan. I’ll be here with Posak Jodian and organiser 數位荒原駐站暨群島資料庫 NML Residency & Nusantara Archive and OCAC 打開-當代藝術工作站.

Nusantara Archive in Penang: “Lakec – Storyteller and Very Simple River” Screening & Thematic Publication Launch– “Nusantara Archive in Penang” is a combined event of the special screening of Posak Jodian’s latest documentary on Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia and the launch of the thematic publication by the Nusantara Archive. This event will be held at Ruang Kongsi, an independent space based in Penang run by local cultural practitioners. Previously, a series of contemporary video works screening event – “Petamu Project” was organised and held at the Rumah Attap Library and the Collective during the Kuala Lumpur Urbanscape Festival in July 2018, featuring works by both Malaysian and Taiwanese artists of the Nusantara Archive. This upcoming event, “Nusantara Archive in Penang” on 15 December is an extension from such collaborative effort, while responding to the multi-cultural dimension of the Penang-Taiwan through the artistic works of moving images and thematic publication since the curatorial program of “Hari Ini Dalam Serjarah” during the DA+C Festival in Penang in 2015. Local artists, Hoo Fan Chon and Okui Lala who were involved in projects organised by the Nusantara Archive will host the after-screening discussion on 15 December.

「《群島資料庫》專題手冊發表」與「《渡河—說故事的人與太簡單的河》影像發表計劃」，皆延伸自2017年初開始的「《數位荒原》駐站暨群島資料庫」計劃。去年11月，我們在吉隆坡Urbanscape藝術節期間，於中山大樓的亞達屋84號圖書館合作「邊境旅行」微型影展，介紹參與過計劃的馬來西亞與臺灣藝術家錄像。今年我們再度將計劃延伸到喬治城的「共思社」藝文空間發表最新的《群島資料庫》手冊。這不但是去年和吉隆坡獨立空間合作後再次與馬來西亞獨立空間交流，也是在2015年DA+C藝術節合作的《歷史上的今天》展覽以後，臺灣藝術家再度以通過影像的合作思考島嶼交流的多元文化維度。另外，這次活動也將邀請曾參與過《群島資料庫》的臺灣與檳城藝術工作者出席，以期深度連結兩地的共享歷史與未來。

3rd Box Kamra practitioner in Malaysia!

FIELD TRIP– Penang Island

I’m in Penang for the premier of a film by Posak Jodian, on our Kanta Portraits Taiwan Malaysia Exchange. Happening this Sunday. Hugging the coast heading up the peninsular. Coconut plantation, rice fields, palm oil, agrarian nation.

IN THE FIELD– Benshankeng Trail

崩山坑古道-泰平到柑腳 Bengshankeng Ancient Trail– We made a hike up an ancient trail, exploring part of Taiwan's landscape and narrative behind these trails, making some exposures along the way. It was not the best weather but I managed to make six exposures. The wetness of the surrounding threw light in the undergrowth everywhere and the contrast was hard to control. Everybody had a chance to click the shutter button. I will need to return to keep exploring and make more exposures soon.

FILM release– Identity

One of a few interviews I gave this year where I started expressing my thoughts and reflection after a lengthy research project that has come to an end. Glimpse into my field work with Kanta Portraits. Thanks to the production team, and especially Dave and Diaman for sharing their life with me.

https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=746576142521616