Habitation Debris

在追求物質豐裕的當今社會，全國濔漫著各種發展至上的產業訊息，配合各方財團大舉開放的野心，政府也越來越瘋狂賤賣土地。根本不在乎你是壯麗山景，綠油田野，還是百年村荘，權勢者的眼中只有建立一個又一個繁華空殼的"經濟奇績"。 今天，我走在這些廢棄民宅，一種前所末有的感觸湧上心頭，在觀看與感受事物的本質上，藴含著扭曲的寓言

This is Kampong Hakka, Mantin, located about 2km from exit 2104 Mantin, between the Nilai and Seremban exist on the Kajang-Seremban highway (Lekas). It has a very long history and exist from more than 120 years old. The valley rises when the tin mining industry blooming in 19th century, and it also fall when the depression of tin mining industry in 20th century. So, the origin of this place is because of tin.

I am always asking myself about what is the “thing” that I want to persevere? People are leaving here, why you are still keep asking to stay? Is it the reasons of the objects in the valley? wooden houses? a group of dwelling? personal nostalgia? The more I think, the deeper I will confuse because the world is always changing. Nothing is unchangeable. Shall we just move forward and never look back? However I believe that there are something hidden behind the objects. 

First, I create an image about the habitation in debris. I gaze the wooden houses, most of them were empty, broken, and abandon. It look like they are under deconstruction and losing gravity. Second, I imagine what is the thing in behind, a narrative of history? a value of humanity? a prophecy to the world in future? I don't know, but the answer I leave it back to visitors. I draw it all in dark tone with charcoal and put some silver collage on it. Let the visitors to imagine 

Finally, connecting all the context, I create the oil painting. It was my conversation to the valley people. I, as an observer, communicate with them. Some critical questions have been asked to them, for example: why you guys still stay here? what are you fighting for? why don’t you just keep the money and go away? Is the house so meaningful to you? and so on. After the feedback, I start to picture my oil painting: a old man is holding his house, standing along the river. There are full of the habitation in debris in the river. The river also represent our life time, our memories, and all are gone. It will never stop. The houses is becoming back to element of tin at last as what the valley rise for.

Between the image (drawings) of positive and negative, I see the clearing and concealing. The image of positive is the object captured by our eyes, in the other hand, the image of negative is the feeling occurs in ours heart. There is tension same as the tension between the earth and world. I enlarge the object (house) and cut it’s outlet, cover on the portrait. So the house is alive, it has memories as human. 

Interactive Art installation is my ideal form of art that invoices the spectator in a way that allows the art to achieve its purpose. By letting the observer or visitor “touch” in, on, and move them, it is also an experience for testing the visitors to participate in it. Opening and Closing the box is my primary principle to tell “ Life is like a box, you will never know what is inside, and you have to figure out it by the process of open and close.”