Artist Spotlight: Chang En-Man
Fluid Boundaries: Four Artists from the Pan-Austro-Nesian Arts Festival
[Transcript]
Since 2009, I have published at least nine series of artworks themed on African snails.
The artworks came with various forms, including sculptures, films, live performances, interviews, recipes, maps, embroidery, painted windows, and so on.
But why themed on the snails? The inspiration mainly originated from my mother, a Paiwan woman. She would go out on rainy days to pick up snails and then process them into packs of frozen snail meat to feed us.
Then I realized that we Paiwan people could accommodate this invasive species in our traditional recipes. I was also curious about this creature and found out that it was introduced by Japanese officials in about 1933 during the period of Japanese rule of Taiwan.
I traced the snail’s migration trail and found that it originated from East Africa, and traveled through the midway Singapore as a transfer station to Taiwan. I visited Singapore before for some surveys and joint projects in this regard.
The Snail Paradise Trilogy: Setting Sail or Final Chapter, the Pan-Austro-Nesian Arts Festival at Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts is about a longing for Africa. It’s like a root-seeking journey for the giant African snail. Then I borrowed an identity which is Griot.
It is the role of the historian in Africa, especially in West Africa. Also a minstrel. History was usually passed down orally in Africa, similar to the background of Taiwanese indigenous peoples. Then I used the Glio chanting to tell stories about the individual historical events.
The summary of my exploration into the giant African snail since 2009 was deduced and condensed into a tune. Then I invited tribal folks to chant for us with the ancient tune of rain prayer.
This is a story connecting the giant African snail with Taiwan to the world.
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