黑水 淨土 Black Water, The Pure Land

森 感覺實驗室— 白濟豪
sen sense lab— Chi-Hao Pai

臺灣 Taiwan

年份 Year
2016

材料 Materials
土、竹炭粉
Soil, bamboo charcoal powder

設置位置 Location
海岸林區、草坡、低海拔林區

理念 Statement
無私的人　　　　　　　    People who are selfless
滴下的汗是黑色的　　　    Sweat beads of black.
渡生的神　　　　　　　    Gods who liberate all beings
流下的淚是黑色的　　　    Shed tears of black.
自私的人　　　　　　　    Those who are selfish
洗下的水也是黑色的　　    excrete blackness.

黑水 一來到地上　　　　   Black water, having fallen to the ground,
就伏著地一路爬向大海　    Crawls towards the sea.
沾黏住路上所有的好　　    The good blends in.
也沾黏路上所有的壞　　    The bad blends in also.

爬過之處成了眾生的歸宿　The place where black water crawls becomes a home for all beings.
眾生得以棲身　　　　　　They shelter here.
但條件是一旦你離開　　　But when they leave,
將會忘記怎麼歸來　　　　they may not return.

停留的越久　　　　　　　The longer they stay
你的生命就越短　　　　　The shorter their life will be.
漸漸的無法舞動你的四肢　Slowly their limbs will turn numb
你將長駐在這　　　　　　And they will remain forever.

長駐在這　　　　　　　　Here is the place of permanence.
人們稱之為 淨土　　　　　We call it the Pure Land.
 

一起來認識「森 感覺實驗室」台灣藝術家白濟豪！

Q: 請聊聊你這次的創作構想？
A: 這次作品概念是「淨土」，這個詞有「家」或「歸宿」的意味。河川帶來淤泥的營養，濕地成為鳥類的家，但在真實世界裡，這些土對鳥兒們卻不是那麼乾淨，牠們長期接觸土壤裡頭的汙染物，久而久之飛行能力下降、身體功能喪失，這些「淨土」反而導致牠們無法回家。這次的作品以土為元素，它像河流一樣蜿蜒整個公園，河裡有養分有污染―什麼都來到這裡，所以裡頭有很多故事。作品的土條敷上黑色，靈感來自「黑面媽祖」：傳說媽祖的面容被燻黑，一說是因為香火鼎盛，另一說是因為祂救苦救難，因為辛勞而灰頭土臉。黑水象徵守護著這個地方，讓生物們都安全地回家，也像很多志工都努力守護著關渡自然公園，讓鳥兒們安心地回來。

Q: 聽說你一開始想把「祭儀」這個元素帶入創作，這個構想有因為前期的田野調查產生什麼樣的變化嗎？
A: 一開始我一直在思考關渡這裡有什麼樣的植物可以跟祭儀做結合，還特地查了蘆葦的民俗用法和文化意義。但是在田野調查期間，聽到公園的研究員談及土壤裡的塑膠微粒，讓我很震撼。每天認識關渡周邊的地理人文，我都覺得土在呼喚「就是我！」，後來就打算用土創作。另外一件有趣的事是，在還沒確定申請到這個藝術計畫之前，我夢到自己被一團黑水黏住，想掙脫卻掙脫不開。這讓我想起佛經裡的七寶池，每個人往生後都在那裡開一朵蓮花，上面會有自己的名字。也許這個關於土與河流的作品，等著綻放寫有我名字的花。我認為祭儀是一種跟自然、神佛溝通的方法，在這片樹林裡工作的時候，我會注意到某些植物、動物，留意他們的特徵，慢慢地認識他們，我很喜歡和這些生命們交流對話的時刻，也想找到屬於我自己的祭儀方式。

Q：你這次創作需要很多志工共同參與投入，跟志工們一起工作的經驗如何？
A：以前我的創作多半用植物做排列組合，通常是我一個人獨自進行，可以完全沉浸在自己的世界。這次發現規模要做大，需要有人幫忙，所以希望大家一起參與，因此我也需要關照他們，像是要帶他們做一些活動，讓他們有興趣。好處是在跟志工解釋的過程，我也不斷在整理作品的想法，每講一次就整理一次。我希望志工有自己發揮的空間，他們可以在動手的過程展現自己的技藝跟特質。有志工一起完成作品，就像涓滴匯流成河，那股力量會推著河水往該去的地方。

Q：這次是你剛開始嘗試駐村形式的創作，之後有沒有想要去參加國外的藝術計畫？
A：還沒有，我還是想要先多了解自己的家鄉。

Let's meet Pai of sen sense lab from Taiwan, the artist of 2016 Guandu International Nature Art Festival!

Q: Please talk about your ideas for the on-going art work?
A: The main idea for my artwork this time is the "Pure Land," which also connotes "homeland" or "destination.”Rivers bring mud with nutrition, thus making a good habitat for birds. However, it is ironic that birds take wetlands as homelands yet they get weak because of the toxins in lands and rivers. So I keep the question in mind: "what does "Pure Land" mean to the birds?" I use clays as my material to create a river shape around the park, symbolizing the all-embracing nature of river. The clay river is toned black because I was inspired by the idea of Matzu's black face. Legend has it that Matzu's face turned black because of endless stream of pilgrims, or because She is too busy with saving lives. So I make this black river as a symbol to guard all the lives in this place.

Q: I heard you wanted to do an artwork about religious rituals at the beginning. Does this idea change through the initial process of field research?
A: At the beginning, my idea was to use plants to convey the meanings of some rituals. I even checked how the Ketagalans used reeds as symbol of purification. However, I was shocked by the talk about the plastic microbeads in the soil by the researcher from the Park while having our field research. The more I knew about Guandu, the stronger calling I felt from the soil. So I decided to create my artwork with clay. Another interesting thing: before this art project I dreamt of myself stuck in some black water. I struggled yet I couldn't escape. This dream reminded me of the seven-jewelled pond in Buddism. It is said that everyone will find a lotus flower with their own names in the pond after passing away. Maybe this coming work of soil and river is just like the lotus flower for me. It belongs to me as it is. I think rituals are ways to communicate with nature and spirits. While working in the woods, I noticed some plants and animals. By recognizing their characteristics, I learned to know them more. It is enjoyable to be with different lives. I therefore create my own rituals as I try to communicate with them.

Q: Many volunteers joined your artwork this time. How do you feel about working with volunteers?
A: My previous works were mainly arrangements of different plants. I used to enjoy doing art creation alone. It was good to be indulged in my own world. But I found it necessary to involve more people this time since I wanted to make a bigger work. During the process I've also learned to take care of the volunteers' needs. Besides, I've organized my thoughts about the work through explaining my ideas to the volunteers repeatedly. I hope the volunteers can have their own room to show their personality and skills during the production. They are like drops in the river. Each person has his/her own contribution to the whole picture.

Q: It seems a new experience for you to do a residency project like this. Do you also want to join some art projects abroad?
A: Not yet. I want to join more domestic art projects first, so as to know more about my homeland as the start.