Posted on 29 Sep 2016

走讀社子

梅姬颱風的到來讓藝術季期間的田野工作暫停了兩天,也讓藝術家們有機會思索作品如何與台灣的氣候共存。田野的第二週將視野拉到淡水河流域,希望藉由認識河域的其他地方,看見自然環境和在地生活文化,其實並非單獨存在,而是彼此相互影響的整體系統。

9月29號大夥來到社子島見學,去年的藝術季有兩件作品設置在社子,當時在社子創作的兩位藝術家也受到當地社區熱情的款待和幫助。今天社子島美學會的媽媽們一樣使出看家本領接待,不但讓大家體驗捏製冬至的傳統點心「米粿雕」,午餐的油飯和蘿蔔湯、滷豆干好吃到不行,還帶著大家逛逛廟宇及古厝,認識地方的信仰圈和生活故事。社子和關渡面臨著相似的命運:漁撈文化因為淡水河汙染而萎縮;關渡的稻米、社子島的蔬果、淡水河的水產,過去曾經是大台北地區的重要飲食來源,而今「糧倉」地位式微,周邊土地開發蠢蠢欲動。如果社子已經都被改建成新大樓,關渡也很難有個對照的故事。當任一地的環境和文化被夷平抹除,牽動的將是一整個歷史記憶的消逝;相反地,如果各個地方能被愛護它的人們好好照料著,彼此將會共織出這個城市豐厚的底蘊,讓人一來再來,不忍離去。

社子就是這樣一個令人流連忘返的地方,短短一天的參訪就再次嗅到這裡濃濃的人情味。社子的社區組織動力滿點,去年他們陪著藝術家一起創作,漸漸覺得藝術不再那麼遙遠,而是可以發生在日常生活的點滴裡。社區阿嬤憑著記憶繪出小舟載著牛隻渡河、田園間禽畜悠閒地散步、自種蔬果碩大青翠…種種社子風景,這些在地故事被輕輕說出,卻令人深深感動。我們期許關渡國際自然藝術計畫,呈現的不只是美麗的作品,更重要的是說出背後那些,關於土地,以及愛著她的人們的故事。

The field research has been stopped two days because of Typhoon Megi. The 2016 artists thus had more days to reflect upon the ways for their artwork to exist in the context of the weather patterns in Taiwan. The second week of field work focuses on the Tamsui River, with the intention of bringing the perspective to a larger scope, to see the dynamic relationships among different places.

On Sep. 29, we visited Shezi Island to learn from its ecology and culture. Last year, two artists from the Guandu art project came to Shezi to create their artwork. They were taken care of by the community with great hospitality. Today the mothers from the community also greeted us with big smiles and generosity. They invited the artists to make small figurines with rice powder, which is a tradition in the local area. They also made delicious lunch for us, and showed us around the temples, old houses, and wetlands. Shezi has been facing similar issues as Guandu: it used to be a fruit and veg supplier to Greater Taipei, yet its role decreased because of the expansion of cities. Many lands are waiting to be developed. If the landscape of Shezi is gone, the historical and ecological meaning of Guandu will definitely become weaker.

Shezi is a place with history and warm hospitality. The community was much influenced by their working experience with the artists last year, finding that art can be in everyday life instead of in a far-away museum. A grandma from here showed us her drawings on the scenes of Shezi in the old days, such as taking ferry across the Tamsui River with buffalos, livestock walking on the farms and eagles flying in the sky, and the colorful vegetables planted at the backyard. These local stories were glossed over; however we still felt the treasures in them. What really matters in the Guandu art project is not just beautiful artworks, but the true stories behind the lands, and the people who really care for her.