Part II (Photo Essay by Clarissa Hudson): " Raven, Hundred-Pace Viper, and the Ocean" Cross-Cultural Exhibit in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan Sponsored by the Kaohsiung Commission on Indigenous Affairs and the University of Washington Burke Museum, Seattle

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Read Part 1| Read Part 3

Shgen, my husband, Bill and I arrived at the airport and were greeted by our two hosts, tour-guides and errand-girls Liya and Nikar. We squished ourselves and luggage into two tiny cars and I felt nervous driving alongside big semi-trucks! We were on an adventure; the air was thick, the sky blue and hundreds of scooters zipped past with colorful skirts or rain ponchos flapping at high speed as if a colorful flock of birds or a school of fish---what an amazing delight! Throughout the entire two weeks in Taiwan, I continued to marvel at the coordination of hundreds of scooters moving in unison with such grace. Although many of the scooters had a passenger, sometimes a dog or a bird in a cage would be a part of the ride, or an entire family with three kids, or the driver would be transporting a 6 foot by 4 foot pile of garbage piled high in the seat behind him! The main mode of transportation was not a car but the scooter. I think I saw three bicycles the entire two weeks. The bicycles were of another era and those who rode them were elders.

Another fantastic meal; by the end of the two weeks, we all gained at least 10 pounds! Photo by Shaun Petersen.

I felt "right at home" in Taiwan. Everyone seemed familiar. Lots of fresh vegetables and noodles in fresh soup stocks called the "hot pots" was my favorite meal. Of course there were many cultural differences between the U.S. and Taiwan, yet there was one that was not so obvious and yet i think was a prominent cultural difference and a reflection of the main attitude of the culture. One of the main differences was: Kaohsiung City has over a million people packed like sardines. I had not ever once experienced obscenities such as swearing, hand-gestures, or any level of impatience towards one another on the busy streets full of cabs, cars, trucks and more than half of the traffic on scooters!

When we arrived at the Indigenous Cultural Park where we would spend the next two weeks working oudoors on our projects, we were introduced to the 6 Indigenous artists from Taiwan. We met Daki and Kulele; they hung a large tarp over one area of the park where they set up their metal-smithing shop.

Dakai and Kulele's metalsmithing workshop at the Kaohsiung City Indigenous Cultural Park, Taiwan, June 2006. Photo by Clarissa Hudson

 

Left to Right: Dafung, Dodo, Shgen and Dakai. Photos by Clarissa Hudson

Joseph, Akin and Hudson. Photos by Clarissa Hudson

Our host, Joseph Lin awaits us to board our hot pink travel van. Photo by Clarissa Hudson

Taiwanese artist, Siki explains his involvement in traditional ceremonial dance. The large mural is the background is in his studio. Photo by Clarissa Hudson

Siki inside his completed sculpture during the opening of the show. Photo by Clarissa Hudson

Each day, the artists gathered during tea time at 4pm. Local friends and family members would bring iced tea, pastries, meats and lots of mangoes! Photo by Clarissa Hudson

Read Part 1| Read Part 3

Taiwan Exhibit Main Page

* Read the Curators' essays written in anticipation of the collaborative exhibition:
Lin Yu-shih, Curator | Stevan Harrell, Partner Curator