I Yen Chen

My work is always about the imaginary landscape that reflects people’s thought and feelings in a space. I believe one’s feeling strongly shapes and determines the outside world, and therefore each person create own imaginary landscape. I took this four months residency in the nature as a chance to develop a new relationship with art and media, I started working with textile and yarns. Apart from working with the yarn, I’ve always wanted to have my work in the nature, letting the landscape blend with each other. I adore seeing how lively they are in the wood.

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I found these very special, funny looking objects in an antique market. I was first very confused how this object can be useful or even practical. I later realized that represents the world in the past. People tied it on the boat, filled it with fresh water while sailing for days and months. They also stuck them into the ground when they farmed. For me, these ânforas represent a Time Machine. So I decided to travel with the ânforas.

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Before I started this four months residency in Portugal, I thought that I was visiting somewhere I have no experience with. It was my first contact with the country and the culture. Until the last weekend before the end day, a friend reminded me it was a Portuguese sailor who first saw Taiwan during the Age of Discovery. It’s a story we all know, he saw the island and exclaim: Ilhas Formosa.

 

The story starts with the sailing, and will continue with sailing.