ABSTRACT
“Taiwan Hostel” in fact means “Shore-based center for mainland fishing workers”. Since 2003, for humanity concern, Taiwan government had started to set up five shore-based centers in Keelung, Su-Ao, Xinzhu, Taichung and Pingtung respectively to settle in China fisherman.
The reason to name it as “Taiwan Hostel” is because this “special building” makes no differences from other hotels: fees charged, temporary stay. Various people from different provinces of mainland China gather together here for one same reason—try to earn more money.
“Taiwan Hostel” is presented in colors, which is quite different from common photographic records, mpreover, I try to combine note, diary, interview, to present both static and dynamic images. I didn’t take photos of fish-catching scene, neither the downgrade of fishery, political issue nor poverty problem, Instead I focus on the “people” in this hostel, observing their daily life without adding any identities and prejudgement.
Try to ask yourself: if, the hostel is a small “tangible” cage, how can we, as a human being, break the chains to find “freedom” and “real me”? Or what really restrains us is “invisible” constraint? If that does exists, what is it?
Disregard those identities and positions we have, what is left? Who are we and what can we do? This kind of doubts about “existences” is what I am trying to dig out.
I am expecting, through this project, to picture an “ordinary daily life”, which normally is imprisoned, depressed and constrained, day after day, most of us are living like this.
Hope it arouses the viewers, you, to think about your existence in this world.