We Are Water, My Friend
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Dates2014 - 2024
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Author
- Location Taiwan
It is a project about Taiwan through the metaphor of water. Taiwanese consciousness arose from the process of democratization and independence in response to centuries of repression, and it's identity is indefinite, fluid, adaptable, like water.
“We Are Water, My Friend” is an invitation to explore our profound connection with the most fluid and vital element: water. Defined by its predominance and indeterminacy, water embodies a significant part of our identity—it belongs to us, it is us. Yet, we recognize that our existence transcends being simply “beings made of water.” Our identities are multifaceted, and they resist simple definitions.
"We know nothing about Taiwan. The island is anomalous. Very anomalous." [G. Manganelli]
Taiwan mirrors the complex nature of water itself, and its social, cultural, and political identity is a tapestry woven from threads of confusion and indefiniteness. Taiwanese people, long oppressed and marginalized by external forces, have navigated centuries of repression to forge a resilient collective consciousness shaped by their democratization journey. Their identity is fluid, adaptable, and vibrant—much like the water that surrounds them.
Inhabitants of Taiwan have turned their indeterminacy into strength, preserving the values of democracy, freedom, and autonomy. From this foundation, they forge a multidimensional consciousness that begins with water.
The photographs, taken during two separate moments in Taiwan (2014 and 2024), offer glimpses into this layered and multifaceted society. The abstract images capture the natural patterns of the ancient stone houses of the Penghu archipelago, known as 瓓𥑮石, formed by corals, shells, and solidified marine fossils, symbolizing the intricate relationship between the sea and its inhabitants. The figurative photographs, instead, convey a poignant feeling of melancholy which permeates both my sensitivity and that of the island itself. This exchange invites viewers to witness bits of a unique island and to draw from its status quo a message of ongoing acceptance and adaptation.
