| "The
Caring of Taiwan"
Guandu International
Outdoor Sculpture Festival, Taiwan
2008
In December 2007, Bonnie created
the following design proposal for the Guandu International
Outdoor Sculpture Festival in Taiwan. The theme of
the competition was "Global Warming". Bonnie
aimed to create a highly interactive and significant
installation. Bonnie entitled the installation proposal
"The Caring of Taiwan".
Artist Statement
“Global warming is a worldwide
phenomenon of the effects of human industrial abuse
on the natural ecosystems (plants and animals are
threatened as their habitats are destroyed or they
are hunted to extinction), which has now developed
into the potential destruction of human ecosystems
(climate change with droughts, rising sea levels,
limited resources). In order to save and protect all
forms of life, human intervention for the caring and
protection of the planet is necessary, at all levels.
Humans need to develop adaptability for change of
the status quo and not to be held back from individually
acting for the common good. My installation, entitled
“The Caring of Taiwan” invites the public
to actively participate in the making of good choices
for the caring of the environment in Taiwan.”
“As an installation artist,
I engage in the creation of defi ned and contained
space around a theme of relaxation, play, movement,
shelter, art, boundary or interest. In this installation,
I want the public to understand the signifi cance
of their own country, Taiwan, and the caring of their
home. The starting point for the installation is the
building of a series of defi ned parallel pathways
that are the outline of the island of Taiwan. This
structure is entitled The Maze of Taiwan and the fences
are 3 feet tall made of bundles of phragmites. The
public will need to enter and walk along these defi
ned pathways (and hence walk the shape of their country
twice) in order to enter the center of the installation.
In the center of the installation, will be a series
of three interactive exhibits: The Care of the Sea
Levels; The Care of the Living Earth and The Caring
Wall. Care of the Sea Levels is a typographic model
of Taiwan made with shaved phragmites in a container
with the ability to have fluctuating levels of water
representing changes in sea level. The public will
be invited to remove some of the water from this exhibit
in order that the human population on the island is
not threatened, metaphorically. The water removed
can then need to be added to the second exhibit: Care
of the Living Earth. This exhibit is a living globe
of phragmites that will need watering to be kept alive.
Thirdly, The Caring Wall is a long wall of phragmites
showing the whole span of death/disintegration at
one end to life at the other end. One end of the Wall
will start with loose and scattered stems of phragmites;
as the wall progresses, it will increase in thickness
with upright reed and at the far end the dead phragmites
will be overtaken with live plants. The public will
view this progression and be asked to water the live
reed, in order to keep it alive.”
“In this installation, I aim
to show the choice inherent in global warming: death/disintegration
or life. The elements of water and phragmites in this
installation have been chosen with purpose and are
good metaphors for the issues on our planet. Water
is needed for the living phragmites but it is also
a major issue with rising sea levels. Phragmites australis,
abundant at the Nature Park, has had great value for
many native cultures in the form of food, jewelry,
weapons, weaving material, boats and musical instruments.
But nowadays, it is often considered to be invasive
as it grows well in areas of disturbance and environmental
stresses. Yet, it is now being found that it has potential
for bioremediation and wetland stabilization and rehabilitation.
I plan to use phragmites, in combination with water,
as a live medium in this installation. The issue of
balanced use is inherent in both of these materials.”
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