Tell us about life under COVID-19?
Chen Liang-Hsuan: Here is Taipei’s MRT station. We are lucky, the city didn’t lockdown and only has some under control infected cases, so, for me, it’s like normal life, just need to cover my face everywhere. Since April, medical masks are distributed to everyone by the government, two weeks once, nine masks in an envelope. It’s always light blue, white, or green, sometimes you can get crazy patterns like leopards’. Streets are still crowded, overwhelmed by people with masks. Living in those unfamiliar scenes, I’m trying to expand my ongoing project I made since last year about Taipei citizens deep mind more by filming those strange/surreal views happening now.
What does studio time look like for you right now?
I only stay in Triangle’s studio for three weeks, it’s really a pity that I need to leave the work space with very beautiful sunlight during sunny days. With all the creative artists as my neighbors and all the professional visitors, I can imagine how wonderful it could be if I am still there.
What did you start to work on while at Triangle?
During the residency, I’m planning to co-work with mothers who live in New York to develop a script with me about a story of my mom’s New York trip. Originally, her trip was a very Taiwanese way, went to Chinese restaurant for lunch and had karaoke in the sightseeing package bus. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s not only impossible to invite anyone to join the project, but also make a whole new scene that without any tourists. It makes me think more about the travel culture in post-Covid-19 world.
What have you been reading/watching/looking at lately? Any recommendations?
I am watching some films of Lou Li, an independent Chinese filmmaker who made experimental films mostly in his hometown Wu Han. In his Emperor Visits the Hell, I surprisingly found it is a film which records the ordinary citizen’s life in Wu Han in a very creative way. The characters speak dialect fluently and it shows the city’s spirit as a funny political satire. I think it’s pretty meaningful that we can find the true life there through the film, without only read the images from mass media.
What are you hoping to see happen in the art world after COVID-19?
I don’t know, but maybe I hope after this period of time, we will all become a better reader.