No reason


Last month I visited Taipei Artist Village for a special activity named “2008 spring open studio program”. As implied by the name, visitors are allowed to enter the studios of artists who reside here current season by rare chance. Each season has only one time, four times a year.

First, I visited a Japanese artist called Soya Arakawa. I was surprise that there were a lot of interesting things in his studio, even though it was “Chaos”, it really made the space more likes an artist’s. He introduced himself to me courteously and talked about the process and the concept of his current works. Because I can’t say Japanese and he don’t know Chinese, we communicated with each other in English. When he explained his thought, he used the phrase “No reason” several times, that’s interesting to me. Then, he showed me a new project about “Destiny”, to get information by rolling a pencil which was written a word or a sentence on each side. Each pencil answers different questions. He rolled “Artist” as a profession, efficaciously, he is an artist. I rolled “Hotelman”, I think maybe I’ll work at hotel one day.

Then I saw the modern dance of male duo, Yossi Berg and Oded Graf, who came from Israel. These two guys both have beautiful body shape and charming demeanor, so appreciating their performance is an enjoyment. They mixed with what they saw and felt in Taiwan into their work. Every step, every turnaround, even every breath, they all have their own meaning. After performance, a student asked them why they represent this way. And then they explained much but also used the phrase “No reason” as a response. This shocks me again.

There is something that can’t be described clearly in artist’s mind. Either too many thoughts are abstract or just an individual feeling. To completely explain is difficult, especially in the second language, such as English. I really don’t know why “No reason”. In my opinion, “Not everything is ‘No reason’, but it’s true that something maybe ‘No reason’”. Through this experience, I learned that “Don’t think too much, just follow your sixth sense”.

More information:
Taipei Artist Village
Yossi Berg & Oded Graf

回憶回憶 Recall the Recollections

承載著你與我的摩托車
在記憶裡的地圖上
是枚移動的小點
用時間畫出一條以公里計的線
綿長的回憶
帶點毛躁

那些頓挫的場景
是一幕幕名為「故鄉」的味道
有嗅覺也有視覺
或許還帶點風的觸覺

我的模糊卻是你侃侃而談的清晰
我確信 那是你的回憶

血脈裡的
不管是一氧或二氧化碳
你給予我應得的
該回憶的回憶