An Open-Air Collection and A Map (2017)
《一個露天收藏和一張地圖》是我2017年夏末在西班牙的羅塔鎮所創作的一個駐村計畫。羅塔位於西班牙南部的加的斯,是一個以觀光為主的濱海小鎮。身為一個路過的藝術創作者(或稱情緒化的觀光客),雖然我也很想快點去拜訪各個出名的觀光景點,不過我更好奇當地居民都去哪裡。我拜訪、詢問當地不同職業、年齡的善心人士,請他們介紹我一個自己最喜歡的地點。然後我開始了許多屬於我自己的單日小旅行,不僅用眼睛、而且用不同的感官,企圖去體驗他們所分享的地點,想像他們的回憶。看著這些文字敘述,被立體化在我的腦海,我試圖勾勒那種無以名狀的對家鄉的歸屬感。
小旅行之後,我決定替每個充滿回憶的地點,做一些事。我用矽立康將不同地點的肌理、質感或是人為活動的痕跡翻製下來,翻製的當下也像是「修補」了這些痕跡。這些我用矽立康做的模具就像把空氣固化,並且凝滯了它的當下。所有灰塵與碎屑,也因為模具阻擋了風,而停在原地。
我還畫了一張地圖,不是觀光景點的地圖而像是藏寶圖。
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An Open-Air Collection and a Map is a project from the time I was in Rota, Spain in 2017. Rota is a coastal town located along Cádiz Bay in Southern Spain. I lived there for a month and developed a project in the town.
As an artist /an emotional tourist, my curiosity extended beyond the famous attractions. I wanted to discover the local people's preferred spots. I reached out to residents, asking them to share their favorite places and the reasons behind their choices. Using their recommendations, I embarked on numerous one-day trips, aiming to immerse myself in the town using not just my eyes but also my other senses. I tried to recreate the memories and experiences shared with me. Witnessing the locals' profound love for their hometown and their desire to share it was truly touching. After conducting my research, I created different artworks inspired by each location.
I cast the textures of various places to "fix the cracks" of the town, so to speak. These molds I created captured the air surrounding them, preserving traces, dust, rocks, or anything they encountered—a tangible testament to the presence of something or someone. The waiting period for the silicone to dry became an intriguing part of the process. These silicone pieces were not merely molds; they transformed into ambiguous markers, representing specific places or objects. I then decided to leave or hide my works in those locations, essentially creating an open-air exhibition throughout the town. They would remain there until someone decided to take them down. In addition, I designed a private tour map of Rota, featuring useful information, shops I frequently visited, and the "favorite places" recommended by the locals. It also marked the locations of my artworks.
The exhibition was divided into two parts: one within the gallery space, featuring the guide map and hint-filled photos/documentations, and the other scattered throughout the streets, encompassing the entire town. These artworks can only be stumbled upon by chance or by following the map I created.
"When we have a day off, we love to go to the beach." -A
"I love it because is a sacred and quiet place, spiritual, to think and pray. The best way to know it is to visit at 11 am from Monday to Friday."-Jose M.
"My favourite place in Rota is a little street called Mina (Calle Mina). It is located downtown, parallel to our most famous pedestrian street. Everybody knows both streets in Rota. The reason why mina’s street (calle mina) is my favourite place in Rota is because in this street is traditionally developed our carnival celebration.
I am passionate about our carnival and mainly about dressing up; I am all the year looking forward to it. This picture was probably taken at Saturday which is the main day." -Juan V.
"It is located at the seafront promenade. I love it particularly in winter, with wonderful sunsets." -Carmen
"My favorite place in Rota are the pine forests, specifically the access to the beach on both sides of the Hotel Playa de la Luz. That area, where the green and the blue of the sea and the sky coexist in harmony, and where in addition my village looks at the horizon, the nature, is the beautiful face of Rota, that faces the ocean front, without intermediaries. It's a good place to meditate." -Elena