《對話之後：一個生態藝術行動的探索》
Beyond Dialogue: A Journey of Transforming Place through Climate Change
We made the book like making an art, with meaningful contents and beautiful design.
Introduction
This
research is like a journey through time and space. It leads back to
the Conference of Oyster Shell Land Art, within the programme of Art
as Environment: A Cultural Action on Tropic of Cancer 2008. The
Conference was initiated with an aim to manage waste oyster shells by
using them as the material for land art works on the abandoned salt
fields of the Chaiyi coast of southwest Taiwan. With participant
observation, interviews, literature reviews and critical analysis the
author of this study examines the on-going dialogues of the attendees
and the developments following the Conference, revealing new
configurations of the relationship between humans and their
environment as it emerges through the wetlands of this endangered
coast of Taiwan.
The
outcome of this research text is divided into eight chapters,
starting with an interpretation of 'Dialogue as an Art Form'. It then
reviews the background and process of the Conference of Oyster Shell
Land Art, and the role British ecological artist David Haley played
in presenting the project, 'A Dialogue with Oysters: The Art of
Facilitation' to the conference. The components of the conference and
the evolution of environmental concerns are discussed to reveal that
through 'dialogue', the perception of the value of oyster shells and
abandoned salt fields was changed, and a new perspective of seeing
local environmental issues from a global context of climate change
was presented. The author then provides an analysis of the outcomes
of the oyster shell land art proposals and their related
environments, as well as additional complimentary suggestions to the
proposals.
To
develop the thread and provide a broader context for the above
discussion, the author investigated the environmental change on the
southwest coast by reviewing the achievements of Taiwan's researchers
on geography, geology, archaeology, and history.
The
findings showed that the environmental change of southwest Taiwan was
caused by factors such as climate change, global warming and
sea-level rising, coastal erosion by typhoons and high-tides. Other
factors include, river sediment discharge and its effect on the
sandbanks, along with human interference that caused the destruction
of the original topography, changed land use that created unforeseen
forces and consequences.
For
example, rivers were intercepted, reservoirs and sand-blocking dams
were built upstream; the river flow was restrained by embankments on
the middle and lower stream; and the coastline lost its sand source
due to the land reclamation that extracted sand which further induced
seawater incursion and loss of windbreaks. The groin effect made
another impact on the changing coastline, as did the over-extraction
of groundwater from the coastal aquifers by the freshwater
fish-farming industry. The short supply of groundwater recharge from
the upper- middle stream further exacerbated the disastrous cycle of
land subsidence and seawater incursion. Climate change is making all
these above challenges even more drastic.
Facing
these challenges, senior planner of the National Taiwan University
Building and Planning Research Foundation, and the convener of the
Conference of Oyster Shell Land Art, Tsai Fu-Chang took on the task
of extending and expanding the multi-layered dialogue of the
conference. He was commissioned to deliver planning projects at the
coast of Chiayi by Chiayi County Government and the Southwest Coast
National Scenic Area Administration, which led to several in-depth
investigations on the Chiayi coast, including hydrology, ecology,
community, local history, and industry. Tsai and his team discovered
that, after the salt industry ceased to exist along the southwest
coast, through ecological succession, the abandoned salt fields
turned into wetlands, providing natural habitat for birds. Many
species were present, including the endangered, international
protected black-faced spoonbill. On the regional plan, Tsai and his
team applied the concept of biosphere reserves, made ecological
conservation as a priority, and paid respect to the original
topography and geomorphology. They examined the resources, the
location, the traffic flow, and the existing facilities of the
planned area, making evaluations and recommendations. They concluded
that five thematic areas should be established as the spatial
governance framework for the future conservation and improvements of
the coastal wetlands. From the planning it showed that ecological
conservation and climate change were the two core values, while 'art'
was considered as a vital medium for activism.
In
practice, Tsai and his team adopted a strategy of 'rolling correction
and unified management'. The intention is to extend the time axis,
launch the priority action plan at the current stage to interact with
the environment, then reflect on and evaluate the process. The goal
and vision will then be modified to develop another action plan for
next stage.
Their
priority action plan included different workshops for wetlands
ecology and environment. Artists residencies empowered the community
for creative learning to adapt to the climate change. Local
participation was encouraged by connecting schools, education
institutions, communities, private enterprises and professional
organizations, to improve interdisciplinary partnerships and
expertise to support networks, and consolidate the foundation for
sustainable life. These actions referred to different fields of
interest, such as the changing geography, ecological conservation,
green energy, coastal forestation, future challenges, industries and
environmental education. Among them, some were related to the basic
needs of local life, such as food production, wind power, and water
issues. Art was a method to integrate these fields and to communicate
with people within and without. Art was, also a
way to creatively question the way we think about all these
challenges, turning them into opportunities.
In
2012, Tsai Fu-Chang presented the concept of 'Wetlands Breadbasket'.
It encompassed all sets of issues of the changing geography,
migrating birds habitat protection, fishery and salt industries
revitalization, land subsidence, and the transition development of
the lowland settlements. He further promoted a way of 'making
cultural diversity to restore the bio-diversity', which corresponded
to the remarks David Haley made earlier, that '… active living as
community becomes art work, not about a static object. … (As)
community as process, as on-going thing, that process can change to a
changing landscape and what will become a changing sea-scape.'
Lastly,
the author of this research discusses the roles of local
participation and local organizations, contrasted by the inadequacies
of national policies and in particular the shifting attitudes of the
Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Administration. Being the
authority charged to supervise the vast land of the abandoned salt
fields along the southwest coast, the administration has changed its
policies due to the replacement of its directorship. The recent
administration gave up its responsibilities of conservation,
restoration and education for the coast.
Rather,
they were comissioning a series of ill-informed and inappropriate
constructions that they boasted are installation art to attract
tourism. These self-proclaimed art installations provide neither art
context, nor ecological thinking. However, since the administration
receives huge national funding and influence, their controversial
deed won support from local politicians. Unfortunately this
short-sighted act only aggravates the hardship of under-resourced
local involvement, and regretfully disregards the impending
challenges of climate change, that are certain.
Presently, the directorship of the
Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Administration has been changed
again. But the vast salt fields still fall to be the hunt of economic
development and facing various challenges from central and local
governments. How to protect the environment and ecosystems of the
national land on southwest coast of Taiwan, that remains an important
task for all of us.
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