Researcher: Hsiung Pengchu Region: East and Southeast Asia
"Link the broken land with water “ with the water element of the Plum Tree Creek, the planner Mali Wu try to integrate the Zhuwei area, which lost it imbalance of the quality of life due to the excessive urbanization. The Plum Tree Creek was an indispensable source of water to people. But while the factories came and a lot of buildings were built, the Plum Tree Creek was faced to pressure. People enjoy the convince brought by urbanization, but forget the beauty of the Plum Tree Creek.
“Art as Environment—A Cultural Action at the Plum Tree Cree” is going to lead the residents to know more about the Plum Tree Creek on surface, but actually, it’s going to inspire the people to think about the sense of alienation between people and environment, people and the land, person and person. Through interdisciplinary cooperation’s and various activities, leads the residents to reflect on environment through practice. “Plum Tree Creek breakfast” picks out the seasonal fruits and vegeta- bles for people to enjoy monthly. On the one hand, it can improve under- standing of each other. On the other hand, the discussion about water and environments can evoke people’s sense of community. The activities would also extend to the children. “There’s a river in front of my school” and “Living on the green land—being related to the plants” invite the artists into the schools, and encourage the children to know more about their home with multiple senses. Also, they let the students to experience life with the local natural resources. “ The shape of villages— flow museum” depends on the setting of the temporary work, advocate the village paten in city life. They emphasize the return of field garden, the recycling of west, the temperature of manual works, the emotions of exchanging. “ Community theatre” invite local adults and children to express their memories of Zhuwei in the way of physical performance.
Mali Wu has been involving in inspiring people to focus on public issues through cultural actions for a long time. Art as Environment—A Cultural Action at the Plum Tree Creek is the case of success. It not only let the residents know the importance of environment around the Plum Tree Creek, but also attracts the attention of the government. Let the govern- ment began to reflect the impact of the modern urbanization to local area. In the half and one year’s period, the indifference and doubts from the residents turned into positive investment gradually. The project is slowly filtering into people’s minds and makes greater impact than expected. Staring form art, the project inspired residents’ centripetal force, and connected the local residents and artists. It created a tailor activity content for local and widened the art’s field of vision |
