Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture

Comments on the Finalist

CHEN Po-I’s combines his expertise in hydraulic engineering and photography for his solo exhibition Morakot at Fotoaura Institute of Photography in Tainan earlier in the year, as well as the new year invitation exhibition at Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts. The former showcases the irreversible damage on landscapes at Nansalu tribal village in Namasia Township brought by Morakot typhoon; in addition to the disaster-hit “sceneries” that appear through the camera as abstract paintings, Chen also presented the documents of his field studies over the years in Nansalu. Through his knowledge in hydraulic engineering and the still-life images of the objects in the ruins, Chen shows the audience how this disaster is also the result of human mistakes. In Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Chen, for the first time, exhibits his field studies accumulated over the years: “Chronicles of Hongmaogong Relocation Program”. In addition to documents, Chen takes a step further and deals with objects; by adopting a visual perspective of museum, Chen conveys the evidences of a generation of people living in the area. It is very touching to see an artist uses creation as a way of sincere social practice and self-reinvention. (Written by HU Yung-Fen)

Artwork Introduction 

This project is CHEN Po-I’s second solo exhibition at Fotoaura Institute of Photography, and discusses scientific, rational, and knowledge-based information about disasters to offer the countermeasures that Taiwan should adopt when facing natural disasters. The new photographic works featured in this exhibition are created after Chen’s visit to the area inflicted by Typhoon Morakot. By rendering this disaster epic-esque, he uses the helpless silence in his works to tell the massive traumatic memory of this island. 

For the artist, an important topic is how to establish a mode of writing that joins two disciplines – engineering science and artistic creation, to convert cold and stiff field study of disasters into profound environmental consciousness. 

About the Artist 

CHEN Po-I (b. 1972) was born in Chiayi, Taiwan. He holds an MFA in Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering from National Cheng Kung University. His works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions and biennials, among which are Open City (Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 2008), Stories Developing – 10 Contemporary Photographers of Taiwan (Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, 2011), Into Society – Critical Realism in Taiwanese Photographic Arts since 1990 (Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, 2012), Yes, Taiwan: 2012 Taiwan Biennial (National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, 2012), Different Dimension (Novosibirsk State Art Museum, Russia, 2012), Crossroads．Another Dimension – A Cross-strait Four Regions Artistic Exchange Project (He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen, China, 2013), etc. Chen has also taught photography and worked as a curator. He specializes in photography and ocean engineering. His works have been included in various public collections, such as National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts, as well as private collections. He is now a PhD student of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering at National Cheng Kung University.