Houliao On-Site Creation Project
Zhongli District, Zhongshan East Road Section 2, Alley 342, No. 180-2
2021 | Collaborative work by Ou Jun-Song, Zeng Si-Qi, Qiu Jing-Ting, Song Hai-Rong, and Hao Wen-Xin

This on-site creation project explores the themes of migration, settlement, and the complexities of living in a place as both an outsider and participant. Set in Houliao, a rural area seemingly detached from our personal histories, the project examines how labor and interaction can foster a sense of connection to unfamiliar land. Through a collective effort involving extensive physical engagement and creative practice, the work investigates the tension between alienation and belonging.

Central to the project is the concept of "intertwining," where the creator’s experiences inevitably merge with the chosen subject. By immersing ourselves in the land—cutting grass, observing changes, and building relationships with the environment and its inhabitants—we reflected on the ethical and emotional implications of our presence. How does one live meaningfully in a place that isn’t their own? What tensions arise when personal artistic expression intersects with the history and identity of a shared space?

The work critiques the fragility of our connections to land and raises questions about the balance between intervention and coexistence. It invites viewers to consider how migration and settlement create new forms of relationships while grappling with the weight of cultural and environmental responsibility.