Taiwanese
bananas
My bananas 2015 Earthenware +porcelain 200 x 20 x 5 cm.The photo by Christina Freeth
As a Taiwanese woman living and working ‘ in between
cultures (Taiwan and the UK)’ I have recognized how challenging it is to
survive in a western society. I have been living in the UK for around 5 years
and I suffered from a predicament of my own identity. I have been bullied in
the streets, some of my friends have been spited at and had stones thrown at
them, I have had rubbishes and water balls thrown at me, some people shout
angrily to me, some people laugh at my skin colour and my Taiwanese accent when
I speak English and so on.
Reference with 'The offspring 1998. Pretty Fly for a white Guy'. 2015 Earthenware 10 x 13 x 5 cm
I ask myself all the time.
What things do I do wrong to make people act this way towards
me ?
Post –colonialism is
a not just a theory. It is a real life experience.
My national identity and my skin’s colour seems to dictate
on wether I have value to stay in the UK.
Taiwanese bananas, 臺灣香蕉, 25x 20 x 13 cm.Earthenware +porcelain + enamel +Lustre 2015 The wall piece
I am using the bananas as a metaphor to discuss the colour
of my skin, just like a banana it will never be white.
The photo by Christina Freeth
It also relates the Taiwanese cultural identity from a
historical perspective with regards to the colonial period. My homeland Taiwan,
is a place influenced by multiple cultures and there are many historical
layers. Our culture has been exploited for centuries through occupation by many
various national authorities. This has been for benefit for others rather than
the country itself. Taiwan has been occupied in turn by Holland (1624-1662),
Spain (1626-1642), China (1683-1895) and Japan (1895- 1945) . Nowadays, Taiwan
is trying to survive political pressure from China, North Korea, the U.S.A and
Japan. The Taiwanese still face a challenging in finding a way to build and
maintain a strong national identity, devoid of other’s imported ideas.
My homeland Taiwan was opened to the world market after
imperial powers imposed on China during 1858 -1860. The resulting was growth of
the export of camphor, tea and sugar. The pattern of agricultural relations of
colonial authority never disappeared. Taiwanese bananas was one of the economic
fruits when the Japanese government occupied the country during WW I to WW II.
Taiwanese bananas are chewy, sweet and small in size
compared to the South Africa type.
The lake ripples and sparkles. 湖光掠影. 13x 19x 10 cm. The wall piece. Earthenware +Porcelain+ Peacock Green onglaze(93k1002) + Citranroon Yellow onglaze(93H1001)+ Vivid Turquoise onglaze (93N1000).2015
Furthermore, I would like to ask the question is Taiwan
escaping from a Post-colonialism context?
I hope people like my ceramic bananas, I really appreciate
your support. I would like to leave a positive message and say if you see
someone who is not white please respect that person, a person should not be
judge on her/ his skin colour and nationality.
Wen hsi Harman's website
http://www.wenhsichenceramics.com
Christina Freeth Photography
http://www.christinafreeth.com/work
Wen hsi Harman's website
http://www.wenhsichenceramics.com
Christina Freeth Photography
http://www.christinafreeth.com/work
