Questions from an artist making a proposal for the 2014 project

Here are some questions that one artist emailed to me, and I thought it might be helpful to share these with everyone who is thinking about sending in a proposal for the 2014 Cheng Long art project.  Remember the deadline for sending me your proposal by email is January 18, 2014.
在此分享一位藝術家寫信問我的幾個問題，我想這對有意參與「2014成龍溼地國際環境藝術計畫」徵件的大家，應該都會有幫助！不要忘了在截止日2014年1月 18日送出你的提案喔！

Some questions from an artist:
這位藝術家的提問如下：

– Do the fishermen use nets in their fishing practice?
在養殖的過程中會用到漁網嗎？

– Is there bamboo growing in that area that could be harvested to use in sculpture?
在成龍村一帶有生長竹子，可以取來作為創作的材料嗎？

– Is bamboo considered invasive like it is here?
竹子在此被視為入侵種嗎？

– What are the invasive plants there?
在那裡有甚麼入侵種植物？

– Can artists use power tools like a drill or a chopsaw or bandsaw to prepare materials for sculpture?
藝術家可以使用像是電鑽、角度切割器、帶鋸機等電動工具來為藝術裝置作材料準備嗎？

– If so, are there chopsaws or bandsaws that artists can use?
如果可以的話，是否有提供角度切割器或帶鋸機可供藝術家使用？

Answers to these questions from the curator:
以下是策展人的回答：

1.About fishing nets used in Cheng Long area :
   關於在成龍村使用魚網這件事：
Yes, nets are used in the fishing practice in Taiwan, but usually now it is some kind of plastic or nylon netting and not so beautiful as the natural nets of cotton or sisal twine, although you might find a few old ones somewhere.  Many old bits of the plastic or nylon netting may be found around in scrap piles or at the recycling center that we visit with the artists every year. For the installation with the leaves crocheted from recycled plastic bags on the old house by Isabelle Garbani, she used scraps of recycled heavy black plastic net material to tie the leaves on and then the netting could be attached to the house easily for the installation.
是的，在養殖過程中是使用漁網的，但現在通常是一些塑膠網或者尼龍網，且不像棉或麻繩等自然素材製成的網那樣美麗，但或許你可能在某處會發現一些舊網也說不定。在一些廢棄的木樁周邊，可能會發現一些破碎老舊的塑膠網或尼龍網，或者是在我們每年都會帶藝術家去參觀的資源回收場也可能會找到。以藝術家Isabelle Garbani用回收塑膠袋編織成葉子裝飾於老房子上的作品為例，她就是使用回收場裡廢棄的大黑色塑膠網來固定葉子，之後再將整件網子裝置到屋子上，非常的方便。

2.About bamboo used in Taiwan:
   關於竹子在台灣的使用：

Most bamboo grows in the mountain areas of Taiwan, and it is about 1.5 hours away from the coastal area of Cheng Long.  Last year we took a trip to the mountains in Yunlin County and saw a wonderful bamboo forest.  Bamboo is very plentiful and cheap in Taiwan, and the expense is in getting a truck to bring it to Cheng Long.  In past years all the artists have made their orders and we hire one truck to bring it to Cheng Long.
大部分的竹子生長在台灣山區，距離位在海邊的成龍村大約1.5小時車程。去年(2013年)我們曾帶藝術家到雲林山區，去參觀一座美麗的竹林。在台灣，竹子產量豐足價格也不高，主要花費是載運竹材至成龍的運費。過去幾年，藝術家們會一起訂購所需的竹子，然後我們會雇用一台卡車將竹子送到成龍。

There is a little bamboo in the village but usually it is not so long and not good quality.  There is also recycled bamboo available as driftwood on nearby beaches that we gather to use for art projects.  This recycled bamboo is about 5 inches in diameter and varies in length to about 5 or 6 feet long, and it may be more brittle but it is a nice grayed color.  Many artists have used it for their works and then use some new bamboo poles for longer parts and those that need strength for security.  For example, Roy Staab in 2010 used all recycled bamboo for his work “Invasive Species” but Shilpa Joglekar of India used mostly new bamboo for her jungle gym type of play structure in 2010 because it needed to be strong and secure for children to play on….she did use some recycled bamboo in it too.  Here is a photo of Roy’s work with all recycled bamboo and a photo of Shilpa’s work with mostly new bamboo.
村子裡也可以發現一些竹子，但是通常長度不夠長，品質也較不佳。在附近的海邊也能收集到一些藝術創作可用到的漂流木和竹子。這些回收的竹子直徑約5英吋（12公分），長度介於5~6英尺（150~180公分）。回收的竹材較容易脆裂，但竹身會呈現出漂亮樸質的色澤。許多藝術家都會使用回收竹子來創作，兼用新的竹子於作品較高大，或者因為安全考量需要比較堅固之處。舉例來說，2010年的藝術家Roy在他的作品「入侵種生物」中，就全部都使用回收的竹子；但是另一位印度藝術家Shilpa則在她如叢林遊戲的作品結構中，幾乎完全使用新的竹子，因為這件作品必須足夠堅固，讓孩子可以在上面安全的玩耍…，但她也有使用一些回收的竹材。下圖是Roy的作品，全部都利用回收的竹材；以及Shilpa幾乎都使用全新竹子的作品。

Bamboo is not invasive in Taiwan, and it is grown in forests for building everything there…even scaffolding is made from bamboo commonly.  It is a great material that is sustainable because it grows so quickly….in 2 years you can get a 12 foot long pole from a shoot, I was told.
竹子在台灣並不是入侵種，它被大量種植在山林裡，並廣泛運用在建築上，甚至用竹子搭建的鷹架也很常見。竹子是一種很棒的永續性的材料，因為它的生長得很快，據我所知，一株竹子在兩年之內便可以從竹筍長到12英尺(3.7公尺)高。

3. About invasive plants in Taiwan that might be useful to make artworks:
    在台灣可能對藝術創作有幫助的入侵種植物：

The invasive plants there are sometimes the ones that have come from the West, such as the sisal rope plant (Agave sisalana) that came over from Central America for fishing ropes in the early 20th century and is now growing wild on the beaches in south Taiwan.  Now all the fishing ropes in Taiwan are usually nylon.  Common reed (phragmites) is a common plant in the Cheng Long area, but it is not invasive there like it is on the East Coast of the US in all the inland waterways.  It is a plant material that artists have used before….see the giant bird sculptures made by Myriam du Manoir in 2010.
入侵種植物有時候是源自於西方，像是製作麻繩的植物（瓊麻）就是在二十世紀初期從中美洲引進，作為製作漁網的材料，現在南台灣的海邊隨處可見。現在台灣所有的漁繩幾乎都是尼龍製了。蘆葦（phragmites）是成龍地區很普遍的植物，但是並非跟美國東岸內陸河道的狀況一樣被視為入侵種。之前的藝術家就利用它作為一種植物素材，請參考2010年藝術家Ｍyriam du Manoir在所創作的大鳥。

4. About power tools:
    關於電動工具：

Artists can use power tools and power drills for their works and we do have a chopsaw (circular saw), and there are also chain saws and other power saws available in the village that we can borrow.  We also have some electric drills to use. When artists are selected we ask specifically what tools they might need and try to locate them. All the tools are borrowed from villagers  ( it’s a way of community participation！) and usually they are not the best quality.   All the artists share the tools so you have to plan and reserve the saw or drill for the times you would need it.  I usually recommend that if you need a specific tool to make your work, it is a good idea to bring it in your suitcase if you can.  For example if you need a good drill for your proposed work, you could bring your own in the suitcase, or ask specifically about a drill bit and tool for the size and depth of holes you need to make.  We do also have ordinary tools like hammers, cutters, hand saws, clippers, etc. but if you need some specific tool, do ask about it, and maybe bringing it in your checked luggage will make your work go much easier if you can do that.  Bamboo can be cut easily with the circular saw, and usually the power saw is left in the main work area for artists to bring the poles they need to cut there and use.  Here is artist Rumen Dmitrov using a chain saw to cut the driftwood he collected on the beach for his artwork created in Cheng Long in 2011.
藝術家可以使用電動工具以及電鑽來進行創作，我們備有角度切割器，也有鏈鋸，還有其他可以從村子裡借來的電鋸。我們也有電鑽可以使用。當獲選藝術家敲定後，我們會具體地詢問藝術家們可能會使用到的工具，並且嘗試準備。幾乎所有的工具都是向村民借的（這是社區參與的一部分！），所以通常物品不會是最佳的狀況。所有的藝術家將共用這些工具，因此你必須規劃使用時間，並只在你需要的時候保留要用的電鋸或電鑽。如果你需要特定的工具來創作，可以的話，我通常會建議你自己帶來。舉例來說，假如你需要一個好的電鑽來進行你所提案的創作，你可以帶一組自己的放在行李箱裡帶過來，或者清楚地提出你所需要的鑽頭尺寸及打洞的深度。我們會提供一般的工具，如鐵槌、切割刀具、手鋸、剪刀、枝剪……等等，如果你需要某些特定的工具，可以先作詢問，或者就放一組在你的托運行李箱裡帶過來，這將讓你的創作更順利！竹子可以用角度切割器輕易地裁切，而通常電鋸會留置在可提供電力的主要工作區，讓藝術家在那切割需要使用的長度。下圖是2011年的藝術家Rumen使用鏈鋸切割漂流木的情況，這些漂流木是從海邊收集來的，將用於他的藝術創作。

Tools are usually a problem to work out for the artists, and the tools in Taiwan may be different from what you are used to using in your country.  In Taiwan they use different hand tools for cutting bamboo, and usually it is a bamboo knife like a machete and they can do everything with that.  We take the artists in the beginning days of the project to visit a traditional bamboo master craftsman, and they can learn how to work with bamboo and maybe get some help from bamboo craftsmen there.  Here is a photo of Indonesian artist Firman Djamil using the traditional (Indonesian) bamboo knife making his work titled “Cheng Long Spiral” in 2011.
通常來說，為藝術家量身準備工具是有困難的。台灣的工具或許也會和你在自己國家習慣使用的工具大不相同。在台灣，人們會使用不同的手持工具來切割竹子，而且通常使用一把柴刀，就可以做各種事情。在駐村的頭幾天，我們會帶藝術家去拜訪傳統竹藝師傅，藉此藝術家可以學習運用竹子的各種技法，或許還可以獲得師傅的專業建議。下圖是2011年來自印尼的藝術家Firman利用（印尼）傳統竹刀進行「迴轉成龍」的創作情況。

Remember proposals are due on January 18, 2014.  Just let me know if you have any other questions.  You can ask in comments here on the Blog or send email directly to allenrebeccajanei@gmail.com
請記得徵件截止日為2014年1月 18日。如果你有任何問題，可以利用部落格的留言板提問，或是直接email給策展人allenrebeccajanei@gmail.com

Hope to see your proposal soon!  Be sure to check that you have included all of the necessary materials that are listed in the complete Call for Proposals.
希望儘快見到你的提案！並請務必確認在你寄出的資料裡，包含了所有徵件公告所要求的檔案。

Happy New Year to everyone and hope your year is happy, healthy and successful.
祝大家新年快樂！身體健康！萬事如意！

Best wishes,
最好的祝福

Jane

Jane Ingram Allen, Curator
艾婕音 / 策展人