Achievements Exhibition｜Come to Gouzai and tell stories at Zaojiao

This year’s program centers on the concept of the “Tsàu-kha” (Kitchen) at Beitou Pao Te Temple. The tsàu-kha serves as a communal space adjacent to the dining area, symbolizing a point of connection that fosters a stronger sense of unity among community residents and worshippers. Its communal nature sparks closer relationships among people and acts as a platform for the collection and accumulation of resources for a Pingpu Indigenous database.

The “Imprints of White Earth: Pao-Te Temple’s Art Kitchen and Local Connection Project” was conceptualized by artist Yu Meng-Shu after delving into the relevant history. Meng-Shu, working with her expertise in ceramics (using Japanese clay), explores the deep, unbroken ties between the history of Beitou She Indigenous people and white porcelain clay. The soil in Guizikeng, known for its high-quality fine white clay, produces exceptionally refined porcelain. During the Japanese era, the extraction of white clay from Guizikeng forced Beitou She Indigenous people to migrate downhill. Later, during the Kuomintang era, the area saw an emergence of ceramic factories around Beitou and Fuxinggang, employing many Beitou She Indigenous people in ceramic production and clay mining.

Using clay as a medium, the artist led the public in environmental imprinting activities at Pao Te Temple. These imprints not only introduce participants to this segment of history but also spark an interest in environmental observation. Each square imprint represents a unique perspective of the temple—marks that might be universally recognizable or distinctive to Pao Te Temple alone. Arranged on walls like quatrains, the imprints use simple bisque firing to reflect the land’s most fundamental essence, resonating with the Indigenous spirit of coexistence with nature.

Tsàu-kha as the Core of This Year’s Project

Over nearly six months of artistic residency and interaction, the project transformed the Tsàu-kha at Beitou Pao Te Temple into a space shaped collaboratively by the artists and the temple’s faith community. This transformation represents a collective effort, bridging the artists with the worshippers. By sharing common topics of interest, mutual trust deepened, and the distance often associated with “artistic” backgrounds was reduced. Many worshippers involved in construction work volunteered their weekends for the temple, demonstrating a strong sense of dedication and the vibrant energy of the temple’s faith community.

Through workshops, the project weaves the historical narrative of Beitou She Indigenous people into the contemporary living environment. Visualizing these narratives through the context of workshops provides a friendly medium for the public to learn about this Indigenous history. The exhibition showcases the works created during workshops involving clay and tiles, inviting audiences to engage with the historical texts and creative elements. Additionally, it encourages visitors to move beyond the exhibition space into Pao Te Temple itself, gaining deeper insight into this fusion of Indigenous and Han faith communities.