“On the Other Side of Sea” is a project that continues to bridge with the previous series of work, exploring and examining the meanings of being women across different generations, families, and even nations, using family archival materials, including photographs, interviews, and reflections. It is also an attempt to reveal some of the complexity of being Taiwanese indigenous women living in different sociocultural environments without knowing the mother tongue, yet deeply connected to their pride and culture, rooted in and influenced by their grandparents during their upbringing.  

During the residency at Lanesboro, I worked between the home studio and places at Lanesboro to sort out both sides of family archival photographs and materials from Lanesboro, including interviews, conversations, documentation, videos, and pictures. While sorting out those materials, being far away from family with limited reasons to be together, and reflecting on my recent life experience of being a mother, I thought about the life journey as being human from newborn to the groups until having new branches or another new beginning, the cycle between nature and us, the wholeness giving with care and love, similarity in terms of family life when we tried to document the moment that it may means something to the person that decided to take pictures of, and how to bridge the physical distance if possible.

The ocean splits us into two continents far away, and the river/water connects us again while being present in front of Lanesboro Stone Dam. The memory of the past flashes back and blurs as time passes, without knowing. But the similarities in the family's love and care are evident when a new life comes their way. Even though the memories are blurred, the family's invisible, solid support continues to connect without separation, borders, or limitations.

I feel grateful and privileged to be present, reflect, and express what the new life means to a new immigrant mother with a newborn in a new country.

Learn more about this project: https://ontheothersideofsea.info/