HAC Deputy Minister Chou Chiang-chieh expressed the hope for everyone to become more familiar with the Carp Bag Gung Temple by looking at the rubbings of its pillars and the words on the fish trail. The marks left on stones across time form patterns that can help us better understand local culture, the environment, history, and personal memories. This also reflects the Hakka view of stones as guardians.
Masao Okabe, Japanese contemporary artist of global renown, was born in Nemuro, Hokkaido in 1942. He began creating frottage pieces on streets in the 1970s. In frottage, the artist places a piece of paper over an uneven surface, then marks the paper with a pencil or other drawing tool repeatedly, thus creating an image. This is similar to what many of us did as children: placing a piece of paper over a coin or a wooden desk, then rubbing it over with a pencil to leave an impression of what that object looked like at the time. For Masao Okabe, the frottage technique can reveal much about the city and land that people inhabit in a simple and direct manner. As we rub to and fro over a surface, we are unearthing bygone times and memories. The resulting image can preserve such touching insight on life.
Masao Okabe also shared about his past creations and the techniques used in places across the world over more than four decades. By constantly passing a tool atop the surface of a culturally significant building, a connection is made between the local culture, environment, history, and personal memories. This can enable us to get a fresh perspective on Hakka faith and beliefs.
HAC also hopes that all workshop participants and lookers-on of the Route 3 Arts Festival realize deeper aspects of Hakka culture and the land they live on. Art only begins when the thoughts, feelings, and ideas of every attendant come to the surface and are transmitted to others.
