Cross Letters
Kayako Nakashima, Lee Te-Mao
Two-channel video, Letters, Sound installation
2022
The work Cross Letters is a collaborative work between Kayako Nakashima and Lee Te-Mao. The two artists focus on the technique of “cross-writing” and cross their mother tongues (Japanese and Taiwanese Chinese). A crossed letter is a letter in which two separate sentences are superimposed. This was done during the early years of the postal system in the 19th century to save on expensive postage charges, save paper, and protection of privacy.
They usually communicate in English and do not understand each other's language. Therefore, they try to use their imagination to read languages they cannot read due to the Japanese/Taiwanese-Chinese parallels. They pile replies on top of letters they cannot read. From these actions they are trying to reconsider “the hope and impossibility of communication”.
They cannot understand each other perfectly, but they strive to understand each other. Even if their languages are the same, the situation should be the same. In a world of pandemics and war, they are thinking about “communication”.
Kayako Nakashima, Lee Te-Mao
Two-channel video, Letters, Sound installation
2022
The work Cross Letters is a collaborative work between Kayako Nakashima and Lee Te-Mao. The two artists focus on the technique of “cross-writing” and cross their mother tongues (Japanese and Taiwanese Chinese). A crossed letter is a letter in which two separate sentences are superimposed. This was done during the early years of the postal system in the 19th century to save on expensive postage charges, save paper, and protection of privacy.
They usually communicate in English and do not understand each other's language. Therefore, they try to use their imagination to read languages they cannot read due to the Japanese/Taiwanese-Chinese parallels. They pile replies on top of letters they cannot read. From these actions they are trying to reconsider “the hope and impossibility of communication”.
They cannot understand each other perfectly, but they strive to understand each other. Even if their languages are the same, the situation should be the same. In a world of pandemics and war, they are thinking about “communication”.
交叉書寫
中島伽耶子、李德茂
雙頻道錄像、信件、聲音裝置
2022
此作品是中島伽耶子與李德茂的共同創作。兩位藝術家使用『交叉寫作』的技巧,以自己的母語(日語和臺灣華語)輪流寫信給對方。交叉信是使不同內容的字句疊加在一起的信,曾在 19 世紀郵政系統的早期為人們所使用,目的是節省昂貴的郵資、節省紙張和保護隱私。
兩位藝術家通常用英語交流,並不了解彼此的語言。因此,他們嘗試用自己的想像力來閱讀日文/臺灣華語相似但意義卻不同的語言。他們將對彼此的回應交互堆疊在無法閱讀的來信內容上,試圖從這些行動中重新思考『溝通的意圖和阻礙』。
他們無法完全理解對方,但至少他們努力去理解;即便是使用相同的語言,也應如此。在流行病和戰爭肆虐的世界,『溝通』尤關重要。
中島伽耶子、李德茂
雙頻道錄像、信件、聲音裝置
2022
此作品是中島伽耶子與李德茂的共同創作。兩位藝術家使用『交叉寫作』的技巧,以自己的母語(日語和臺灣華語)輪流寫信給對方。交叉信是使不同內容的字句疊加在一起的信,曾在 19 世紀郵政系統的早期為人們所使用,目的是節省昂貴的郵資、節省紙張和保護隱私。
兩位藝術家通常用英語交流,並不了解彼此的語言。因此,他們嘗試用自己的想像力來閱讀日文/臺灣華語相似但意義卻不同的語言。他們將對彼此的回應交互堆疊在無法閱讀的來信內容上,試圖從這些行動中重新思考『溝通的意圖和阻礙』。
他們無法完全理解對方,但至少他們努力去理解;即便是使用相同的語言,也應如此。在流行病和戰爭肆虐的世界,『溝通』尤關重要。