【Japanese Colonial Period】 Oxcarts in Taiwan

In the Japanese Colonial Period (the Occupied Taiwan Era), Hinoki Village was a public dormitory built with the Taiwan cypress a.k.a. the Alishan Hinoki as the main timberon the basis of the thriving development of the Alishan forestry industry.In the agricultural time in Taiwan, the oxcart used to be the main road riding device the cargo (logistics) and access (transportation)wise and therefore became one of the most iconic road riding devices in the agricultural society.The oxcart is also known as the “slab-wheeled vehicle”.As the saying goes, “Take an oxcart if there is no sedan.”The cattle used to be the mainstay of making a living in addition to their value as the livestock in each household the living & culture, historic significance and economic value wise.  Additionally, the cattle used to be the essential worker of the household labor. Not only the cattle represent the harvest of crops and livelihood progression (improvement) but also the society internalizes them as part of the local history, life and culture in Taiwan.The cattle and the farmers connect so close the livelihood and affection wise.

This installation art is reminiscent of the soul of agriculture in the early days.It recollects how Taiwan in straitened circumstances strived for breakthroughs against all the odds and showcased the indomitable soul that also set up a foundation of the agricultural development in the old days. The splendid reminiscence in the pastallows the viewers to perceive the insights of the cultural and creative life in Taiwan.