藝術民眾航空國際

I am Professor Shih-Jung HSU from the National Chengchi University, which is located at Taipei, Taiwan. From Taiwan news reports recently, I know you are invited again to Taiwan and to have the Moon Rabbit land-art festival in Taoyuan. Accompanying with many Taiwanese, I am very happy to know you are back, especially in the very important Chinese season of the Moon Festival.

Unfortunately, I would like to tell you a very sad story which is strongly related with your festival activities. My government used to employ the power “land expropriation” （synonym as: eminent domain, taking, condemnation, or compulsory purchasing） to deprive private property of the farmers, poor and citizens. Even though Article 15 of the Constitution of the country claims that private property should be protected, activities of land expropriation have been frequently taking place in many counties around Taiwan. Among them, the biggest one case in Taiwan history will be the “Aerotropolis” plan in Taoyuan, and the location of your Moon Rabit festival in the old military airbase is included in the terrible plan.

In addition to the two airport runways of the Taoyuan International Airport, the government plans to construct a third one in the northern side of it, and the old military airbase in the south of the Airport will be abandoned. It means the government will expropriate a great amount of private land in the northern side, and land of the old military airbase will be converted into residential and commercial uses. The total areas of the “Aerotropolis” plan are 4,791 hectares, and the government will compulsorily expropriate 3,707 hectares, which is around 17% of the land area of Amsterdam. And, there are around 15,000 houses will be evicted, and 46,000 persons will lose their homes approximately.

A self-help organization has been established by local residents. With assistances from many NGOs and legislators, members of the organization strongly protest against local and central governments. For example, they have demonstrated many times in front of the buildings of governmental offices. They also petitioned to Commissioner Wu of Taoyuan County last night when the Moon Rabit festival was officially opened. They asked him to hold a fair open public hearing. Regrettably, Commissioner Wu rejected their request and brutally uses police power to force them to leave. One member of the organization, Ms. Tsai, was injured and immediately delivered to hospital. At this moment, she is still hospitalized. In addition, an old adult did commit suicide last November.

As I know, your sculptures are not stand by themselves alone. You hope to have local residents to participate, and you also hope them to have smiling faces. In my humble understanding, your great design in the case of Beukelsblauw （2004-2006） stopped the demolition of the old architecture and brought a new life for the architecture, local community, and even the city of Rotterdam. Your wonderful sculptures always bring joyful spirits for the people. As you have said:

“My sculptures cause an uproar, astonishment and put a smile on your face. They give people a break from their daily routines. Passers-by stop in front of them, get off their bicycle and enter into conversation with other spectators. People are making contact with each other again. That is the effect of my sculptures in the public domain.”

Mr. Hofman, would you please assist members of the self-help organization and try to bring back smiles on their faces? Would you please also try to use your Moon Rabit to encourage contacts among local residents, visitors, and governmental officials, especially Commissioner Wu? Would you please try to have people around the world to know the miserable reality of “Aerotropolis” plan? Thank you very much, and I wish you to have a very successful Moon Rabit festival.

Best regards,

Shih-Jung HSU

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

口白：

「海軍桃園基地」未來將變更為

桃園航空城開發案的一部份

2014桃園地景藝術節

利用這個基地作為展出地點

其理念分為藝術民眾航空國際等四大面向

建議您不妨趁還看的到的時候

找機會來體驗一下這裡的時空特色