投票，是作為一個公民形塑理想社會最直接的工具。儘管民主在國際間已然為眾所週知的事情，但在這裡發生的事，卻是獨一無二的。島嶼內的統獨議題，超高密度的人口，政黨有如島內著名的便利商店一樣外送著民主。百無聊賴的公民們乘上搖晃的巴士，享用著免費的午餐與飲料，運用手邊的道具，樂意接受這些東西來豐富他們的生活；然而另一方面，年輕世代對於政治普遍冷感與不信任的風氣，形成強烈對比。2018年我參與選舉活動，成為候選人隨身攝影師，試圖再現這些圍繞在我身邊，奇異又熟悉、寫實卻魔幻的部署。（藝術家自述）

 

The Political Theater by Chang-Ching Su

The Political Theater was my attempt to investigate how far political parties would go to secure their votes. Voting is the most direct means for citizens to shape their desired societies. Despite the ubiquity of campaigns across nations, Taiwanese versions are unique in their extravagance and dramatic discourses. This resulted from both the recency of the island-nation’s democratic transition and its high population density. Just like the island’s famous 7-11 stores, political parties also provide convenience services. They offer door-to-door shuttle services and free lunch-box meals for their events, which average, otherwise bored citizens gladly accept to spice up their lives.

On the other demographic end, the younger generations are indifferent, and even distrustful of politics. The above observations and my own experience photographing political rallies in 2018 inspired me to work on this series. My objective is to fill in the space between rational theories and messier realities. I was physically present throughout the campaigns, but had always felt detached—almost like an observer. This is also the perspective from which I framed my images, and I believe this to be closer to a rational participant’s experience. I hope to elicit from viewers of the series, the same wry facial expression I had then. (Chang-Ching Su)