In Taiwanese aborigine Seediq language, “Tminun” means “to weave” and “Pdsun” means to give. ”Tminun Pdsun“ means Dowry. Aboriginal Traditional floor loom weaving technique had been a way to show mothers' love to families, a proof of their social status. However, after decades of modernization, this technique has been almost only existing in history.
In 2009, Aboriginal writer Labay and I visited and interviewed weavers who aged around 80. We published a photography book ”Tminun Pdsun“ in 2012. In 2015, besides revisiting remaining weavers, we also included young generations who are practicing the technique and bring cultural values back to their lives.
Because of the strong portrait photography style, this set of photos cannot fit with writer’s personal expressive texts of traditional weaving, therefore photos are never published or used.
However, in my mind, this portrait style photographies are my own growing step of combining documentary life and fantasy world.
RoHsuan Chen // Photographer
The more life answered, the more questions heaved and tossed. Most of my works are about collecting and documenting fragments through a foreign eye, consciously selecting the anomalies from the routine and framing those instants into a personal fiction and yet a public true story. When moments are made monumental, subjects as well as viewers see the flickering verses echoing in their personal fictions.
www.RHChen.com
Awards 2019 TIFA Tokyo International Foto Award Professional - Sliver Winners - Category Advertising-Food / Category Events-Other
2018 " Reduction－Nature is Speaking" Group Exhibitipn, MOCA Taipei, Taiwan
2016 Group Exhibition “ Color and culture” , exhibiting “Those illuminated Photography Project”, National Taiwan Museum, Taipei and National Museum of Prehistory, Taitung, Taiwan.
2016 “Those illuminated” - International Photography Award - Honorable Mention in Professional - People: Culture, People: Portrait and Moving Imagery, USA
2016 "Tminun Pdsun" - Prix de la Photographie, Paris (P×3) - Honorable Mention in Professional - Book, Paris, France
2016 “A World Within the World” TIFA Tokyo International Foto Award Professional - First Place Winner in Moving images & GOLD WINNER Moving images - Collage, Tokyo, JP
2015 “Those who move the stars” , 3rd place of Open Theme Video, awarded by Nikon Photo Contest, Japan
2015 Group Exhibition “Music Without Border”, Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, USA
2015 Group Exhibition “Chantons Aux Vaches” , Rue Francaise Gallery, Paris, France.
2014 Group Exhibition "With my [ ] trade with your [ ]", Taipei Artist Village, Taipei, Taiwan
2012 "Tminun Pdsun", Photography Book Launch Exhibition, Garden City Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2012 "Together & Forever" Group Exhibition, Huashan 1914, Taipei, Taiwan
2012 “A true story" Imagery Poem, nominated, Taipei Poetry Festival, Taiwan
