Artwork Appreciation
Chang Liang-I, a skilled photographer, created his Beach Scenery series on the transformation of the beach landscape during eel fry season in Yilan. Every autumn and winter, many fishermen from Hualien and Taitung go to the Yilan estuary to catch eel fry and set up temporary fishing shelters as their resting places. These colorful fishing shelters made from advertising canvas give Yilan a unique seasonal landscape. Nicknamed “little turtles,” they are also symbols of the hard work of fishermen. There is an irony in the fact that the fishermen must leave their hometowns in the cold season and struggle for their livelihoods in shelters built with canvases advertising real estate or promoting political candidates who promise the moon—quite a contrast to their lifestyle. Chang captures this spectacle through the lens, showing the strength that people show in the face of difficulty.