Artwork Appreciation
WU Cheng-Chang’s Vision of Taiwan series captures scenes and cultural elements that are unique to Taiwanese society. Vision of Taiwan – Pingtung Airport is a photograph of Pingtung Airport, highlighting a poorly planned public infrastructure project that is largely unused and empty after completion. There are more model airplanes within the glass case than flights that actually land here. The photograph is taken from within the glass case, giving the entire composition a surreal and green-tinged atmosphere. The artist also included his own image within the scene, but focused strong lighting on his face to completely remove it from the photograph as a symbol for blindness or loss of sight. WU Cheng-Chang made use of this photograph as a critique of environmental hazards that were created because of politics, economy, and culture as well as to highlight the powerlessness and apathy felt by ordinary people under such an environment.