Artwork Appreciation
The photographic subjects of WU Cheng-Chang’s Taiwan “Scenery” series are of distinctive scenes born from Taiwan’s experience with economic growth and cultural transition, showing human concern for the land. Wu painstakingly applies the techniques of landscape photography, highlighting problems in Taiwan’s society through depth of field, long exposure and the color temperatures of the twilight hours.
In Taiwan “Scenery”: Overpass, his subject is a pedestrian overpass covered with election campaign banners. In the photograph, Wu stands in the middle of the scene with a strong light shining from his head creating an overexposed effect. The expressionless whiteness of his head hints at the public indifference about the surroundings. In this absurd scene, he seeks the possibility of reflection and change.