When he first started to document stories of homeless people in his town through photography, Chen Po-jui (陳浡濬) simply wished to show a group of people that he felt was similar to him.
Now 19 years old, Chen has accepted an offer to work with internationally renowned photographer Zung, the go-to photographer of Malaysian high society, and is to hold his first personal photo exhibition in his hometown of Yilan on Dec. 2, in which he hopes to present to the world the unique beauty of the Aboriginal culture of the Amis people in Taiwan.
Chen was introverted during junior-high school, which greatly affected his social interaction with classmates, he said.
Photo provided by Chen Po-jui
He talked with people who were homeless and was moved to tears by their experiences, so he decided to record their stories through photography, he said.
He gained a sense of accomplishment by taking photographs and became more open and willing to converse with others, Chen said, adding that he began taking on photography jobs after entering high school and was hired at Zung’s workshop after graduation.
Since working with Zung, Chen has traveled to all major continents except for Africa, he said, adding that he is eager to hold his first exhibition.
Photo provided by Chen Po-jui
Having had the experience of staying out all night in 7°C weather on the streets of South Korean cities to photograph soon-to-vanish ghettos, Chen said he had no difficulties in preparing the photos for his exhibition in less than one month, even under the pressure of impending typhoons.
Chen in August began to take photographs of the main theme of his exhibition — the culture of the Amis people.
“The cultures of Taiwanese Aborigines are quite breathtaking, but knowledge of many dances, clothing styles and even languages are fading with the passing of the older generation,” Chen said.
“Photography is my life,” Chen said, adding that he enjoys sharing people and cultures of all walks of life.
The exhibition is to take place at the Bambino Ice Cream Parlor in Yilan County’s Jiaosi Township (礁溪), starting at noon and ending at 9pm.
Having chosen his hometown as the site for his first exhibition, Chen promised that he would hold future exhibitions there to capture various themes framed by the town’s natural scenery throughout the year.
“I want to let more people know about my hometown and to preserve its rustic beauty for eternity,” Chen said.
‘DENIAL DEFENSE’: The US would increase its military presence with uncrewed ships, and submarines, while boosting defense in the Indo-Pacific, a Pete Hegseth memo said The US is reorienting its military strategy to focus primarily on deterring a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a memo signed by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth showed. The memo also called on Taiwan to increase its defense spending. The document, known as the “Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance,” was distributed this month and detailed the national defense plans of US President Donald Trump’s administration, an article in the Washington Post said on Saturday. It outlines how the US can prepare for a potential war with China and defend itself from threats in the “near abroad,” including Greenland and the Panama
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
A wild live dugong was found in Taiwan for the first time in 88 years, after it was accidentally caught by a fisher’s net on Tuesday in Yilan County’s Fenniaolin (粉鳥林). This is the first sighting of the species in Taiwan since 1937, having already been considered “extinct” in the country and considered as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A fisher surnamed Chen (陳) went to Fenniaolin to collect the fish in his netting, but instead caught a 3m long, 500kg dugong. The fisher released the animal back into the wild, not realizing it was an endangered species at
RSS