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M+, Hong Kong, © Chen Chieh-jen
Chen Chieh-Jen 陳界仁
Empire's Borders I 帝國邊界 I
2008–2009
Made in 2008–2009, Taiwanese artist Chen Chieh-Jen’s Empire’s Borders conveys the real-life experiences of women who have attempted to cross Taiwan’s borders: first, Taiwanese women denied tourist visas to visit the United States, and second, women from mainland China who have married Taiwanese men and have been denied permission to enter or remain in Taiwan. Shot on 35mm film in stark black and white, each woman relates her story in her own words. The bureaucratic settings for these short monologues recall the interview centre or airport immigration hall where the encounters originally took place.
Although the details of each story are particular, Chen’s deliberate sequencing and pacing allow the viewer to draw connections between the women’s experiences, whether their aim was to leave Taiwan or to stay, to visit one major power or to relocate from another. The video raises questions about the fair treatment of those seeking to cross borders. At the same time, it encourages empathetic viewing, casting new light on the human stories that underpin globalisation, and the universal desires and motivations that drive migration.
Although the details of each story are particular, Chen’s deliberate sequencing and pacing allow the viewer to draw connections between the women’s experiences, whether their aim was to leave Taiwan or to stay, to visit one major power or to relocate from another. The video raises questions about the fair treatment of those seeking to cross borders. At the same time, it encourages empathetic viewing, casting new light on the human stories that underpin globalisation, and the universal desires and motivations that drive migration.
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