507

Arte Útil archive nr:

507

Initiator:

Yao, Jui-Chung + Lost Society Document (LSD)

Location:

Taiwan

Category:

urban-development

Users:

Students, citizen

Maintained by:

Department of Fine Arts at National Taipei University of the Arts, the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University, and the National Taiwan University Photography Club.

Certification:

implemented

Duration:

2010 - 2013

Yao, Jui-Chung + Lost Society Document (LSD)
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Mirage—Disused Public Property in Taiwan

Description:

In the '90 the Ministry of the Interior erected a series of buildings in the name of social welfare or social recreation. After massive amounts of public money were spent to construct these facilities, they were not put into operation. They became known as “deserted buildings” or “idle spaces,” or, colloquially, “mosquito halls”. In 2010 approximately 50 students from Taipei National University of the Arts and National Taiwan Normal University completed a joint investigation about those buildings. Compiling written reportage, along with film and photography shot on location, the group edited and published three different books which are the irrefutable evidence of government negligence.

Goals:

To underline the government negligence and to foster some action to use the buildings.

Beneficial Outcomes:

After the first publication the government reaction was to declare that they would do something in order to reuse the abandoned buildings. After one year nothing happened, so the artists decided to publish a second book and then a third with a more complete list. The Public Construction Commission (PCC) said it would re-investigate all such facilities nationwide and deliver a report on improving their usage.

Images: