text by Lulu Shur-tzy Hou
Since 2004 as I undertook a series of on-site research projects around the countryside of Meinong, Pingtung, Gaoshu and Changjhih for my teaching position at National Kaoshiung University, I noticed the ubiquitous signboards of “Vietnamese Bride”, Vietnamese food stalls and foreign women who wore leaf hats working in farms speaking with strong accent. “Foreign Bride” became the subject I began to explore. A process like opening a Pandora's Box ensued. It is about the value of human being's existence, which made me feel “the unbearable unworthiness of being”. Their sad and helpless eyes are engraved on my mind. The deeper I inquired, the more melancholy their expressions seem to be.
“Border-crossing/Cultural identities– Song of Asian Brides II” is a sequel of “ Border-crossing/ Diaspora–Song of Asian Brides I”. It demonstrates the life and situation of foreign brides in Pingtung and Meinong through images and confessions. From dialogues with them, I realized the change and impact of marrying a Taiwanese man had on them. While crossing the geographical boundary, they migrated between different cultures. The huge immigration of foreign brides from South-east Asia forms a new multi-racial culture in Taiwan. However, the culture of foreign brides is suppressed under the control of paternity and dominance of Taiwanese culture. The new works of 2008 continues the dialogues and explore foreign brides' and their children's cultural identity toward Taiwan and the connection to their native culture. Foreign brides have gone through the process of identity reflection when they came from South-east Asia to marry Taiwanese men. Foreign marriage and imbalanced economic relationship cause isolation from their home countries. However, their struggle to fit into Taiwanese society creates a touching song of life.
As a feminist, I explore the subject to show my care to women of minority. In order to restore interviewers' words, I adopted “first person” depiction. By doing so, I want to guide the audience into their world and eliminate the stereotype of treating the foreign brides as “the others” from society. I also brought out my personal reflection and thoughts derived from my dialogues with these foreign brides. |
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