Madou Archive Photography

麻豆檔案風景

Ching-Huan Chang × Chia-Sheng Wang

An angled view of the four-by-four pigeon-loft display shows window shadows across its white mounts, with wooden flooring and furniture nearby. — 01Series 1 · Archivella · Pigeon-loft display and daylight

A collaboration by Ching-Huan Chang and Chia-Sheng Wang, using fieldwork, photographs, lightboxes and booklets to examine how Madou is recorded and classified.

Looking at how an archive takes shape through images of a place.

Madou Archive Photography is a collaboration between Ching-Huan Chang and Chia-Sheng Wang, developed through observation, fieldwork and photography in Madou. It connects the recording, classification and preservation of photographs with the formation of individual and shared memories, asking how an archive changes the way a place is understood.

Photography records the appearance of a landscape while revealing the photographer’s position. Looking at traces of industry and everyday life in Madou, the work examines the grounds for classification: which differences are retained, and which relationships emerge through the arrangement of images?

Three series

Series 1: Archivella

Photographs are classified and juxtaposed across four themes, forming archival works presented as lightboxes. Dovecotes, orchards, religious sites and remnants of buildings offer ways to read Madou while bringing the act of classification into view.

Series 2: 1&B

Each artist selects a sequence of photographs. Lightboxes and accompanying booklets present these as linear narratives, allowing relationships between images to develop through their order and the turning of pages.

Series 3: Something always happens

Images made at the same location at different moments are brought together in groups. Changes in street markets, roads, passing people and everyday activity reveal time and events within the landscape.

Collaboration

Ching-Huan Chang and Chia-Sheng Wang jointly carried out the creative work, fieldwork and photography. Chang handled the subsequent image output and colour correction; Wang wrote the project texts.

Exhibited at 2/3 House in the artist-house project, Mattauw Earth Triennial 2019, Madou, Tainan.

Media coverage

EZ優遊網｜2019麻豆糖業大地藝術祭——藝術家屋計畫2/3屋

Series 1 · Archivella

06 / EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION

Installation photographs of the lightbox works across four themes.

Sixteen framed photographs of pigeon lofts form a four-by-four grid, crossed by diagonal light and window shadows. — 01Series 1 · Archivella · Pigeon lofts · Installation view

Twelve framed photographs of orchard entrances, fences and small buildings are arranged in three rows of four on a wall. — 02Series 1 · Archivella · Orchards · Installation view

Nine framed photographs of shrines and a temple form a three-by-three grid against a weathered wall. — 03Series 1 · Archivella · Belief · Installation view

A three-by-three group of framed photographs of brick and concrete buildings hangs on a pale wall beside a wooden window. — 04Series 1 · Archivella · Remains · Installation view

Nine framed photographs from the belief theme hang beside wooden windows and exposed beams, seen at an angle within the old house. — 06Series 1 · Archivella · Belief display in the house

Series 2 · Lightboxes and booklets

06 / EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION

Lightboxes, booklets and reading tables photographed in the exhibition.

A lightbox on a wooden wall presents landscape photographs in a grid, with SERIES 2 and the number 1 at the upper left. — 01Series 2 · 1&B · Lightbox for 1

A grid of photographs in a lightbox hangs above a wooden table with a booklet, beside a mesh door and window frames. — 02Series 2 · 1&B · Lightbox and reading table

An open photographic booklet rests on a wooden table, with images of fields and roads in the lightbox behind it. — 03Series 2 · 1&B · Open booklet and lightbox

A side view of the photographic booklet on a wooden table, with street, field and orchard images arranged in the lightbox behind it. — 04Series 2 · 1&B · Side view of the reading table

A lightbox marked SERIES 2 B hangs on a wall, with a booklet bearing the letter B on its cover at the lower left. — 05Series 2 · 1&B · Lightbox and booklet for B

A photographic lightbox stands in a corner of the exhibition room, with a wall label to the left and wooden windows and a mesh door to the right. — 06Series 2 · 1&B · Installation in the corner of the room

Series 2 · 1

38 / SEQUENTIAL READING

Booklet 1, page 1: A white cover with SERIES 2 in black above the numeral 1. — 01Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 01 / 38

Booklet 1, page 2: Five centered lines of Chinese text surrounded by generous white space. — 02Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 02 / 38

Booklet 1, page 3: A narrow field road runs between tall grasses toward a distant upright structure. — 03Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 03 / 38

Booklet 1, page 4: A pigeon loft rises behind fruit trees, with a gate, wire fence and road in front. — 04Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 04 / 38

Booklet 1, page 5: Houses and an elevated pigeon loft beyond an orchard, with wires crossing the sky. — 05Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 05 / 38

Booklet 1, page 6: A colorful pigeon loft rises above a bright red metal building behind fruit trees. — 06Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 06 / 38

Booklet 1, page 7: Buildings, signs and vehicles line a street, including a building with large gridded structures. — 07Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 07 / 38

Booklet 1, page 8: A timber-colored pigeon loft rises above a building beside a rural lane, utility poles and fruit trees. — 08Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 08 / 38

Booklet 1, page 9: A rider follows a curving road past utility poles and a multistory roadside building. — 09Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 09 / 38

Booklet 1, page 10: An elevated pigeon loft appears above dense fruit trees against a pale sky. — 10Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 10 / 38

Booklet 1, page 11: A rooftop pigeon loft is visible at the end of a residential street lined with parked cars. — 11Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 11 / 38

Booklet 1, page 12: A red pigeon loft stands on a tall steel frame above a blue gate and orchard. — 12Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 12 / 38

Booklet 1, page 13: Fruit trees surround a gray house topped by a large pigeon loft. — 13Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 13 / 38

Booklet 1, page 14: A blue pigeon loft and metal fence beside a utility pole and an excavator. — 14Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 14 / 38

Booklet 1, page 15: A utility pole stands before an orchard, with houses and pigeon lofts along the distant horizon. — 15Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 15 / 38

Booklet 1, page 16: A green billboard hangs on a weathered building with two water tanks on its roof. — 16Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 16 / 38

Booklet 1, page 17: Red-tiled houses adjoin taller homes, with wires crossing a lane and green awning. — 17Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 17 / 38

Booklet 1, page 18: A lane runs between an orchard and houses, beside a fence with vertical signs. — 18Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 18 / 38

Booklet 1, page 19: A white geometric house behind an orchard, with a pale metal fence following the street corner. — 19Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 19 / 38

Booklet 1, page 20: A straight lane lined by utility poles, a building with gridded openings and a metal fence. — 20Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 20 / 38

Booklet 1, page 21: Still water reflects trees along the bank, with grasses in the foreground and distance. — 21Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 21 / 38

Booklet 1, page 22: A shallow narrow waterway runs through dense grasses toward a distant bridge and vehicles. — 22Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 22 / 38

Booklet 1, page 23: Power pylons stretch beyond dry grass and a waterway, with small objects scattered in the foreground. — 23Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 23 / 38

Booklet 1, page 24: An open gabled wooden shelter beneath large trees, surrounded by grass and shade. — 24Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 24 / 38

Booklet 1, page 25: A narrow lane bends beside an orchard and concrete wall, with a building visible behind the trees. — 25Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 25 / 38

Booklet 1, page 26: A pylon and overhead wires cross fields where a small agricultural vehicle works in the distance. — 26Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 26 / 38

Booklet 1, page 27: Rattan chairs, office chairs and tables stand on a wooden platform surrounded by trees. — 27Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 27 / 38

Booklet 1, page 28: A weathered corner building with red Chinese shop signs across its facade. — 28Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 28 / 38

Booklet 1, page 29: A wire fence stands before water, a red roof and an elevated pigeon loft. — 29Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 29 / 38

Booklet 1, page 30: An ornate multistory building beyond an open field, with wires and a road marker in front. — 30Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 30 / 38

Booklet 1, page 31: A colorful dragon-head ornament appears above a hedge beside branches and a utility pole. — 31Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 31 / 38

Booklet 1, page 32: Pale houses beyond a road and grassy foreground, separated by an orchard. — 32Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 32 / 38

Booklet 1, page 33: A broad green field stretches toward distant houses beneath a hazy sky. — 33Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 33 / 38

Booklet 1, page 34: A narrow road bends between tall grasses and fruit trees, with utility poles alongside. — 34Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 34 / 38

Booklet 1, page 35: A pale metal fence encloses an orchard at a corner marked by a convex mirror and striped utility pole. — 35Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 35 / 38

Booklet 1, page 36: A small shrine on a red base stands beside a building, with grass and wires behind it. — 36Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 36 / 38

Booklet 1, page 37: Six centered lines of Chinese text surrounded by generous white space. — 37Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 37 / 38

Booklet 1, page 38: A white back cover retaining the upside-down SERIES 2 lettering, with the numeral 1 above it. — 38Series 2, 1&B · Booklet 1 · 38 / 38

Series 2 · B

30 / SEQUENTIAL READING

Booklet B, page 1: A white cover with SERIES 2 in black above the letter B. — 01Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 01 / 30

Booklet B, page 2: Buildings, signs and vehicles line a street, including a building with large gridded structures. — 02Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 02 / 30

Booklet B, page 3: A weathered corner building with red Chinese shop signs across its facade. — 03Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 03 / 30

Booklet B, page 4: A blue pigeon loft and metal fence beside a utility pole and an excavator. — 04Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 04 / 30

Booklet B, page 5: A green billboard hangs on a weathered building with two water tanks on its roof. — 05Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 05 / 30

Booklet B, page 6: A green traffic light above closely packed houses, gridded structures and rooftop equipment. — 06Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 06 / 30

Booklet B, page 7: A roadside orchard enclosed by wire fencing and a gate, with a pale building beyond. — 07Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 07 / 30

Booklet B, page 8: Fruit trees and a gray house with a rooftop pigeon loft behind a pair of metal gates. — 08Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 08 / 30

Booklet B, page 9: A tilled bare field in front of fruit trees, houses and an elevated pigeon loft. — 09Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 09 / 30

Booklet B, page 10: An elevated pigeon loft over a residential courtyard with a red canopy and potted plants. — 10Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 10 / 30

Booklet B, page 11: A small shrine on a red base stands beside a building, with grass and wires behind it. — 11Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 11 / 30

Booklet B, page 12: A large cylindrical pillar stands amid an orchard, fenced at its base above dry grass. — 12Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 12 / 30

Booklet B, page 13: A narrow drainage channel runs into the distance among grassland and power pylons. — 13Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 13 / 30

Booklet B, page 14: Overhead power lines span open fields, with pylons separating the near and distant landscape. — 14Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 14 / 30

Booklet B, page 15: A small shrine and assorted chairs beneath a large tree and pale fabric canopy. — 15Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 15 / 30

Booklet B, page 16: A round stone table and low stools in tree shade, with chairs behind them. — 16Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 16 / 30

Booklet B, page 17: Dense vines form a tall mass, with glimpses of houses and sky behind them. — 17Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 17 / 30

Booklet B, page 18: Rows of fruit trees across grass, with a geometric house visible in the distance. — 18Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 18 / 30

Booklet B, page 19: A white elevated pigeon loft rises among grasses and fruit trees beside low roofs. — 19Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 19 / 30

Booklet B, page 20: Colorful seats line a roofed shelter between grass in front and red earth behind. — 20Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 20 / 30

Booklet B, page 21: A road follows an orchard with a pigeon loft beyond, beside a utility pole and banana leaves. — 21Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 21 / 30

Booklet B, page 22: A brick roofline and taller buildings rise beyond an orchard, with several rooftop chimneys. — 22Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 22 / 30

Booklet B, page 23: A pale elevated pigeon loft with small roof flags beyond fruit trees and wire fencing. — 23Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 23 / 30

Booklet B, page 24: A large pigeon loft rises behind fruit trees at a road corner surrounded by utility poles and streetlights. — 24Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 24 / 30

Booklet B, page 25: A straight lane lined by utility poles, a building with gridded openings and a metal fence. — 25Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 25 / 30

Booklet B, page 26: A pale metal structure leans beside a utility pole, with fruit trees behind it. — 26Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 26 / 30

Booklet B, page 27: Pale metal fencing screens a low brick house with exposed roof framing beneath apartment buildings. — 27Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 27 / 30

Booklet B, page 28: A pale metal fence encloses an orchard at a corner marked by a convex mirror and striped utility pole. — 28Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 28 / 30

Booklet B, page 29: A white geometric house behind an orchard, with a pale metal fence following the street corner. — 29Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 29 / 30

Booklet B, page 30: A white back cover retaining the upside-down SERIES 2 lettering, with the letter B above it. — 30Series 2, 1&B · Booklet B · 30 / 30

Series 3 · Something always happens

04 / EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION

Installation photographs of images made at the same locations at different moments.

Two nine-image street-market sequences hang beside a wooden window; pigeon-loft and road sequences appear on the wall at right, above exposed brickwork. — 01Series 3 · Something always happens · Sequences beside the window

Two nine-image sequences of a pigeon loft and a road hang one above the other on a wooden wall, with several visitors visible through the doorway. — 02Series 3 · Something always happens · Pigeon-loft and road sequences

Nine photographs of different moments outside an ice shop form one framed display beside a wooden doorway and a wall label. — 03Series 3 · Something always happens · Ice-shop sequence

Nine-image sequences of a pigeon loft, a road and an ice shop hang on either side of a passage, with several visitors at the doorway. — 04Series 3 · Something always happens · Sequences around the passage

Installation in the artists’ house

04 / EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION

Completed displays, timber rooms, daylight and visitors.