Most of indigenous villages leave me an impression of using their own art on home decorations. Linali village at Majia Township in Pintung, however, provides quite different vibes.
1n1 Studio is named after Linali village. In addition to the visual resemblance of these two, the readability is another reason behind the name. Furthermore, the possibilities of combination of 1 and N are incredible. 1n1 Studio holds a lot of creative energy and deposits as its name. They are not just imagination but action. Last November, 1n1 Studio hosted Kacalisian Festival. Themed Kacalisian, meaning the people living on hill slopes in the Paiwan language, the first-ever festival features 10 art forms including embroidery, painting, sculpture, stone and iron carving, as well as house murals by artists from the Paiwan and Rukai groups. The festival outreaches artists’ craft art also outlines their art fields. In addition, artists give their profit back to local groups. Art is no longer an indulgence of self-admiration but a co-prosperity action close to community industry.
All these fine works contain strong resilience, showcasing the burgeoning artistic talent of people forced to relocate after Typhoon Morakot in 2009. Situated near Beidawu Mountain in the Central Mountain Range, Linali was established to accommodate displaced victims, mostly of the Paiwan and Rukai groups originally from Pingtung’s parirdyan, makazayazaya and qucapungan Villages in Sandimen, Majia and Wutai Townships, respectively. Many independent artists who previously resided around Pingtung returned to their own villages joining the reconstruction. The arduous course strengthened artists’ sense of commitment. Some of them decided to stay at Linali to help to reboot the spirit, replant the root and reflect the traditional values of indigenous community.
This cultural consciousness seems to arise from a natural disaster, it can actually be dated back to a culture rebuilder: Paiwan artist Sakuliu Pavavalung. Sakuliu has been having influence on many Pingtung based artists in the last 30 years also indirectly shaped the art community in Linali. Take parirdyan as example, there are 25 workshops in a 700-people community. Each workshop is like a garden, nurturing numerous art seeds. All those artists inspired by Sakuliu, as Tapiwulan Kulele, Hsihsiler Liwaerjao, Oko Matilin, Kulele Ruladen and Nitjan Takivalit, are emerging force now. What they have in common is that their works are deeply connected with lands.
I once stayed with a family in Linali. The vuvu said: ‘It is nice that government taking care of us, moving us to a new place and building us a new house. The house might look very pretty from the outside but the spirit inside makes it alien from home.’ Linali means a place waiting for grace. Those suffering souls from the loss of homes may tune the energy to create greater art and prosperity for all. 1n1 Studio is not just a workshop. It symbolizes the transformed destiny of the people living on hill slopes, their everlasting tribal lifelines and unlimited humanities and art.
Linali
Linali
Linali
Linali
Linali
Linali
