在我祈禱著颱風別來的同時，莫拉克挾帶著烈風暴雨掠過我所生長的這片土地。位在台灣南端的高雄連續兩三天不間斷的風雨，我還私心的希望它像以往的輕颱淡淡飄蕩(私心是因為單純從人類角度來想，不希望颱風發生。但其實在大自然裡，事件災害發生是天體運行沒有對錯的)。地上的殘枝、像是退不掉的積水、惡臭的淤泥、傷亡的人民及動物、倒塌傾毀的人工建築物，以及消失被埋在土裡的村落……。
就在事件發生的同時，我們能夠做什麼？災後的電視新聞報導２４小時全力放送著慘況，在在觸動人民深層的悲傷。我想我能做的只有盡自己的綿薄之力。我沒有很多錢，但我有大量的空閒時間與些微的體力，與其對著事件悲傷，還不如起而行，我想能幫忙什麼就幫忙什麼吧！
第一次是因為我的好友Kelly邀約，還記得那時才剛睡醒就接到她打來的電話。她劈頭就問：「妳要不要當志工？」睡眼惺忪的我在未搞清楚狀況要做什麼的情況下馬上答應。我問她什麼時候？她用堅定的語氣說：「現在。」我們加入了由網路BBS所發起的鄉民救災團，分別去了高雄龍華國小、高雄市／縣政府等地幫忙搬運救災物資。那陣子陸陸續續去了幾天，也拖了幾位朋友及學弟妹一起忙。
大部分在物資集散區搬運的志工們都是素昧平生的陌生人，但在現場大家卻非常熱心踴躍的積極幫忙搬運整理物資。載著物資的卡車運到門口時大家奮力歡呼鼓掌的神情 ; 志工領導幹部從早到晚拿著大聲公奮力引導著大家排成一列列的運輸人龍 ; 害怕自己的手空閒著而拼命搶搬運著剛抵達的民生用品的朋友們—這些現場的氣氛及聲音使我多次感動的想落淚。這也是我萌生這次創作最主要的原因。
還有一次是Vana邀我一起隨著救災團體到災區清掃淤泥。到達現場的感受是很震撼的，寬闊馬路已變成河流，屋內牆壁隱約還可看到比人還高的積水線。還有對著空盪的家而感到不捨的老婦人，以及淤泥發出的陣陣腐敗味像是對映著大家的哀傷。
錄製了一些現場救災的聲音，包含了挖土機的聲音、現場指揮的聲音、大家鼓掌振奮士氣的聲音、災後大自然依舊蟲鳴鳥叫的聲音、風聲雷動、一些那時候的點點滴滴。接著與Vana的創作融合，將她對於災害的人道反思精神結合，揉搓成更具多元面向思考的創作型態。
藝術創作對我來說像是一種紀錄，記錄著我對於生活的一種抽象情態，記錄著我對環境的一種反射觀感。我不知道這能對自己、對別人帶來什麼影響，也許這東西只是驚鴻ㄧ撇，也許能有更多的延伸，但我想我還是會繼續做下去。
我不知道在這次颱風過後還會剩下些什麼。
還會剩下些什麼。
還會剩下些什麼！
還會剩下些什麼？
At the time, I was praying that the typhoon had not come yet, the power of Morakot swept through the land where I grew up. The storm was non-stop for two or three days, located in the south of Taiwan, Kaohsiung. I was being selfish wishing it would fade away just like mild typhoons used to do (being selfish is a term simply considered from human’s perspective, wishing typhoon would never occur. But in fact, there is no right or wrong since the disaster is also a part of nature). Branches on the ground, water that seemed to never recede, stinky mud, injured or dead people and animals, collapsed buildings, and the villages that once stood here, now have disappeared, buried in the soil…
What can we do when these incidents occur? The news on TV broadcasted for 24 hours, all about the miserable conditions at the time, which had touched people’s deep sorrows. I guessed what I could do is to try my best helping out with anything I could. I didn’t have much money, but I did have much leisure time and mild physical strength. Get up and do something rather than being sad for the incidents. Just go and help out if there is anything to do!
I was invited by my good friend, Kelly, for the first time. I remember the day I got her phone call just after I woke up. She asked, “do you want to be a volunteer?” I said yes right away while I was still sleepy and hadn’t figured out what was going on. I asked her when, she said “Now” firmly. We joined a local rescue team originated by the internet BBS, and we went to Long-Hua elementary school of Kaohsiung and Kaohsiung city/county government to help with carrying rescuing goods. I attended one after another at the period of time, and I dragged several friends and juniors into it as well.
Most of the volunteers carrying goods at the collecting area were total strangers, but everyone was very enthusiastic and active carrying and organizing goods on the scene. The looks on people’s faces when they did their best applauding for trucks loading up the goods to the door ; people lining up passing the goods guided eagerly by the leader holding a loud speaker from morning till night ; friends who were afraid to get nothing in their hands, fighting hard to carry the necessities when they first arrived- these ambiances and sounds on the scene had touched me and almost made me shed tears many times. This is also the main reason I came up with this creation.
There was another time when Vana invited me to go to a disaster area with a rescue team to clean up the mud. I was shocked when we arrived at the scene to see that the wild road had turned into a river, the water line which was higher than people indistinctly left on the wall of the house, the old lady who was reluctant to give up facing the empty home, and the rotten smell coming out from the mud continuously reflected people’s sorrows.
Having recorded some of the sounds from the rescuing scene, including the excavators, directing voices from the leaders, the sounds of people’s applause to boost the morale, the sounds of bugs and birds as before in nature after the disaster, winds and thunder, and some small happenings at the time. Then I fused them with Vana’s creation, integrated with her human’s introspective spirit to the disaster, to mold a creating form of thoughts of more multiple aspects.
Artistic creation is like a kind of record to me, recording a discrete spirit to my life, and a reflex impression to the environment. I have no idea what influences it will bring to myself and to others. It might bring wonderfulness only in a short period of time, or it might have more extensions, but I think I will keep doing it. I don’t know what will be left after this typhoon.
What will be left.
What will be left!
What will be left?
