In one picture, a mob of “iron bullock carts” moves on the ocean surface; in another, sea cows follow their owners, venturing further out into the sea with the water up to their waists, appearing like they are in a temple festival procession. The scenes show Taiwan’s vividly vibrant ocean culture, and they take place where Taiwanese people are closest to the sea. These activities also show a harmonious co-existence between the people of Taiwan and the vast open water. In seeing this ocean landscape, I cannot help but to gasp in admiration: Why aren’t they fearful of nature’s power when confronted with the boundless sea? Why aren’t they afraid of the difficulties and challenges that their action may bring, as they risk their lives and venture into the water? What are they doing? Where are they heading? What is the ocean characteristic possessed by the people of Taiwan? These are questions that I aspired to seek out. I then document these children of the sea with my camera, capturing their interactions, behaviors, clothing, gestures, machines and tools. I think of these landscapes like scenes from an “Ocean Theater”, and they show the unique Taiwanese ocean characteristic and spirit.
畫面中，成群結隊的鐵牛車在海面上行駛；另一個畫面裡，海牛隨著主人的牽引，往海裡前進，水深及腰，好似廟會繞境一般。這些景象，呈現出臺灣豐富精彩的海洋文化面貌——這是臺灣人離海洋最近的地方，更是臺灣人與海洋和諧相處的景象。如此的海洋風景，不禁讓我讚嘆： 面對這一片汪洋大海，他們為何不畏自然的力量，不怕行動的困難與艱辛，冒著生命危險進到海裡﹖他們在做什麼﹖要往那裡去﹖臺灣人的海洋性格是什麼﹖這是我想知道的，因此我以相機記錄這群海洋之子，捕捉他們的互動、行為、衣著、姿態與機具等。這些景象於我，就如同一齣齣「海洋劇場」，展現出臺灣人特有海洋性格與精神。