Geologists discovered zircon in the riverbed of Ma'oto River (Hsinchu) during the Japanese occupation, and further investigated whether this area was suitable for mining. Now, there is a uni-resort built in this exact area. This installation consists of a few ready-made images gathered from different sources, such as a large-scale plan of the resort grounds provided by the resort, an image of the resort facilities, a geological map (TikutĹ? Sheet) of the area used by the Japanese geologists during the colonial period, an atom simulation, and a plate subduction sketch. An image simulation of a nuclear power plant is also included in the installation, since zircon contains radioactive uranium and can be used for the purposes of nuclear research. In addition to these ready-made images, Hsu also presents a photograph of zircon under the microscope, as well as the zircon samples preserved by the Department of Geosciences at National Taiwan University in this installation. With these complex imageries, the artist intends to depict the vague impression of science and history pertained to this period of time.
Uni-Resort
Industrial Research Institute of Taiwan Governor-General's Office
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