Introduction:

Taiwanese artist Chang En-Man’s various snail-themed projects are inspired by her mother of Paiwan descent. Like many tribes people in Taiwan, her mother enjoys making snail cuisine. The giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) was originally introduced from Singapore to Taiwan in 1932 by a Japanese official during colonial rule. In June this year, Chang made a research trip to Singapore. She was particularly interested in Singapore as an original transfer hub for the Achatina fulica we see in Taiwan today. The species has become a notorious invasive species to the Taiwanese local ecosystem. While Chang searched for snail recipes in Singapore, she met local artists ila and Kin Chui with whom she discussed the topic of cooking in relation to memory, resistance, and the interconnections between Taiwan and Singapore.

Download Nusantara Archive 10: Chang En-Man – Snail Paradise, 2019 (CH/EN)