The Compendium of Autobiographies
The Compendium of Autobiographies
The Compendium of Autobiographies, including ___’s Autobiography, ___’s Diary, and The Compendium of Autobiographies, is a sequential work based on research of the Taiwanese Communist Party(1928-1931), focusing on one of its founders, Siā Soat-hông (1901-1970). Born during Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan, Siā rose from a poor family to become one of the few significant female activists of early 20th century Taiwan. Throughout her life, she witnessed the interplay of class issues, colonial independence movements, and international communist movements in this island nation. As an illiterate woman from a poor background, Siā was often depicted in official records and by contemporary male writers or activists as a figure who wielded sexual allure to gain power. This image stands in stark contrast to her oral autobiography, creating a dialectical tension that is rich in complexity. This project focuses on the period from Siā's birth to the dissolution of the Taiwanese Communist Party. Employing diverse approaches including archive installation, performative workshop, and publication, this trilogy seeks to delve into the power struggle between history and her-story, the historical interpretation and the historical reality, and the historical narrative versus the personal story.