Standing in the Middle of the Fields: Taiwan’s Most Beautiful "Rice Wave" Exhibition Interprets the Resilience of Farmers

▲ Rice fields are Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery. (Photo provided by Chang Liang-yi)

Reported by You Tzu-ju / Interview & Writing

“It seems only natural that farmers stand in the middle of the fields, but in today’s society, it’s no longer just farmers who do so—expressways and luxury mansions also ‘stand in the middle of the fields.’” On the raised paths of Xizhou, Changhua, enlarged black-and-white images of farmers stretch along the road, their wrinkled faces carrying the fragrance of Taiwan’s soil and the sweat of toil. These are the images of Taiwanese farmers captured by photographer Chang Liang-yi over 14 years.


▲ Farmers in the fields, with resolute expressions. (Photo provided by Chang Liang-yi)

Chang Liang-yi, who began photographing farmers during his school years, hails from a farming family in Yuanchang, Changhua. Having weeded fields with his father since elementary school, his memories of soil and rice paddies are intertwined with a deep, personal bond with his father. It’s for this reason that Chang often picks up his lens to capture the faces and figures of the farming generation.

However, as times change, more and more land in Taiwan is being acquired for luxury developments or expressways, and the image of farmers standing in the middle of their fields is gradually fading. “The paddy fields behind Taipei’s Tamsui Forest Park will be acquired by New Taipei City this year to make way for an expressway. After this harvest, we may never see paddy fields there again.” Filled with a sense of helplessness, Chang decided to showcase the images of farmers he has captured over the years in a photography exhibition dedicated to farmland.

Due to the pressure on disappearing rice paddies, Chang divided his exhibition into two main sections: portraits of farmers standing in their fields, and images of farmers’ protests. These visuals, showcasing the farmers’ perseverance and upright struggle, become the best record of Taiwan’s transformation.


▲ The images of farmers stretching along the rice fields document the evolving story of Taiwan. (Photo provided by Chang Liang-yi)



▲ Farmers, who have always stood in the middle of their fields, are now forced to march to government offices to fight for survival. (Photo provided by Chang Liang-yi)

The works, originally intended to be displayed on the soil of the soon-to-disappear paddies, had to be moved to the Danpai Warehouse in Tamsui due to failed communication. “I hope that one day, these works can be exhibited right on Taiwan’s farmlands, not just in indoor exhibition spaces.” For Chang, showcasing the stories and changes of farmland in the true “middle of the fields” holds a different kind of meaning. After a one-month exhibition in Tamsui, he was invited to Xizhou to display the works along the road next to the fields.

“I hope visitors to Xizhou can walk into the middle of the fields and feel what it’s like for farmers wearing conical hats, standing tall under the sky.” The ever-changing scenery of farmland across the four seasons is Taiwan’s most beautiful view. “Farmers rush through their busy work, yet they must put down their hoes and take to the streets to protect their land and homes, standing before government offices, enduring scorching sun, heavy rain, and cold winds—protesting, protesting, without ever backing down!” Chang wrote on his blog, expressing the heartache of a farmer’s child.

“Farmers produce food to sustain life; yet why must these kind-hearted, simple farmers be driven to such extremes?” Along the roads of Xizhou, Changhua, amid the rice fields, lies Taiwan’s most beautiful exhibition space, currently showcasing the smiles of farmers—mixed with sweat and tears—as they continue to toil. Taiwan’s farmland, too, is slowly disappearing along with the fading smiles of its farmers.


▲ The once-beautiful fields and the figures of farmers appear within Taiwan’s most stunning exhibition space. (Photo provided by Chang Liang-yi)


▲ Taiwan’s farmland is also slowly disappearing along with the fading smiles of its farmers. (Photo provided by Chang Liang-yi)

[Standing in the Middle of the Fields]
Exhibition Period: October 27, 2012 – December 2, 2012
Venue: Intersection of Lvsun Road and Xinsheng Lane, Chenggong Village, Xizhou Township, Changhua County