The 561st Hour of Occupation
In 2014, a pro-China bill proposed by Taiwan’s Kuomintang party precipitated mass demonstrations. University students occupied Taiwan’s government palace for 585 hours, almost a month. Filmed during the 561st hour, Yuan Goang-Ming’s work captures the resistance at its height. The victory forced the bill’s withdrawal, safeguarding Taiwan’s independence, sovereignty and open political system. The 561st Hour of Occupation stands as a tribute to the students’ courage and determination.
Invited to document the occupation, Yuan chose a fixed camera position, zooming in and out with excruciating slowness. This deliberate motion reveals countless details, while the students, who had lived in the hall for weeks, seem to dissolve into the background as Taiwan’s national anthem plays at half speed.
Yuan Goang-Ming represented Taiwan at the 2024 Venice Biennale, where this work, still highly topical and relevant, was also on view.