Chiu Shu-chong's touching "LOVE" Installation／邱旭衝的LOVE裝置藝術
Chiu Shu-chong's touching "LOVE" Installation
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photo by Hou Ya-ting
In August 2014, the "LOVE" art installation became Kaohsiung's newest tourist landmark. With its charming waterfront that has been recently enhanced, the Love River is one of Kaohsiung's romantic highlights and an integral part of its urban landscape. Along its banks are a music theater, movie museum and historical exhibitions, which can be enjoyed within walking distance of each other. The "LOVE" art installation has been stands next to the Ambassador Hotel's Love Boat ferry station and has become a popular spot to take photos.
There are always lineups of tourists waiting to take their picture in front of it. Artist Chiu Shu-chong is very happy that it has become so popular. The installation's companion piece "Kaohsiung Love River", is also lit up and located across the river in front of the courthouse. Visitors who take the Love Boat tour at night will enjoy its colorful reflection shimmering on the river. These art installations have added much to the city's vibrant skyline.
When designing the instillations, Mr. Chiu discussed the details in great length with the City Government's Maintenance Office. He described his contemporary vision of how he could best present the beloved river and in the end the word "LOVE" prevailed. The word love transcends language and culture and is symbolic of a city that endeavors to reach out to visitors from around the world. It is also carries the river's namesake and embodies it original meaning.
The "LOVE" installation won the crowd over with its simplicity. The colors themselves were also arranged with much consideration. Mr. Chiu decided strong, saturated colors were soothing to the eye. With inspiration drawn from Andy Warhol, he picked yellow, pink and blue. In Mr. Chiu's work, yellow symbolizes supremacy and the Love River's unique status in Kaohsiung. The letter O was installed as a pink heart, embodying the softness of love. The letter V was created in an energetic green, which is a classic tone of Matisse's Fauvism.
The installation stands 4.5 meters (14.8 feet) in height and is the perfect size for taking photos. When posing beside the art piece, it is easy to get the whole installation in its entirety and the people in the photo will not look like tiny dots. The installation is made from stainless steel and coated in "race car" grade paint, therefore withstanding many people touching it.
邱旭衝的LOVE裝置藝術
◎文、攝影／侯雅婷
愛河美麗浪漫的旖旎風光深烙在旅人心中，也孕育高雄的城市文化，河的兩岸聚集音樂、電影和歷史等藝文場館，最讓人動容的是她始終屬於民眾。造訪愛河的旅人，近日不約而同一致選在「愛之船」國賓渡船站旁，刻有LOVE字樣的裝置藝術前合影留念。
LOVE這件裝置藝術，今(2014)年8月推出即成為愛河觀光新地景，總可見遊客們大排長龍要拍照。創作者邱旭衝表示，很開心作品能吸引群眾願意走近、拍照留念。他的另一件作品位於對岸，地方法院前的親水臺階，裝置著「Kaohsiung Love River」，從地下打燈，夜間乘「愛之船」遊河的旅客，看見水面上波光粼粼，更顯愛河夜色燦爛的魅力。
邱旭衝表示，他以現代觀念和手法演繹置於愛河兩岸的裝置藝術，當初和負責的市政府養工處團隊不斷討論什麼才能代表愛河？最後刻有英文LOVE的字樣脫穎而出，LOVE是言簡意賅的國際語言，能讓觀光客一看就了然於心，也巧妙蘊涵愛河的名字和意義。
這件LOVE裝置藝術，除了簡單出色的造形外，顏色配置的視覺效果既搶眼又舒服。邱旭衝非常喜愛普普藝術大師安迪沃荷，因此LOE三個英文字母，分別使用安迪沃荷版畫裏常見的黃色、粉紅色和藍色。邱旭衝說，黃色代表尊貴，如同愛河之於高雄的獨一無二，字母O 使用愛心圖案，並以粉紅色傳達愛情的美好和溫柔，字母V使用野獸派馬蒂斯最經典、且洋溢活力的綠色。至於其高度設置4.5米，是考量民眾拍照人像時，不致於太小且不需要跑得太遠，就能將LOVE入鏡，材質選用不鏽鋼，外面採用賽車級的烤漆處理，使其能承載與民眾頻繁地接觸。
The Inspirational Story of Ultramarathon Runner,
Chiu Shu-Jung
◎English translation: Lin Fu-ju
◎Photo by Hou Ya-ting
Chiu Shu-Jung is nicknamed ultramarathon mom because of her passion for marathons. In 2008, Chiu Shu-Jung participated in an eighteen day, 1,151-kilometer ultramarathon, in France. However, she got blisters on her feet caused bacterial infections and then turned septic. Unfortunately, she had to receive two amputations, one on her right leg up to her thigh and half of her left foot. However, Chiu Shu-Jung realized sorrow could not alter what had happened and she would not give up. She also realized it was her sorrow which was the source of her family's sorrow and her happiness which was the source of her family's happiness. Therefore she had to stop feeling sorry for herself. After she went through the healing process, she was fitted with prosthetics and learned to walk again. At first, it took her some time to stop falling over the smallest bumps and holes in the road but she is now able to walk effortlessly again.
She has gained the respect of her fellow race competitors who adore her. She goes out to watch the races, well dressed and full of confidence. She carries cane covered with rhinestones. She wears skirts so she can show off her prosthetics and jokes that with them she doesn't get tanned or cold. On a more serious note, she believes people admire her courage and the way she tackled such a setback.
After her ordeal, Chiu Shu-Jung still dreamed of getting back into doing marathons. She received a tricycle by a bicycle company and was very excited that she would be able to begin cycling again. After she learned how to ride the tricycle, she took her first ride around Chengcing Lake, alongside her ultramarathon friends. Over the last three years, Chiu Shu-Jung has completed 30 cycling marathons, each being on average approximately 42.195 kilometers long.
Chiu Shu-Jung's story was made into a documentary. During the filming, she went to France to watch the ultramarathon. On the first day, she stood at the finish line, waiting to hug her old running pals. Chiu Shu-Jung's perseverance has proven that she has overcome both physical and mental trauma. The documentary was released last year in Taiwan. Chiu is often invited to deliver inspirational speeches and regards her prosthetics as a marathon medal. She is now eager to conquer a cycling marathon. Chiu Shu-Jung explained that although sometimes people will feel frustration, it's not the end of the world. "Sometimes detours will allow you to regard things differently and provide the opportunity to experience a different life."
馬拉松場上最靚的身影 超馬媽媽邱淑容
◎文、攝影／侯雅婷
邱淑容廣為人知的別名是「超馬媽媽」，參賽者總熱情地招呼她，給她溫暖和力量。眼前的邱淑容杵著貼滿水鑽的柺杖，一身靚亮裙裝打扮，散發自信，她說她喜歡穿裙子展示義肢，相信有很多人欣賞她勇於面對生命，對她投以讚賞的眼光。還幽了自己一默說，穿義肢不怕冷也不怕曬黑。
如果不是2008年至法國參加為期18天的超級馬拉松，完成全長1151公里比賽，卻因腳底的水泡造成細菌感染、引發敗血症因而截肢，邱淑容肯定會持續跑下去，在法國她接受了這個無法改變的事實，只因她發現當她哭泣時，家人也落淚，當她笑時，家人也跟著笑了，轉念之間，她自覺不能再傷悲，拾起馬拉松自我挑戰的精神，立下自理生活、不勞煩家人照料的目標。於是她咬著牙，看著傷口一天比一天好，從穿戴上義肢，慢慢地練習走路，一開始路面上只要有個小窟窿都會讓她跌倒在地，到平穩步行能獨立生活。
邱淑容總想著要是能回到運動場該有多好，偶然的機會她獲贈一台專為年長者設計的三輪腳踏車，她說當她終於能夠迎風騎車時，難掩內心激動，她第一件事就是回到過去練跑的澄清湖，騎著腳踏車伴隨跑友們跨步向前的步伐。3年來，她已完成30場、每場42.195公里的全馬鐵馬馬拉松。
邱淑容的故事被拍成紀錄片期間，她在法國舉辦超級馬拉松首日終點處，等待昔日跑友，與跑友們互相送上溫暖的大擁抱。邱淑容證明自己站起來了，她的心也療癒了，這段畫面也被收錄於紀錄片中，於去(2013)年在台上映。邱淑容表示，義肢是超跑留給她的勳章，現在她受邀至各處演講，並繼續征服一場場的鐵馬馬拉松。邱淑容說，挫折不是人生盡頭，只不過是多轉幾個彎，多繞一些路，反而可以多看到不一樣的風景，體驗到不一樣的人生。