Treasurehill Garden Portrait Studio Project
寶藏巖農園肖像画計画

Background and Research Overview

The majority of residents were elderly people who strongly avoided political involvement. Recognizing that blocking development was impossible without changing the context, we established the following directions:

1. Identify value as cultural heritage to secure land rights

2. Soften the political dimension through art

3. Introduce tourism elements and envision commercial potential

4. Propose sustainability through multigenerational community building

5. Present the riverside gardens as sustainable farms for self-sufficiency plus new income sources, and brand them accordingly

Respecting the feelings of an aging population that avoided political engagement, I conceived an action plan centered on photographing portraits against the familiar backdrop of their gardens. After photography sessions, I revisited each home to have residents title their photographs and choose display locations within their rooms. The goal was to transform the entire district into a semi-permanent home-visit photography gallery, accessible only by visiting individual homes. The shared thread of "portraits" would spark conversation, visualize Treasure Hill's significance and value, revitalize residents' solidarity, and prevent the district's demolition and redevelopment.

In 2006, the government's Department of Cultural Affairs recognized Treasure Hill as a "historic cultural structure" and decided to protect it. When The New York Times selected it as one of the must-visit destinations, tourists from around the world began arriving, and the government judged it worthy of further investment as cultural capital. After completely closing the area in 2007 for full-scale redevelopment as an art village, it reopened in 2009 as the Treasure Hill Artist Village (寶藏巖國際藝術村), reborn as an art district where artists from around the world exhibit their work.