Post-colonial childhood theatre

Everyday personal objects are anything but innocent, instead carrying complex cultural and political values. Shin Yang explored these in the post-colonial context of contemporary Taiwan. Numerous interviews and workshops were conducted, inviting people to recall their favourite commodities and objects from childhood before exploring how they are not as neutral and apolitical as first appears. Based on this process, allegorical stories were developed to present in the format of ‘kamishibai’—a type of Japan street theatre used as a propaganda tool during the colonisation of Taiwan. By repurposing and recontextualising this tool, the project seeks to facilitate an open discussion around the embedded politicised values in Taiwan’s material culture.