Ella Raidel
Floating Formosan Islands, 2008, Channel_A
Channel_A
Channel_A has developed work responding to the 17th Century born George Psalmanaazaar, a bogus Taiwanese who was welcomed
into the high society of London. In his book An Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa, he depicts Formosa (Taiwan)
as a fanciful wonderland generating elaborate myths around every facet of life, from the costumes worn, to the language spoken
and religious traditions to their diet.
Concept_
Taking floating village of what Psalmanaazaar described in his book The Geographical and Historical Discription of Formosa as the point of entry,Channel A resurrects Psalmanaazaar as the real estate broker in the modern time to continue his saga of turning fantasy into the reality.
Much as his fabrication of Taiwan as a utopia, the resurrected Psalmanaazaar has founded a real estate company to promote what Formosan
would live ideally. He now attempts to build seven floating islands that no only can travel around Taiwan but also the globe, so that all the future
residents can choose freely their surrounding sceneries and neighboring countries. These real estate properties are in the true sense belongs
to their owners. Because of mobility, these islands transcend the limitations of territories and restrictions of nations.
Indeed, the sky is the limit.
Installationview, ATM08, Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
The installation is a real estate office.
Floating Formosan Islands’, a table, chairs, a video-projection, and a monitor and a salesperson.
On the windows it says: Islands for Sale- Enquire within
The salesperson is convincing customers of the true-existence of these islands and involve them
in a discussion about the advantages of a floating property. The customer can buy a piece of land in form of a certificate.
Videostills, Floating Formosan Islands