來自南太平洋的浪濤聲
 
　　WAWA，是達悟族語中的海洋，然而它意指的大海並非平靜無波，而是洶湧駭浪、充滿情感與靈魂的生命浪潮，帶著南島語族群自海上而來，也引領他們離島而去。
 
　　本展試圖延續海洋的軸線，並通過水的動態及隱喻，呈現當代南島藝術家在面對文明的衝擊、族群的流徙，如何穿越出入於多元的文化之間，通過如同海浪般充滿力量及創意之藝術形式，開拓更寬闊的視角，進而體現有別於西方主流論述之外，另一種柔軟且具豐沛生命力的抵抗。評論家史坦納(George Steiner)曾說二十世紀是「逃難者的年代」(the age of the refugee)，然而對包含台灣在內的南島語族群而言，這般的逃離、流徙反而像是種滲透入血液的傳統；從數千年前逐洋流而居的漂移與擴散，到近代殖民國家帶來的掠奪，直至現代工業文明如浪濤般席捲著族人向城市飄移。潮水，帶著他們自海上而來，也引領他們離島而去，不同的是，面對今日多元文化滲透擠壓之當代經驗，基於各種出於經濟、政治、個人、群體、暫時或永久的離鄉背井，對當代的太平洋地區藝術家而言，漂流，不再僅是空間場域的遷徙移動，而是一種異質多元的體認；或許可以這麼說，因著離開，自我才得以成長形塑，創造出更多傳承與顛覆的可能。
 
　　作為南臺灣首座大型公立美術館，高美館長期關注南島藝術創作，通過展覽與研究的策劃辦理，讓當代藝術擁有更多元深入的面貌。WAWA試圖從島嶼周圍往復拍岸的潮水為想像，探討南島語族以海洋為載體的流徙歷程，如何成就他們自我生命的核心，並藉此觸及全球化的當代經驗。展覽邀請三組國內原住民當代藝術家，以及三組來自紐西蘭、巴布亞新幾內亞與斐濟之國際藝術家的參與，作品形式廣泛地包含裝置、影像、纖維乃至於聲音藝術，期望藉由離返的記憶、跨國的連結，在傳統大陸式以書寫為主體的藝術史觀外，拓展出屬於海洋的藝術脈絡，聽見來自南太平洋的浪濤聲。

　　Wave Sounds from the South Pacific．

　　In the language of the Tao(Yami) tribe, the term “wawa” means “ocean”, not a calm and waveless ocean but one with surging waves and tides, one with emotional and spiritual depth, and one that once led ancient Austronesian peoples traveling from one island to another.
 
　　Taking on the theme of the ocean, this exhibition applies the dynamic forms of water  as its inspirations and metaphors to demonstrate how contemporary Austronesian artists have traveled among diverse cultures under the influences of cultural shocks and frequent migration and how they have incorporated their tidal-wave-like artistic energy and creativity to create an alternative kind of art from broader perspectives, a kind of art that is flexible, rigorous, resilient and different from the Western mainstream. As once described by George Steiner, a commentator, the 20th century is “the age of the refugee”. However, for Austronesian peoples including the indigenous peoples in Taiwan, migrating frequently from one place to another like refugees seems like a kind of tradition running in their blood. Thousands of years ago, their ancestors travelled in ocean currents from one island to another. In the 19th century, the plundering and ravaging from the colonizers forced them to leave their hometowns. Later, modern industrialization swept them away like ocean waves to the cities. Riding on the tide, they travelled across the ocean and landed on new islands. Also riding on the tide, they left the islands they once called home for the next destinations. However, for contemporary Austronesian artists, all temporary or permanent migration from hometowns of individuals or communities out of economic, political and/or other concerns in this contemporary society with diverse cultures is no longer an act of moving from one space to another but a process of recognizing and experiencing heterogeneous cultures. Probably, it can be concluded that only by leaving where he or she is now will one grow and create more brand-new possibilities based on the tradition for the future.
 
　　As the first large-size public art museum in southern Taiwan, the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (KMFA) has been paying close and long-term attention to the development of art in the Contemporary Pacific. Through its exhibitions and research efforts, KMFA aspires to demonstrate the diverse and deep facets of Art in the Contemporary Pacific. Taking on the theme of tidal waves splashing repetitively on the shores of islands, this exhibition, WAWA is intended to discuss the contemporary experiences of Austronesian peoples in this globalization era by reviewing the migration history of them across the ocean and the core components of their lives. According to the plan of this exhibition, three groups of contemporary indigenous artists from Taiwan and three groups of international artists from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji will be invited to present a wide variety of works, including works of installations, images, fiber art and sound art. Hopefully, by exploring Austronesian peoples’ memories of leaving and returning to hometowns, promoting connections across countries in the South Pacific region, and presenting a view of art history different from the traditional one written in the Western continent, this exhibition will contribute to the development of art contexts unique of the ocean and make the wave sounds from the South Pacific heard and appreciated.