To a Passer-by

Unfamiliar Familiarity

​

For the Glasgow centre walk, Chih-Kang encourages the passer-by to re-discover Glasgow City Centre with fresh eyes, using directions similar to those that visitors or new residents often receive. During each point of the route clues to each location can be found - combined with the audio of Chih-Kang's home Taiwan, the result is an interactive and engaging work which considers familiarity and belonging. 

​

"Coming to this city as a traveller, all visual experiences are new and unfamiliar to me. Once when I was walking on the road, I heard a familiar sound, which was very similar to the street noise I would hear in Taiwan. In that moment, my mind created a flowing image based on the sound and it covered my current sight. Suddenly I felt like I was in two different spaces at the same time.

The difference between the actual existence of space and the instantaneity of sound, unfamiliar familiarity, imageless image, a feeling constructed from reality and imaginations, is what I want to discuss." 

Chih-Kang Hsu

​

Chih-Kang's work is intended to be a 'treasure hunt', starting in George Square in the centre of Glasgow. Using one visual clue for each location, shown below, to navigate through the city.