Takasago Stag Beetle

Beginning with entomological research during Japanese colonial rule, the work follows the name and appearance of the Takasago stag beetle to connect the formation of knowledge about nature with Taiwan’s historical identity. Ciou’s research grows out of encounters with insect specimens, asking how collecting, naming, and classifying incorporate the observer’s position, and how apparently neutral studies of nature participate in the construction of colonial power.

The two-channel video juxtaposes stag beetle combat, entomological specimen cabinets, and Japanese samurai armour modelled on beetle forms. A modified suit of armour is also displayed in the exhibition. The transformation between the insect’s appearance and the figure of the warrior connects natural species, bodily equipment, and imagined identities. Through images and objects, the work develops a narrative across natural science and colonial memory, considering the complex identities formed in Taiwan under different historical regimes.

Commissioned by Taichung Art Museum