LIN Yan-Xiang

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LIN Yan-Xiang

Participating Project	Exchange Residency Program (Creators from abroad)
Activity Based	Taipei
City / Place stayed	Tokyo
Period	2025.1 - 2025.3

Purpose of the residency

The project titled "The Imminent Airport," I will primarily focus on the area around Narita Airport. The project will center on the historical events that occurred at Sanrizuka and the ongoing airport expansion. I aim to study how the "government" and "residents" are intertwined and influence each other, and how the people still living around the airport maintain their lives. Furthermore, I will examine how these "urban plans" are constructed and envisioned for future cities under the current neoliberal modernization process.

Plan during the residency

• Research on monuments (memorials) after protests.
• Research on the history of protests against the Narita airport expansion.
• Interview with artists creating works related to the Narita airport expansion.

Activities during the residency

During the residency, I visited the areas surrounding Narita Airport, including historical sites related to the Sanrizuka protest movement. I also met and interviewed people who still live in the area today. My research involved filming and documenting the local landscape, people, and architecture. As a result, I completed a video work titled The Prophecy of the Tower, which explores the conflicts within the process of modernization and reflects on how urban planning is constructed and imagined.

Outcome of the residency

During the residency, I conducted archival research and interviewed some local residents. Due to language barriers, it was difficult to ask deeper questions, but the conversations that did emerge were meaningful and led to unexpected insights. Through my research on Narita Airport, I gained a deeper understanding of the history surrounding the airport's expansion, as well as the social atmosphere and tensions in the area. This research culminated in the completion of a video work.

The entire project greatly benefited from the support provided by TOKAS. However, due to the limited duration of the residency, I had to leave just as the work was gaining momentum. The complexity of this topic requires longer-term engagement and ongoing dialogue. Looking ahead, I hope to maintain a sustained connection and continue developing this project over time.

While exploring the remnants of the protest on my own, each act of navigating, searching, and reorienting became a personal way of approaching this vast and complex history. These journeys often led to profound and precious moments. One of the most significant experiences was an interview with a resident, who participated in the protests and still lives within the airport area. Speaking directly with someone who had lived through and remained in the midst of this struggle was an irreplaceable and deeply meaningful encounter for me.

Creator Information