While modern high-rises in the cities evidence Taiwan's economic development, they also conceal a fading chapter of the island's history. Somewhere in every major city there are a few communities that go by the name of military dependents' villages. While most of them have either been rebuilt into apartment buildings or become neighborhood garbage disposal sites and convenient spots for junkies to shoot up, there are a few remaining where the lifestyle of a traditional military dependents' village can still be found. So long a feature of the Taiwan cityscape, the military villages are now an endangered species, and photographer Felix Lee is trying to capture images of their way of life before they disappear forever.
Have a look...
[Taiwan]
Good on him. As I procrastinate old Hsinchu is disappearing.
ReplyDeletethey are disappearing! my grandpa used to live in a military village in taoyuan (pretty close to taoyuan int'l) but last year the gov't moved him to a newly constructed apartment, and so did the rest of the neighbors. the place he used to live at looks a lot like that photo you put up!
ReplyDeleteI feel that way too, Clark. Everyone around us the past is being ground under by the future.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read your entry I decided to go and take some photos of the military village near my house in Tainan. It seems that this village is being preserved, perhaps for a museum etc. I thought you might be interested.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/gbone/
These villages don't exactly represent the best of Taiwan--look at election results by district. They vote pro-Blue in 95-5 ratios, no-joke.
ReplyDelete