Cheng-Ta Yu in his series Ventriloquists questions identity and communication, managing to display both the chaotic mood as well as the humor that can be birthed from language barriers. In this series Cheng works with expats living in Taipei with little to no working knowledge of Mandarin. The artist dresses in black and stands directly behind the figurative 'puppet,' and goes through a lesson plan Cheng designed himself. Once the 'ventriloquist' says a word or phrase, the 'puppet' to the best of their ability, attempts to copy the words and tones that they just heard.
Going through the small video posted on Cheng-Ta Yu's website one cannot help but be amused at the absurdity of it. Some of the expats are better than others, but it's everyone struggles with Cheng's carefully crafted soliloquies that range in content from phoenixes to Taiwanese girls' skirts. The work is indeed comedic, but it also caries a stronger and more serious of identity and the reliance on language.
Visually, Cheng-Ta Yu allows the audience a very intimate one-on-one experience with generously spread out LCD screens complete with headphones so one can hear the audio. Each tape is complete with subtitles (another interest of Cheng's) in both Chinese and English. Cheng, Dressed in all black and tactfully standing behind the expat is ever-present. He exists as a non-entity throughout the work, and yet is using each of these people as a mere tool, or as Cheng explains in his blog, instruments. Cheng's use of humor, visuals, and innovation proves to us that this very recent M.F.A graduate will continue to create intriguing work that will spark international attention.
If you would like to learn more about Cheng-Ta Yu and his other works please visit his blog and personal website here
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