Art Starter: Chun-Ming

What inspires you artistically? I went to New York in 1998 as a painter, but when I was in America I explored independent film, contemporary dance and multidisciplinary arts. I also met a Taiwanese artist, Tehching Hsieh, there. He did some very cool projects – one project in which he was in a cage for a year, not speaking to anyone. His friend would bring food to him everyday. It was about boundaries between people and society; relationships and their limitations. He was illegally living in New York. During the time in New York I began to think more conceptually – Not being bound by specific materials – if I had an idea I would explore it and use what every medium: live performing, digital media, etc.

How was the idea for Wall of Hope conceived? I had this idea many years ago but I feel now is a good time to explore it. We live in a very different world to what it once was. It's always evolving, it can be confusing and overwhelming. I wanted to know if people are still hopeful. I am sometimes confused in my own life. I have a good job, I am a professor, a father and artist but sometimes I feel what is the real goal? What is the real purpose of life? In Taiwan we are stuck in between China and America – China doesn't think of us as an independent country and we're inundated by American culture. Geographically we're in between Japan and the Philippines – Japan is very wealthy and the Philippines is very poor. We're somewhere in between. It's confusing. I am very excited to see how people relate to this interactive installation. It can only be done when people come.

Will it ever be finished? No, it's an ongoing project. The videos I collect here will inform what I do next. I would like to collect videos from Taiwan and America and other places around the world and use in this ongoing work.

Are you hopeful? every morning I feel different. Sometimes I wake up feeling very joyful and sometimes I wake up feeling like I'm dead. To survive is difficult – emotionally I'm always wanting more. I'm always thinking about my next project and when I'm working I feel hopeful and inspired.

What interests you about conceptual/multimedia art? I want my art to have an effect on people and their ideologies. When I was a painter I used to go to the studio try to figure out what to paint. But now I don't have a studio and I don't have to worry about what materials I need to make art. I just need to think about life and ideas and follow that train of thought. I'm free to explore it in any way. For me conceptual art is freeing – I'm not bound by anything. Multimedia is interesting because now people receive information via digital media more than anything else so I think people are more open and receptive to it.

Does you background as a painter inform your installations? Painting has always formed the basis of my work. I think it gives you a good grounding. It helped me develop my style and now I continue that, just with a different material.

What excites you about Perth? This is my first time Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. I love Fremantle and the nature and history of it. In Taiwan the sea and sky look totally different; here I feel very calm when I look at the ocean. In Taiwan it feels very dangerous when I look at the sea. Here the sea is so nice. I have been jogging every day around the beach and port in Fremantle.

What would you say to people who come down to be involved in Wall of Hope? I hope they can relate to me – I'm a foreigner but I hope people will feel comfortable to speak to me and share their feelings. That will be their gift to me. When I sit in the studio and talk with people I'll also ask them to write their feelings and thoughts and names on Post-It notes and stick them to an axis on the wall (what I call the 'location of life'). It asks people to stick their notes to indicate the location of life. Whether they are happy or sad, sufficient or insufficient will determine where they stick the notes. I want to build up a stage in which people can share their emotions. Everyone has the potential to feel hope and everyone is unique.

Wall of Hope & Where Are You? every Friday to Sunday during August, Where Are You? daily until 31 August, Fremantle Arts Centre.