Zhuxue Deren
Zhuxue Deren (artist name) was born in Taipei in 1991 and holds a Master's degree in Literature from Hosei University in Japan. He was shortlisted for the Taipei International Book Exhibition Award in 2021. His publications include FictionPoetry, Struggling Shellfish, and Return to the Moon Museum. His poem "Moon Museum" was selected for the Arch Mission Foundation's "Arch Lunar Art Archive" project in the United States, and was sent to the Moon aboard Odysseus in February 2024 for archival preservation. Expected to remain intact for more than 50 million years, it is currently known as the earliest contemporary Chinese-language poem to have successfully landed on the Moon.
- Location USA / Vermont
- Year of the Grant 2024
- Residency Vermont Studio Center
- Work Return To The Moon Museum
- Personal Website Zhuxue Deren 's Personal Website
I was honored to be selected for the Ministry of Culture's residency program in 2024. From July 28 to August 22, I stayed at the Vermont Studio Center (VSC) as a writer-in-residence. During my stay, I wrote two poems, "I Prefer Air Conditioning" and "Return to the Moon Museum." The latter was a sequel to "Moon Museum." In the poem, I referred to the history of Vermont. Vermont was once an independent republic known as the Vermont Republic. Even now there is still a movement advocating for a Second Vermont Republic. As a state that lacked legal recognition but existed in spirit, the Vermont Republic reminded me of Taiwan. In my poem, I explored this idea by portraying the moon as a fictional kingdom.
Besides writing, I also made friends with other artists and writers. Drawing on my background in Japanese and Taiwanese literature, I shared Taiwan's history and literature with fellow residents. I believe this is a missing piece in the contemporary global literary scene. I also talked about the modern-day relations between Taiwan and Japan and the mutual influence between Taiwanese and Japanese literature. I gave a 7-minute presentation of my writing during my residency. I also hosted two open studios to present poems that I wrote there, along with the English translations. I organized a Taiwan Culture Night to introduce Taiwan's culture, history, and political situation to my fellow artists-in-residence.
This residency was my first time working so closely and intensively with English-speaking writers and artists. It will certainly be a pivotal experience in my writing career.
Author: Zhuxue Deren
Edited: Brix