Sophie
HSU, SHAO-FEI (Sophie, artist name)
Writer, French translator, Chinese/French teacher, and storyteller
Sophie is a wordsmith, literary translator, and researcher who seamlessly bridges the worlds of creative writing and academia. She is the founder of the creative hub "Espace de la vie" and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at the Graduate Institute of Children's Literature, National Taitung University. Driven by a deep love for literature, she once traveled far to study Classical Literature at Sorbonne University. Upon returning, she brought this rich nourishment into the intersections of language, literature, and childhood, channeling her devotion through both creative and academic expressions of humanistic care.
In 2024, she was honored to be selected by the Ministry of Culture as a writer in residence at Cove Park in Scotland, UK. She is the author of the literary work Diary of a Little Devil Nanny, and the translator of numerous titles such as 500 Montessori Lessons, Answers for Kids, The Miniature Kingdom, The Grandest Play, and Susie's Smile. Beyond wandering through the printed page, she also channels her lifelong passion for history, literature, and philosophy into the airwaves. As the host of the podcast la vie Fexordinaire, she uses her voice to share profound yet beautifully accessible dialogues on everyday thoughts with her listeners. Welcome to step into her world of words and life through her link: linktr.ee/dhanjoti.kaur
- Location UK / Scotland
- Year of the Grant 2024
- Residency Cove Park
- Personal Website Sophie's Personal Website
I applied for the Ministry of Culture's art residency program to write in a foreign country, to experience a different culture and way of life, and to break through my creative block. I was eager to meet artists from different fields and disciplines. My residency at Cove Park, selected by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, proved to be a highly rewarding and successful cultural and artistic experience.
It was fascinating to meet different artists every week. Just talking to them was inspiring. We discussed our creative struggles and shared our strategies for overcoming them. But the best part of all was to live there and to immerse myself in the local traditions and ways of life.
One of the most rewarding things of my residency was introducing Taiwan to artists from other countries. I brought Chiayi's famous flaky square cookies and shared this traditional southern Taiwan treat with the other residents. I also donated a copy of my book to the Cove Park library. In May I attended the summer dinner, an event where artists and patrons gathered together. I was seated between two guests who were familiar with Taiwan. One of them was an art professor and the other was a visiting professor from Washington, D.C., who had hosted two cultural exchange exhibitions in Yingge, New Taipei City. I also met a musician from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland who had Singaporean roots and was knowledgeable about Taiwan. We had so much to talk about regarding my home country.
During my stay at Cove Park, I met a Scottish translator and writer. We got along particularly well since we are in the same line of work and we both speak French. He translates foreign literature into Scottish rather than English. When he asked if I translated foreign-language works into Taiwanese, I felt bad because my Taiwanese is not good enough to do that. This conversation made me realize that I should put in more effort to master my mother tongue.
Author: Sophie
Edited: Brix