Long Far Temple

The Long Far Temple, a non-official and religion-related long-term shelter for mental patients, existed in Taiwan for nearly a half-century. This book takes an experimental approach in its attempt to present and visualise the atmosphere in the facility such as through the use of various materials. The cover, for example, hand-stitched with white leather, takes the insulation board of isolation rooms in mental hospitals as inspiration, while the linen bookcase wrapping refers to the white clothes which inpatients wear. The elastic band and safety buckle, in turn, are reminiscent of a straitjacket or belts for strapping a patient to a bed. The inner pages feature collages in the form of composite media, as well as black-and-white photographs showing the facility with its walls and fences and which were enhanced by hand-drawn graffiti to depict feelings like fear, despair and helplessness. In a highly engaging and memorable manner, the work thus manages to educate the public about the placement of people with mental disorders in Taiwan and the human rights of these patients.