Many national and international Sunflower Student Movement supporters used this logo as their Facebook profile picture.
The posters read, "We, at Ohio University, Fight for Taiwan," "Anti-Black Box Service Trade Agreement. Fight for Democracy," and "Taiwan is not for Sale." On the second left protestor's arms, “Oppose Violence. Respond Promptly.” The two red Chinese characters combine to state, “Anti-Ma.”
The poster on the second right reads, "Condemn Vicious Government. No Violence! [Students in Taiwan,] Keep Going!"
On Wei's arms: "Students, Keep Going! Defend Democracy." On Chang's arms: "Anti-Black Box Service Trade Agreement. Anti-Vicious Government."
A view of the protest action from across the street.
Participants paint over existing messages on the graffiti wall. Wei transferred her design from the paper draft.
The collaborators varied in age and profession. From left: A professor of Latin, a software programmer, Ph.D in Interdisciplinary Arts candidate, a M.A. in Music Performance student, and a sixth-grade student.
The Sunflower Movement Series
The Mandarin name for sunflower means “toward the sun.” Under the sun, everything is exposed.
The Sunflower Student Movement in Taiwan opposed the national government's Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement with China. Taiwan's ruling party, Guomindang, approved it without clause-by-clause review or consent of the Congress. In response, a coalition of students occupied the parliamentary chamber. Civic groups and individuals supported this action by occupying the surrounding streets. The occupation lasted from March 18 to April 10, 2014. The Mandarin name for sunflower means “toward the sun.” Under the sun, everything is exposed. The sunflower encapsulates the protestor's demand for a transparent legislative process.
The Sunflower Student Movement opposed the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement with China. Taiwan's ruling party, Guomindang, approved it without clause-by-clause review or consent of the Congress. In response, a coalition of students occupied the parliamentary chamber. Civic groups and individuals supported this action by occupying the surrounding streets. The occupation lasted from March 18 to April 10, 2014. The Mandarin name for sunflower means “toward the sun.” Under the sun, everything is exposed. The sunflower encapsulates the protestor's demand for a transparent legislative process.
​
“Anti-Black Box” Action
​
On March 24, I invited graduate students from Taiwan to stage a protest from Ohio University. We used similar visual tropes to those in the Anti-Media Monopoly Movement. However, this time I wanted to incorporate the body as a surface for writing. Using red and black make up, I wrote on fellow protesters' forearms. Black and red signified condemnation, anger, and warning. We, with other Sunflower Student Movement participants, insisted that the Ma administration take heed. Our actions communicated that Taiwan is watched and guarded byconcerned citizens worldwide. Any breach of democracy would not be tolerated.
​
Saskia Sassen's theory of citizenship is useful to interpret this movement. Considering membership to a nation-state vis-à-vis nationality and citizenship, Sassen reconstructs and delineates two kinds of “repositioned membership.” They are: authorized yet unrecognized subjects, and unauthorized yet recognized subjects. (Sassen, “The Repositioning of Citizenship: Emergent Subjects and Spaces for Politics.”)
The protestors in Taiwan are authorized, as they, in principle, possess legal status and civil rights. Yet, they are unrecognized because the government failed to consult the popular-elected congress members. The international participants, on the other hand, become unauthorized yet recognized subjects. Living outside of the national territory prevents these citizens from exercising their civil rights in the traditional sense. However, their input was decidedly recognized by the students in Taiwan. The overseas initiatives and their virtual presence encouraged and edified those in Taipei. At the same time, online media allowed these unauthorized citizens to transcend boarders without official permission for entry. These dynamics exemplify that the exercise of citizenship does not require official authorization or recognition from the state.
​
“Fight for Taiwan Democracy” at Athena
​
The day after the “Anti-Black Box” Action, I co-facilitated a participatory event, “Fight for Taiwan's Democracy” at Athena. On March 25, 2014, Hsin-ning Chang, a film projectionist at the Athena Cinema, arranged the marquee to spell: “Fight for Taiwan Democracy.” Fellow supporters and I displayed posters outside the Athena Cinema on Court Street in Athens, Ohio. Participants included Taiwanese students and families, as well as American and international students.
​
We invited passersby to learn about this controversy. Informative flyers were available to help explain the protest. After discussions of this event's purpose and the situation in Taiwan, students were asked whether they would like to be photographed. Many agreed to show support in this manner. Subsequently, these images were uploaded and circulated on Facebook. They became a vital part of the protest's visual archive. “Fright for Taiwan Democracy” at Athena raised international support and awareness of Taiwan's Sunflower Student Movement. This piece created an opportunity for cosmopolitan citizenship. Students from the US and Southeast Asia supported Taiwanese students' struggle for democratic governance.
​
“I Do Not Accept” Solidarity Mural
On March 30, 2014, students from Taiwan showed solidarity with those in Taipei through global street demonstrations. In order to express support, Taiwanese families and students created a graffiti mural on the Ohio University campus. I designed this “I Do Not Accept” Solidarity Mural. Three components comprised the mural's focal point: a map of Taiwan, the message: “Taiwan, Fight for Democracy,” and the sunflower. Bouquets of sunflowers were later utilized in the photo documentation. A press release was written. An condensed version is as follows:
”…We are shocked by and deeply concerned with what is happening in Taiwan...The Service Trade Agreement will destabilize Taiwan's economy and national security. In protest, 400 students in Taiwan occupied the congress on March 19. The stand off between these students and the government continues until this day.
On March 30, 2014, more than 500,000 citizens from around the island gathered in front of the Taipei Presidential Building to express support. Although we are far away from our beloved country, as Taiwanese citizens, we want to take a stand with the protesters in Taiwan. We painted the graffiti wall on the OU campus. Photographs are posted on our Facebook page. Please share with as many people as possible.”
This statement was never released to the local news publishers, however. The next morning, our mural was already buried under new layers of paint. The brevity of the mural and our performance for the camera contrast with their permanent preservation through documented images.
Anna held the poster that stated: “Taiwan is not for sale! Stand for democracy. Chang clenched her fist to convey strength, opposition and determination.
The mural's last photo before it was painted over. 330, or March 30, 2014, marks the date of this collaboration. This action joined the call for a 24-hour, global protest to support Taiwan's Sunflower Student Movement.