Dancing with the Austering Light of Aspergers in the Flow of WanYan─The Life History of an Asperger Family’s

• Main Authors: Chen, Li-Yu, 陳莉諭
• Other Authors: Pan, Yu-Fong
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/rbsbz8

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 創造力發展碩士在職專班 === 104 === In this research paper I present the life history of a family member diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and a family-run cultural-heritage project titled Wanyan Studio. Taking “clumsiness” as the theme, I demonstrate how such traits of Asperger’s Syndrome as unsophisticated, repetitive behavior, and a restricted range of interests can be transformed into assets for leading a fulfilling and productive life. The work of the Wanyan Studio is inspired and informed by several principles which are essential for living with a person with Asperger’s syndrome: open-sense, open-mind, open-heart, open-will, co-creating, and co-presencing. The Wanyan Studio uses a wide-angle aesthetic lens to record the distinctive appearance of Taiwan; the main artist and the subject of this study is Huang Yuxin, who uses the imagery of light to depict the changing appearance of Taiwan’s cultural heritage over time. Adopting the “austere beauty” design style, Huang has completed several dozen sketches illustrating the stories of the sugar refineries and depicting the Arcadian simplicity of a bygone era. The approach of this paper is informed by a concept Martin Heidegger expressed in his later years as“Full of merit, yet poetically, man Dwells on this earth”. This study demonstrates that through consistent communication and training, a young person with Asperger’s is capable of learning: 1) how to manage time spent on special interests; 2) self-awareness and sensitivity to the needs of others; 3) how to deal with affairs in a rational manner; 4) emotional control; 5) how to be active rather than passive; and 6) how to look after the family and home. Moreover, as part of the Wanyan Studio, the subject of this study produced the following works: 1) a book titled Understanding Railways; 2) a book titled MRT Engineering; 3) a documentary film titled the Huashan Railway Station Revisited; 4) a study of the Xihu Sugar Refinery which was exhibited as a poster exhibition at the 15th International Industrial Heritage Conference; 5) 40 sketches of the Xihu Sugar Refinery Industrial Heritage Site; 6) a book titled A Survey of Taiwan’s Cultural Assets; and 7) a series of cultural heritage products. It is hoped that this case study will help teachers and family members to recognize the symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome and to understand how to help such individuals develop their area of special interest into a professional ability (Wing, 1998) and to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.