Ancestor is a farmer leading a nomadic lifestyle in that he had traveled to Hengchun Township in Taiwan, Yunnan Province in China and northeastern Thailand from the ‘90s till the beginning of the new millennium. Yet, nobody knows his real name, age, and nationality. It is said that he is capable of communicating with different types of animals as well as living in rural areas of Hengchun where he engages in extensive farming. In fact, Ancestor spent most of his leisure time creating “objects”, of which materials were largely sourced from forests, valleys, and seashores, including various types of plants and animal carcasses; accordingly, they were aptly carved, smoke-soaked, sewed together, painted, and partially decorated with manufactured products. However, Ancestor didn’t regard these time-consuming handmade crafts as works of art, but as quasi charms or artifacts —— the vehicle allowing him to continuously communicate with nature and spirits. Moreover, he always exhibited these crafts in the form of unique spatial installations at local fairs held in various cities, counties or towns. The Portrait of the Moon Girl was purchased in 1991 by the member of an internet forum called “NO” from the flea market on Zhonghua Road, Kaohsiung (now reconstructed as a residential district); in 2021, it was donated to the Huesio Geological Museum and accepted into its permanent collection.
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