The Mindful Architects

Working together over a decade, the duo directors Hsih-Chih Hsieh and Chih-An Chen consider time a vehicle conveying scores of life. They express their point of view through documentaries, their beloved form to wield their influence. Producing a documentary biennially, they have made the shortlist in six film festival categories and won two.

I’ve always considered the work of a documentary filmmaker similar to that of an architect. We love the land we grew up. We are observant to the interactions between human and the environment, and that among people. We analyze the march of time. We seek to unearth the thread of history and culture. And then, a documentary filmmaker helps people to feel with images, while an architect leads us to experience with the five senses. It was a delightful opportunity for me to have a deep comprehension of four unique Taiwanese architects. What we wish to achieve is not only help you know your architecture, but propose leading a mindful and meaningful life through questions and self-examination.

謝欣志與陳芝安兩位導演合作已超過十年，以二年一部紀錄片的速度緩緩前行，因為我們知道時間就是最好的容器。一共入圍了五次影展，獲兩個獎項，紀錄片是我們最熱愛的文體，它型塑了我們的世界觀，也讓我們發揮影響力。

一直覺得紀錄片工作者與建築師這兩個工作，本質上非常接近。我們必須對生長的土地有感情，對人與環境、人與人之間的互動觀察入微、對時代發展有所分析，對歷史文化脈絡有所探尋。然後，紀錄片工作者用影像帶大家去感受，建築師則用五感引領我們去經驗。很高興有機會深入理解台灣四位非常獨特的建築師，我們不只要帶大家走進建築的殿堂，更希望透過提問、反省，找到一個對生活的提案，對生命的追尋。