People Not Seen

雖然看不見你，但我在你家門口放一部感謝你的電影

Although Iceland has a population of only 380,000, it is renowned for its mysterious folklore—Huldufólk, or "hidden people." Icelanders firmly believe that many invisible beings share the same land they inhabit. These hidden folk dwell in rocks, bushes, waterfalls, and other natural settings, living in close proximity to the Icelandic people. If disturbed or if their homes are destroyed, they might interfere with people's work or damage their gardens and homes.
The folklore of Iceland represents a ritualistic power that emphasizes protection and respect for important things. These legends highlight a reverence for the natural environment, with Iceland's ancient rural values deeply rooted in this respect for nature. Interestingly, these tales bear a remarkable resemblance to the "Magical Spirits" folklore in Taiwan, which also underscores the importance of respecting the natural environment.
In 2024, we journeyed to the Westfjords of Iceland to visit those who have witnessed the Huldufólk, gathering several anecdotes about these hidden folk. The lives of these people have been touched by the presence of the Huldufólk, sometimes receiving help and other times being playfully teased. I also visited the places believed to be inhabited by the Huldufólk, offering them handmade Xuan paper dresses and outfits from East Asia. Through these "little gifts," I hope to establish some form of connection with them. Additionally, in front of their homes, I will screen videos as a gesture of gratitude, thanking the Huldufólk for leading us to discover this beautiful place.

2024年夏天，我在冰島西峽灣地區（Westfjords）駐村創作。這是一塊偏遠而寧靜的土地，被厚實的山脈、冷冽的空氣與快速變化的氣候所環繞。在那裡，人們時常提起 Huldufólk——冰島傳說中的「隱藏族」。他們住在岩縫之中，不與人言，卻長久以來受到深深敬畏。據說，若你不慎侵犯了他們的住所，工程會停擺，旅人會迷路，事情總會出錯。

冰島人總是敬重這些「看不見的鄰居」，並相信他們守護著社區的秩序與自然的平衡。

我來自台灣，一座同樣被風包圍的島嶼。在我們的文化裡，也有這樣的「看不見的鄰居」。特別是在山林之中，總有人談起迷路、失魂、又奇蹟似地被照顧或引導回家的經歷。有人說，那是遇到了魔神仔；也有人說，那是土地公顯靈。

兩座地理距離遙遠的島嶼，卻都有著這些無法解釋的神秘存在。它們時而令人敬畏，時而帶來庇護，那些無法被看見的「存在感知」從未消失，只是常常被忽略或遺忘。

駐村期間，我得知冰島人在電力系統全面建設後，關於 Huldufólk 的傳說逐漸減少，事件變得稀少。我找到一張印有 Huldufólk 聚落標記的地圖，走訪那些被註記為「有人住在這裡」的岩石、草地與山坡。雖然我沒有慧根，無法看見他們，但我相信，是祂們帶我走進了冰島，也讓我認識了這座島嶼的風，與風裡的文化、氣味與秩序。

在離開冰島前，我想對這些「看不見的引路人」說聲謝謝。於是我想起台灣廟宇中常見的酬神儀式，決定也以自己的方式致意：我在他們的「家門口」——那些據說住著 Huldufólk 的岩壁與隱蔽空地——進行了一場簡單的放映。

這是一場無人的放映，觀眾不是人類，而是那些無法被我們視線捕捉的鄰居。
不是祈福，也不是驅魔，只是一句真誠的道謝：
謝謝你帶我來到這裡。