In Conversation: Taiwanese Bookshelves Oceanic Literature

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Si Rapongan, a Tao cultural documentarian, as we dive into the rich oceanic heritage of Lanyu (Orchid Island) and the legendary literary world of his father, the award-winning contemporary Indigenous writer Syaman Rapongan.

Through the intimate lens of a son inheriting his father’s legacy, this discussion will explore the profound relationship between the Tao people and the sea. The conversation will centre on their shared journey of building a traditional plank boat—a deep cultural bond that culminated in the stunning literary documentary I Dream of the Ocean (2025).

This event will also screen the documentary I DREAM OF THE OCEAN, which represents an intimate, four-year undertaking by director Chou Wen-chin. Turning his lens toward the monumental Tao/Yami maritime writer Syaman Rapongan and his son, Si Rapongan, Chou masterfully intertwines literature, physical labour, and ancestral heritage into a deeply sensory cinematic experience. The Sydney screening will take place on Saturday, 15 August (ticketed), while Canberra and Darwin will host screenings prior to the talk.