Call Me Mrs Chan
Chan Hau-chun, Chui Chi-yin
Col / 15' 53"/ In Hokkien with Chinese and English subtitles
Cleaner Mrs Chan works in a public housing estate to clear the garbage, 365 days a year except on the first day of the Chinese New Year. For the past ten years, her quiet dedication cleaning the building has brought her no respect, only back pain. She said people despised her job, but she carried on with it.
Artist’s Statement
Everyone throws away rubbish. The cleaning staff earns the lowest wages with blood and sweat. Perhaps when you come across these workers collecting rubbish at the backdoor along the corridor, you will not pay attention to their work. Actually there are simple things we can do, such as wrapping those sharp pieces of glass before throwing them away to avoid cutting the workers’ hands. It is to respect both others and yourselves.
