SHENG-WEN LO

The exhibition provides visual clues for the treasure locations with photos and videos. If people want to participate, they can examine these clues and try to figure out the exact locations in the wetlands. Hence, to find the treasures in an area over 1,000 km2, the participants are not only forced to slow down, but also encouraged to keenly observe, listen, compare and think.

From February to March 2022, Sheng-Wen Lo cycled 600 km through roadways in Camargue and Alpilles Natural Regional Parks, and documented 29 cases of roadkills.

Join the treasure hunt!

Participate in this unsupervised game at your own risk. Neither the artist, FOTODOK nor The Rencontres d’Arles are responsible for any accidents, injury or damages that may occur.

11 jewellery pieces were designed based on found roadkills. The box set includes jewellery fragments which can be re-assembled in various ways. The design language resonates with the fragmented animals on the roads.

—

Jewellery design: Ching-Hui Yang and Sheng-Wen Lo

Jewellery material: Plexiglas XT and brass

Technical advisor: Zsófia Török

When I went looking for roadkill for the Watch Out project in the spring of 2022, I usually went by bike. I passed this point almost every day, which was close to where I found the first roadkill. Searching for dead animals felt like a strange treasure hunt – I was both happy and sad when I spotted something.

20220218-1

Species: Rat

Discovery time: 18 Feb, 2022, 05:34 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

One of the main roadways through the Camargue, with a lot of very fast drivers. Many times —when I turned back too late and had to return to Arles after dark— I had to cycle on this roadway for about 10 km. It was quite scary, even with my reflective vest and lots of bicycle lights. There was one instance when I went off road for a detour through the farms due to scary traffic, ending up in grass as tall as I am — not a nice detour for bikers, but perhaps a good place for animals.

20220225–03

Species: Red Fox

Discovery time: 25 Feb, 2022, 02:29 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

On the same roadway as 2-1. I found several big furry foxes, and also spotted a living one running into the setting sun. From time to time I saw farmers burning things in their fields.

20220225-4

One of the less busy roadways in the Camargue. It’s much quieter here, but it can sometimes be swampier and more difficult to ride.

20220225–02

Species: Pine Processionary Moth

Discovery time: 25 Feb, 2022, 01:16 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

Near 3-1, some horses passed through the muddy terrain. From time to time, I saw squashed caterpillars (pine processionary moths, considered pests by humans) in this location, as well as several others in the wetland. I often noticed the caterpillars whilst I was filming something else, only for a car to run them over a moment later. Insects are often excluded from roadkill research and documentation (who cares how many ants and bugs they flatten during a road trip?), but I will include them in this project.

20220225–02

One Saturday, I decided to take a walk through a less explored section of the map. I took a bus along the Rhône, and tried to walk the return leg slowly for 25 km. It was a quiet part of the wetland; the vegetation and wildlife were abundant. Near this part of the national park I found a badger and a cat. The badger remained on location for some days, but the cat had disappeared by my next visit.

20220222-2

Species: European Badger

Discovery time: 22 Feb, 2022, 03:12 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

On the same walking trip as 4-1. It was a wet and windy day, and the buses weren’ t running frequently. I ended up getting soaked; I walked for about 5.5 hours, and I had to rush to catch the last bus back to Arles. Here I filmed a flock of foraging birds in the afternoon.

20220222–02

I cross this point when I visit the petite Camargue. I really enjoyed the view here, but I also found several dead animals nearby — including a blackcap and a fox.

20220225-6

Species: Eurasian Blackcap

Discovery time: 25 Feb, 2022, 05:13 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

Somewhere in the wetland, where the road turns red.

20220222-1

Species: Cat

Discovery time: 22 Feb, 2022, 02:38 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

Surface of 6-1

20220222-1

A lake near 6-1, where lots of swans and other birds live.

20220323–01

Species: Frog

Discovery time: Mar 23, 2022, 11:16 AM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

On a sunny day, I found a dried-up animal carcass. At first I wasn’t sure what it was, but my Seek app identified it as a skunk (which became quite obvious once I was told ). Sometimes during my trip, I came across things so distorted that I wasn’t sure if they were dead animals — I hope they weren’t.

20220322-3

Species: Striped Skunk

Discovery time: 22 Mar, 2022, 12:07 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

This is a straight 5 km roadway through the wetland. In many ways, this road marks the beginning of the project, because it inspired me when I was reading about the wetland. Later, when I came across the story of Forrest Fenn, it occurred to me that a treasure hunt could be a way to engage with the roadkill problem.

Species: Common Moorhen

Discovery time: Mar 25, 2022, 08:28 AM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

The lake view of 8-1. This morning was a bit chilly, but the lake was smooth and tranquil with swans floating across its surface. The scene was elegant, almost theatrical. At the same time, you could hear the piercing sound of speeding vehicles cutting through the atmosphere.

20220325–03

Vegetation near 8-1. I stayed near this location for a week, so that I could visit the road both at night and at sunrise. Indeed, there’s far more roadkill visible in the early morning — I found several killed nutria at the start of each day. During an excursion at night, I also realized that many animals seem to react more slowly in darkness. Lots of them are nocturnal. At times, the nutria ran alongside me after dark! During the day, they would be sure to hide from humans. It’s pitch black at night, meaning drivers can struggle to react when they see animals on the road. Having no light pollution, though, is a good thing for wildlife, so it is a difficult problem to solve; there must be a smart way to make both ends meet.

20220325-3

A morning view. I made several 60–70 km bike rides during my stay in the village of Gallician, reaching the Plage de l’Espiguette (a large beach), the medieval walls of Aigues-Mortes, and the Carbonniere Tower. For me, these long trips were beautiful, even if I sometimes had to walk through puddles and mud. On faster roads, I found not only killed animals, but also small memorials for people who had lost their lives there.

20220325-2

Species: Nutria

Discovery time: Mar 25, 2022, 07:07 AM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

I ventured eastwards from Arles towards the Alpilles Natural Regional Park — a hilly area, where I found several blackcaps and a European starling.

20220308-6

Species: Starling

Discovery time: 8 Mar 2022 05:59 PM

Location: 43.*****° N, 4.*****° E

By the road near 10-1.

20220308-6

From participants who successfully located a box (The Starling Brooch); they share their process on project IG: @watchout.2023.2024 . The audience and locals have diligently located many of the pieces.

Roadways crossing through the Natural Regional Parks of Camargue and Alpilles.

Pieces of jewellery are always found on road sides, in transparent, waterproof boxes.

Please follow the project instagram to see the photo of the boxes and more clues: @watchout.2023.2024

Download a copy of the Watch Out booklet and bring it with you to the treasure hunt.

This booklet is also available at the exhibition HERE NEAR at Les Rencontres d’Arles 2023 (3 Jul. - 24 Sep.)

Installation view, Rencontres d’Arles 2023.

The height of the pedestals are proportional to the distance between the treasure and the exhibition venue.

Installation view, Rencontres d’Arles 2023.

Installation view, Rencontres d’Arles 2023.