25/08/2026
This year we connected Emerging Writers' Festival with writers from Taiwan via the 國立臺灣文學館 National Museum of Taiwan Literature
Lets meet Ado Kaliting Pacida
I am an Amis from the Fata'an community in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, wearing many hats as a songwriter, singer, and producer. My name, Ado, echoes a saying in Amis mythology: “Singing is to please the gods.”
My creative work is quite atypical. While I do engage in conventional writing, my work is mostly based on Indigenous culture and the essence of traditional ballads. I also create poetry and music albums in my native Indigenous language, focusing primarily on ancient myths and contemporary Indigenous perspectives. Beyond that, my creative output extends to visual works, including short films, documentaries, and docuseries.
I write at home, in the office, at cafes, and in art museums, but I am most drawn to the ocean. I don't follow a fixed writing process, nor do I have specific habits or routines. I often write in the brief margins of my work, or I simply return to the beach in my hometown to seek inspiration.
1. In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust.
It features some truly iconic lines. These include its famous opening: "For a long time, I went to bed early," and a profound reflection on the nature of memory: "Life is but a series of isolated moments; it is through memory and imagination that meaning emerges." There is also a quote about longing and distance: "People and things that appear beautiful and mysterious from afar lose both their mystery and beauty once examined closely."
I chose In Search of Lost Time because this work is renowned for its stream-of-consciousness technique and delicate sensory memories, which have profoundly influenced the development of literature for generations to come.
2. How Can One Sell the Air? by Chief Seattle
Historical background: A deeply moving appeal made in the 1850s when the U.S. government attempted to purchase Indigenous lands. It has since been widely adapted and passed down through the generations.
It explores the question, “How can one buy or sell the sky, the earth, and the ocean?” reflecting the Indigenous reverence for nature and the philosophy of coexistence with all living beings.
May all that flows through my hands be graced with the protection and blessings of my ancestors along the way.
Meet Ado at this years Emerging Writers' Festival https://emergingwritersfestival.org.au/
