Public Art
A Narrative on Taiwan's History
The history of Taiwan does not just comprise past episodes, but includes a dialogue between the past and the present, the individual and the group, and human cultures and nature. Adopting such a historical dialogue as the design concept, the timeline of public art in the Museum begins from Taiwan in ancient times, Taiwan in the contemporary times, Taiwan in the present to Taiwan in the future and finally circles back to Taiwan in ancient times, demonstrating that Taiwan history is an act of constant interpretation and an endless cycle. “A Narrative on Taiwan's History” is represented by three artworks “Sailing to the Dream Land“, "Harmony", and "The Origin of Taiwan: the Future Island". Combined with the main design concepts of the Museum--“Sailing”, “Sandbanks”, “Cloud Wall”, and “Integration”, these public art works not only generate a dialogue between the past, the present and the future but also form a connection between the public, public art and issues relating to history and culture. Once visitors enter the park, they enter into a historical dialogue through the interface of public art. The Museum serves as a platform where social consciousness, public intelligence and mass concepts come together.
Sailing to the Dream Land“Sailing to the Dream Land” features one of the important public art pieces, located near the parking bay of Changhe Rd., entering visitors’ line of sight as they approach the Museum. Made from steel and with a mechanical structure and an engine, this huge oar-shaped power plant illustrates the concept of many people cooperating to row a boat in order to cross rough seas. In addition, the work displays the image of a flying bird, indicating the hopefulness of early immigrants. This public art work not only describes the story where a sandbank transforms into a large flying bird but also ignites visitors' imagination of the courage of early immigrants to Taiwan in pursuing their freedom and embracing future possibilities.
"Harmony""Harmony" is a stainless steel ball-like sculpture, located on the road to the museum. With floral patterns engraved by laser, the flower-blossom image of "Harmony" symbolizes the fusion of cultures and races in Taiwan. At the center of the floral ball is a pentagon, with each face connected to a hexagon. Its geometrical arrangement of patterns is similar to a football. At the center of the pentagon are a broad-tailed swallowtail butterfly and an indigenous cinnamon tree. As a symbol of various ethnic groups, the broad-tailed swallowtail butterfly is connected to five kinds of flowers. From left to right are the Taiwan lily, Taiwan rhododendron, Taiwan cherry, butterfly orchid, and Taiwan hibiscus. Each floral image features a particular image of Taiwan, expressing the life style of a certain group or immigrants memories of their hometown and Taiwan.
Transforming paper cutting skills into engraving, “Harmony” uses hollowed out patterns collaged onto the ball. Inside the ball is an illumination system. The illumination system turns on at night, making this public art work a shining lantern.
Original Formosan Island of the FutureThis piece is closest to the Museum and is the most frequently-visited public art work. Based on current satellite images of Taiwan, geographical structures of landscapes of Taiwan are further added by computer graphics. This public art work attempts to show an image of Taiwan in its original and undeveloped form. The same digital image is also reproduced in quartz tiles. Located on the plaza at the west side of the Museum this public work not only represents history but also poses a question of reality. The same image, Island of the Future, displays a reflection of the civilization of city and industrial development, the promotion of Taiwan as a green technology island, expressing the hope that Taiwan can return to its pure and natural state.
