The Taiwan Pavilion stood out among the pool of over 40 participating exhibitors and won the Best Design Medal at the London Design Biennale, which is being held at the city's iconic Somerset House until June 25. The medal was presented by the international jury on the first day of the fair.
London Design Biennale director Victoria Broackes visited the Taiwan Pavilion on June 2, hailing it as one of the most captivating exhibitions of this year's event. The intricate elements and details of the pavilion entice the viewers to engage in a deeper exploration of the artistic concepts and messages conveyed through the artworks.
In an interview with the Central News Agency, the pavilion curator Tseng Ling-li (曾令理) stated that the Taiwan Pavilion drew inspiration from Taiwan's cultural landscape. One of the features highlights the close integration of industry and daily life in Taiwan, where scooter shops and restaurants can be neighbors, and factories can be found next to residential buildings. These discordant elements serve as symbols of the country's distinctiveness and resilience, representing the democratic spirit that values both individual and collective, Tseng added.
Titled "Visible Shop: Parts without Cover (看得見的商店：無遮掩零件)," the Taiwan Pavilion showcases Taiwan's significance as a vital global trade hub and its indispensable role within the global manufacturing supply chain due to its unique geographical location and technological capabilities. The exhibition presents a diverse range of interdisciplinary concepts and interactions, responding to the biennale's theme of "Remapping Collaborations." It creates a space that resembles an industrial production site using industrial materials such as aluminum-extruded metal tubes and a diverse array of hardware components that were air-shipped from Taiwan to the UK.
The most eye-catching exhibit is an installation driven by electromagnets, which occupies a central position in the exhibition. The installation is composed of over 300 screws, magnets, and over 600 wires. Controlled by a computer program with random jumping patterns, it operates in cycles of 5 minutes and 48 seconds. In addition, the pavilion provides engaging and interactive activities for the public to participate in.
(Photo courtesy of Taiwan Design Research Institute and London Design Biennale)