"Where the Worlds Begin (世界開始的地方)," a massive animated display designed for the entryway of the Austronesian Hall at the National Museum of Prehistory (NMP), won the iF Design Award 2023 under the category of animation. Previously, it received the Golden Pin Design Award in the Visual Communication Design category and was also nominated in the Animation category for the ADC Awards in the US.
The animation, presented on 27 LCD screens, is a result of collaboration between NPM curators and a multitude of talented Taiwanese designers, as well as Taiwanese renowned illustrators including Lin Wei-da (林韋達), Chen Cing-lin (陳青琳), Michun, Huyu (胡瑜), Steven Tung (董十行), Little Oil Art (小油画), as well as animation teams like SquarOne Studio (一大力魚工作室) and CSLmedia Productions (彰三影視).
The director employs a one-shot technique to weave together various styles of illustrations into a unified composition, creating a hidden multi-cultural symphony in this approximately 3-minute-long animation. Showcasing the diverse origins of Austronesian peoples, the piece presents a rich tapestry of creation myths from different indigenous tribes, including the Tao, Amis, Rukai, Puyuma, Bunun from Taiwan, and the Iban from Malaysia, as well as other indigenous peoples from places like the Republic of Kiribati.
The Austronesian Hall combines anthropological curation with creative visual design to create highly innovative animated works, bringing a fresh highlight to the museum's reopening on May 19.
The iF Design Award, based in Berlin, Germany, is one of the most prestigious design competitions globally - with almost 11,000 entries from 56 countries in 2023. The recognition received by the NPM not only brings Taiwan into the international spotlight again but also facilitates the intersection of Taiwanese culture with the world.