Kaohsiung Science Park - Discovering Public Art Introduction
Kaohsiung Science Park is located between the neighborhoods of Luzhu, Gangshan, and Yong'an in Kaohsiung City, covering an area of approximately 570 hectares. The primary industries in the park are optoelectronics, precision machinery, and biotechnology (medical devices). The park can be accessed via National Highway No. 1 at the Kaohsiung Science Park interchange through connecting roads. Public transport options include taking the Taiwan Railways to Luzhu Station and Gangshan Station, followed by Provincial Highway No. 1; shuttle buses (Red 69B) from the Kaohsiung MRT are available to the park; and free circular buses are provided from Luzhu Station to the park. In the future, the Kaohsiung MRT will also extend to Luzhu, significantly enhancing transportation convenience. The park is approximately 35 kilometers from Kaohsiung International Airport and about 40 kilometers from Kaohsiung Harbor, offering a geographically advantageous position for international transportation. The park integrates local industry specialties known as the "Four Treasures of Luzhu" (tomato, cauliflower, egg, and milkfish) to promote sustainable development of natural resources and technological industries, featuring numerous public artworks that reflect local characteristics. Through historical and spatial elements, these artworks aim to preserve cultural heritage, showcasing local culture and industrial beauty using various materials such as mosaic, stainless steel, galvanized steel, pebblestone, and fiberglass, including works like "Gene No. 35," "Space Memory," "Blue Magpie," "Happy Bear," and "The Dance of Flakdo." ◆ "Gene No. 35": This piece uses a large egg as a creative focal point, highlighting the characteristics of the three treasures of Luzhu (tomato, cauliflower, and egg) while symbolizing the concept of "production," targeting the development goal of a "Three-Living Park" encompassing production, life, and ecology. The cracked pattern on the egg signifies the birth of wisdom and suggests that the development of the biotechnology and medical device industry arises from care for human-user interface connections. ◆ "Happy Bear": Maintaining ecological balance and the sustainable development of natural resources is one of the most urgent and severe challenges facing humanity in the 21st century, and a global concern in modern technology and art. A "happy day" that everyone dreams of involves not only stream restoration for clearer waters and bears having plenty of fish to eat, but also achieving coexistence and mutual prosperity between humans and their natural environments — creating a win-win situation where "both fish and bear's paw" can be enjoyed. Now, let us look forward to such happy days becoming a reality through our dual efforts in technology and art alongside the little bears! ◆ "Space Memory": The transition of the science park from farmland and parks to its current state reflects the love and recognition that people have for this land, despite the changing environment. It expresses that all things transcend temporal constraints, storing the beauty of the world in a memory time-lapse via technology, blending regional landscape concepts that allow more interaction and exchange between the public and the park to create wonderful memories together. ◆ "The Dance of Flakdo": Just as large-scale biological forms are recorded within the tiny scale of genes, fractals represent a new perspective for us to observe the world. ◆ "Blue Magpie": This piece features a membrane structure acting as the bird's wings and tail surfaces, supported by a steel structure representing its spine and supporting framework, complemented with colorful ribbons around it. ◆ "Spring Wind Blows Again": This poem by Bai Juyi metaphorically compares resilient life to "wildfire cannot burn out, spring wind blows again," representing vitality that cannot be extinguished by any force. Committed to biomimetic technology, the concept of "bringing back vitality" in orthopedic applications has become attainable. The main product line includes artificial joints used in orthopedic procedures to replace damaged joints, enabling patients to regain mobility and use them long-term, easing joint pain and restoring action capacity. ◆ "Mother Duck and Ducklings": This whimsical representation features a mother duck leading its ducklings, evoking warmth while symbolizing the sustainable management and enduring legacy of the science park. Furthermore, the entire installation invites public interaction for hugging, resting, and enjoying the art. ◆ "Inspire and Transform": This artwork symbolizes technological transformation through a computer mouse shape, continuously extending inspiration through interwoven mechanical gears, reflecting the diverse development and rich technology of the tech industry. The rotating gears allude to the transformation of traditional industries, resonating with the park's historical culture while connecting with future development, enhancing the park's identification as a spiritually meaningful landmark. ◆ "Add Color to Life": Nature is inherently colorful, but what we perceive with the naked eye is limited compared to what can be revealed through optical technology. Taiwan International Gravure International Color Light Co. aims to enrich our lives with more colors, innovating to allow broader expressions of color, amplifying the sense of happiness in life. ◆ "Mirror View": This sculpture, composed of double elliptical reflective surfaces, captures the dynamic essence of the surrounding environment, quietly recording momentary changes. One side reflects passersby from the past, while the other mirrors the vast sky. The semi-open base environment presents a blurred line between inside and outside, and the timely intervention of the artwork provides an opportunity for passersby to reflect on nature. ◆ "The Powerful Force of QR Screw": Beginning with a digital imagery concept and future tech lifestyle, this piece combines QR codes with screws as symbols. Viewers can scan the QR code to quickly connect and learn about the Southern Science Park, transitioning from physical space into the digital realm. This interactive experience fosters connections among the audience, the artwork, and the science park; furthermore, the small screw symbolizes the solid power of technology professionals who can sustain a broad world. Initially a tiny precise object, it expands into a large visual force, taking bold steps from the small to the world, as the QR screw reflects the deep local cultivation and the infinite potential that cannot be ignored on a global scale. ◆ "Companionship": In the developing Kaohsiung Science Park, the identification system is not yet well-established, making it difficult to recognize despite the presence of large enterprises and buildings. This artwork creatively and prominently creates large indicators for the Kaohsiung Science Park using bright colors and fun modern designs, leaving an impression on passersby even if they are not visiting the park itself, making the artistic marker an intriguing and memorable sight.
