Kaohsiung Science Park - Searching for Public Art Introduction
Kaohsiung Science Park is located between the districts of Luzhu, Gangshan, and Yong'an in Kaohsiung City, covering an area of approximately 570 hectares. The main industries include optoelectronics, precision machinery, and biotechnology (medical equipment). It can be accessed via the highway interchange on National Freeway No. 1 and connected roads, while public transport options include the Taiwan Railway Luzhu Station and Gangshan Station, reaching the park via Provincial Highway No. 1. Shuttle buses (Red 69B) are available from Kaohsiung Metro to the park; there is also a free shuttle bus service from Luzhu Station to the park. In the future, the Kaohsiung Metro will extend to Luzhu, significantly enhancing transportation convenience. The park is approximately 35 kilometers from Kaohsiung International Airport and about 40 kilometers from Kaohsiung Harbor, enjoying a geographically advantageous location for international transport. The park integrates local industries known as the "four treasures of Luzhu," which include tomatoes, cauliflower, eggs, and milkfish, with the aim of sustainable development of natural resources and technology industries. It features many public artworks that reflect local characteristics, preserving cultural heritage through historical and spatial dimensions using various materials (such as mosaics, stainless steel, galvanized steel, pebbles, and fiberglass) to express the beauty of local culture and industries, such as "Gene No. 35," "Spatial Memory," "Blue Magpie," "Bear Good Days," "Dance of Fulakdo," and more. ◆ Gene No. 35: Inspired by large eggs, it highlights the characteristics of Luzhu's three treasures (tomatoes, cauliflower, and eggs), carrying the connotation of "production," and aligns with the development goal of the "Three-Life Park" (production, life, ecology). The cracks on the egg's shell symbolize the birth of cultural wisdom, suggesting that behind the development of the biomedical equipment industry lies a caring connection with human interfaces. ◆ Bear Good Days: Maintaining ecological balance and sustainable development of natural resources is one of the most urgent and severe challenges faced by humanity in the 21st century, and it is a global issue widely addressed by modern technology and art. A good day, as everyone dreams, is not only about having clear streams and abundant fish for little bears but also about ensuring that humanity can thrive in symbiosis with their natural environment, achieving a win-win situation of "having both fish and bear paws." Let's embrace this vision of a better day through the combined efforts of technology and art! ◆ Spatial Memory: The science park has transformed from farmland and parks to its current state. While the environment continually changes, the love and recognition for this land remain constant. It illustrates the concept that all things transcend time, using technology to store the beauty of the world in the temporal differential of memory, allowing the public more interaction and engagement with the park to collectively create beautiful memories. ◆ Dance of Fulakdo: Just as the large-scale forms of organisms are recorded in the tiny genes, fractals represent a new perspective on observing the world. ◆ Blue Magpie: Utilizing membrane structures as the wings and tail of the bird and steel structures as the bird's spine, supporting frames, and colorful ribbons. ◆ Spring Breeze Reviving Life: Tang Bai Juyi used “Wildfire cannot burn out, spring wind blows again” to metaphorically describe resilient things. Committed to bionic technology, "Reviving Hands" is no longer an unreachable dream in orthopedic surgery. The main product line focuses on orthopedic artificial joints, which are used to replace damaged joints during surgery, allowing patients to regain mobility for long-term use. Joint Orthopedics symbolizes the spring breeze for joint patients, utilizing technological wisdom to support life's happiness, with joyful expressions signaling rejuvenation. ◆ Duck with Ducklings: The image of a mother duck leading its ducklings creates a warm feeling within the science park. The mother duck symbolizes the sustainable management of the science park that endures over time. In addition, the entire installation invites the public to approach, embrace, rest, and enjoy. ◆ Inspiration Point, Creative Turn: Based on the image of a computer mouse symbolizing technological transformation, inspiration is continually extending from it through interwoven mechanical gear components, representing the diverse development and rich technology of the tech industry. The image of turning gears also metaphorically suggests the transformation of traditional industries, linking both the historical and future development of the park. ◆ Adding Color to Life: Nature is inherently colorful, but what can be perceived by the naked eye is limited compared to what can be seen through optical technology. Taiwan’s International Lithographic and Color Company invests in introducing more colors to our lives through innovative research and development, enhancing the richness of happiness in life. ◆ Mirror View: Sculptures formed from double-oval mirror surfaces turn the artwork into a dynamic container that absorbs the surrounding environment, quietly recording changes over time. One side reflects past pedestrians, while the other reflects the vast sky. The semi-open environmental base creates a blurred relationship between inside and outside, providing opportunities for people to observe nature through timely intervention of the artwork. ◆ The Great Power of QR Little Screw: Starting from digital imagery and future technological life, it combines the QR code and screw symbols. Viewers can scan the QR code to quickly connect and learn about the Southern Science Park, transitioning from physical space to cyberspace. This interaction fosters connections among the audience, the artwork, and the science park; moreover, the small screw symbolizes the solid strength of technology workers, supporting a vast world. This originally tiny precision object expands here into a massive visual force, taking big strides from the small towards the world. QR Little Screw is not just a small screw but tries to reflect the significant potential of deep local cultivation expanding globally. ◆ Companionship: The developing Southern Science Park in Kaohsiung has not yet established a complete identification system, making it somewhat challenging to recognize despite the presence of large enterprises and buildings. In a lively, creative, and eye-catching manner, large indicators have been created for the Southern Science Park, utilizing vivid colors and playful modern designs, ensuring that even those passing by without visiting the Kaohsiung Park find these artworks intriguing and memorable.
