Kaohsiung Science Park - Finding Public Art Introduction
The Kaohsiung Science Park is located between the Lujhu, Gangshan, and Yong'an districts of Kaohsiung City, covering an area of approximately 570 hectares. The main industries in the park include optoelectronics, precision machinery, and biotechnology (medical equipment). The park can be accessed via the Kaohsiung Science Park interchange on National Highway No. 1 through connecting roads, and public transportation can utilize the Lujhu and Gangshan stations on the Taiwan Railways, reaching the park via Provincial Highway No. 1. Bus services such as the Red 69B from the Kaohsiung MRT also connect to the park. There is a free shuttle bus service from Lujhu Station to the park, and in the future, the Kaohsiung MRT will extend to Lujhu, significantly enhancing transportation convenience. The park is approximately 35 kilometers from Kaohsiung International Airport and about 40 kilometers from Kaohsiung Port, providing substantial advantages in international transportation. The park incorporates local agricultural products known as the "Four Treasures of Lujhu"—tomatoes, cauliflower, eggs, and milkfish—to support sustainable development of natural resources and the technological industry. Numerous public artworks featuring local characteristics are set up to facilitate cultural heritage through historical and spatial expression, showcasing the beauty of local culture and industry using various materials (mosaic, stainless steel, galvanized steel, pebble, fiberglass, etc.), such as Gene No. 35, Spatial Memories, Blue Magpie, Bear Good Days, and Dance of the Furakdo. ◆ Gene No. 35: It creatively uses a large egg to highlight the characteristics of Lujhu's three treasures—tomatoes, cauliflower, and eggs—implying "production." It aims for the development goal of a "Tri-life Park" encompassing production, life, and ecology. The cracks on the egg symbolize the birth of human wisdom, suggesting that the development of the biomedical industry is rooted in caring connections with human interfaces. ◆ Bear Good Days: Maintaining ecological balance on Earth and the sustainable development of natural resources is the most urgent and pressing challenge facing humanity in the 21st century and a global issue extensively addressed by modern technology and art. A good day, as envisioned by everyone, means not just restoring the stream to be crystal clear, with little bears having plenty of fish to eat, but also achieving a win-win situation where humanity thrives alongside its natural environment. Let's strive for such a good day through combined efforts in technology and art! ◆ Spatial Memories: Even though the science park has transformed from farmland and parks to its current state, what remains unchanged is the affection and recognition everyone has for this land. It expresses a transcendence from the constraints of time, capturing the world's beauty through technology and creating opportunities for interaction and exchange between the public and the park, thereby generating beautiful memories together. ◆ Dance of the Furakdo: Much like how the morphology of an organism is recorded at a microscale within genes, fractals offer a new perspective in observing the world. ◆ Blue Magpie: The bird's body is formed with membrane structures as wings and tail and steel structures as its spine and supporting framework. ◆ Spring Breeze Revives Life: Tang Bai Juyi's saying, "Wildfire cannot burn it all; the spring breeze brings it back to life," metaphorically describes resilient entities that cannot be suppressed by any force. Committed to biomimetic technology, Joint Orthopedics focuses on artificial joints used in orthopedics, replacing damaged joints through surgery to restore patients' mobility. This technology aims to alleviate joint pain and enable long-term use, symbolizing spring through technological wisdom, delivering happiness in life, and a visage of joy as a sign of revival. ◆ Mama Duck and Her Ducklings: This work embodies the warm feeling of a mother duck leading her ducklings, symbolizing sustainable operation and enduring legacy of the science park. Besides, the entire collection allows visitors to interact with, embrace, rest upon and enjoy the artworks. ◆ Dot Inspiration, Transform Creativity: This sculpture, based on a computer mouse as a symbol of technological transformation, extends strings of inspiration and represents the diverse development and rich technologies of the tech industry through interwoven mechanical gear components. The rotating gears also metaphorically imply the transformation of traditional industries, echoing the park's cultural history and future development while adding a spiritually significant landmark. ◆ Adding Color to Life: Nature is inherently colorful, but what can be perceived with the naked eye is limited compared to what optical technology can reveal. The Taiwan International Lithographic Co. aims to add more colors to our lives, developing innovations that enhance the richness of colors, thus increasing a sense of happiness in life. ◆ Reflective View: The sculpture formed by dual elliptical mirrors becomes a dynamic container that absorbs the surrounding environment, quietly recording moments of change. One side reflects past pedestrians, while the other mirrors the expansive sky. The semi-open base environment blurs the relationship between the inside and outside, and the timely intervention of the artwork provides opportunities for passersby to appreciate nature. ◆ The Mighty Power of QR Little Screw: Starting from digital imagery and future technological life, it combines the QR code and screw as two symbols. Audiences can scan the QR code to quickly connect and learn about the Southern Science Park, transitioning from the physical to the digital space, thereby creating an interactive bond among the viewers, the artworks, and the science park. Additionally, the small screw symbolizes the solid strength of technology, able to support a vast world, expanding into a massive visual force that reflects the profound potential of local dedication to a global audience. ◆ In Partnership: The developing Southern Science Park in Kaohsiung has an identification system that is still incomplete, making it challenging to navigate despite the presence of large enterprises and buildings. With a lively, creative, and eye-catching approach, large signs were created for the Southern Science Park featuring bright colors and modern designs, inviting curiosity and leaving a lasting impression on the public, even for those who do not visit the Kaohsiung Park.
