NCKU's art students team up with Tainan City Government for 'The Chimeric Island' light art project on the Nankunshen Line.-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

Organized by NCKU's Master's Program in Science and Technology in Art, the 'Local Imagery Light Installation Art Project on the Nankunshen Line' draws inspiration from the distinctive features of Guanmiao and Longqi in Tainan. Two series of creations will debut at 'Ahui Free Range Chicken Farm' and 'Green Dragon Mountain Free Range Chicken Farm' in Guanmiao District, Tainan, starting this Saturday, December 23rd, and will be displayed until February 18, 2024.


Highly acclaimed, the 'Longqi Light Festival: Space Mountain Festival' will once again be held this Sunday, December 24th. Two installations from NCKU will be set up at the foot of Tiger Mountain Park, serving as prominent landmarks along the path to the main exhibition area of the festival, enhancing their visibility and ensuring they become focal points for gatherings and interactions among visitors.


The exhibition period aligns with the 5th 'Longqi Light Festival: Space Mountain Festival,' aiming to raise awareness about Longqi's land, promote tourism, and showcase the artworks created by emerging artists from NCKU's Master's Program in Science and Technology in Art. Additionally, it encourages NCKU students to engage in social practices, fostering connections between students and the local community. Through teaching outcomes and local exchanges, it aims to address local issues and establish relationships or exchanges with the community.


Guided by Associate Professor Ming Turner from NCKU's Institute of Creative Industries Design and assisted by Tainan Community College's Environmental Action Group, the art creations draw inspiration from Guanmiao and Longqi in Tainan. The two series, "Local Produce Party" and "Animal Party," reflect the diverse facets and cultural characteristics of the Longqi community, incorporating elements from local interactions into the artworks to highlight the region's cultural uniqueness.


In these two works, artists blend their subjective perceptions with objective information about Longqi, transforming its resource characteristics into art installations. Through art, they offer diverse perspectives on this unique land, addressing environmental concerns and showcasing their care for Longqi.


"Local Produce Party" takes inspiration from Tainan's Nankunshen Line characteristic products: pineapples symbolize abundance and fertility, bamboo emphasizes growth and transformation, dragon fruit highlights the region's vitality, and Guanmiao noodles convey cultural diversity through colorful linear representations. Audiences can appreciate Tainan's natural beauty while experiencing respect and uniqueness for Taiwan's specialties.


Tainan Longqi mudstone is one of the world's rare scenic wonders, nurturing rich ecological environments with its barren mudstone geology and tranquil surroundings. The concept of "Animal Party" originates from discovering numerous animal footprints on the dry mudstone terrain after rain, suggesting hidden creatures gathering for nocturnal revelries. Using simple geometric lines and blocks, the artwork depicts the overlapping and roaming figures of Formosan sambar deer, crested serpent eagles, pangolins, and crab-eating mongooses amidst mudstone and grass. The layers of the artwork are rendered in golden orange hues derived from dried Miscanthus.