NCKU's "International Advancement and Field Validation Program" Cross-disciplinary Collaboration: "Everlasting Island"-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

National Cheng Kung University’s Interdisciplinary Drama Credit Program and the Graduate Institute of Art Studies, along with the Master’s Program in Drama, have partnered with the Core Facilities Center and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, led by Professor Wen-Tai Chiu, Professor Yen-Hsun Su of the Core Facilities Center's Precious Instrument Equipment Group, and Associate Professor Wei-sheng Chen of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, for the “Micro-Imaging Lishan Initiative: From Taiwan's Light-Identification of Plant Environmental Theater to the Development of Plant Carbon Sink Carbon Rights Technology” project. This cross-domain collaboration uses theatrical arts to present sustainability concepts and environmental issues. The performance, based on the concept of "Land Stories," integrates three main themes—"Past, Present, and Future"—and three theater forms—"Ritual Theater, Proscenium Theater, and Environmental Theater"—to showcase the traditions, preservation, and sustainable development of performance arts.


This semester, students in the Theater Practice course held the opening performance of *Eternal Island* on December 10 at NCKU’s Core Facilities Center, presenting sustainability ideas through interdisciplinary arts. The work combines field surveys, on-site visits, and local culture, with slag art and glowing plants as core elements, exploring the deeper meaning of environmental sustainability. The students involved in the planning and creation included Ting-xiang Yang, Chen-pu Yang, Cheng-yang Yuan, Si-yu Lu, Ya-hui You, Hao-kai Chen, Yu-jie Lin, Heng-ni Zhu, Yu-ting Mao, Xin Hu, Xi-xian Liu, Yi-ting Chen, Wen-wen Chi, Zheng-dao Liang, Rui-ren Xiao, Pei-xuan Zhu, Wei-huan Cai, Yi-hong Xie, Yu-hua Su, You-han Wang, Wan-ling Wu..


The Eternal Island opening performance began with a glowing diabolos performance titled "Time Circles & Flowing Futures" by drama graduate student Cheng-Yang Yuan, presented in the form of environmental theater. Audiences were immersed in a space interwoven with nature, culture, and future visions. Through the integration of art and ecology, the series explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, opening new possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable development. The aim is to use the power of art to raise awareness and encourage reflection on environmental protection and cultural heritage.


Associate Professor Wei-Chien Ma, convener of NCKU’s Interdisciplinary Drama Credit Program and faculty member of the Graduate Institute of Art Studies, stated that the creation particularly emphasizes the integration of cultural diversity and locality, promoting a rethinking of ecological preservation and the future of humanity. The performance combines art, ecology, and field research outcomes, seamlessly aligning creativity with sustainability. Sustainability concepts are conveyed through the regeneration of waste materials in slag art and glowing plant installations, presented through environmental theater to demonstrate the potential for resource recycling. This allows audiences to experience the work’s meaning through interactive engagement.


The Eternal Island exhibition will be held from December 10 to 13, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with an environmental theater experience at 6:30 PM. The entire event is expected to take 45 minutes. All students and faculty are invited to participate. Additionally, a performance titled *Life Without End* will take place at NCKU’s Phoenix Tree Theater on the morning of December 26. This performance is also based on creative ideas gathered from field research in Tainan, leading to the planning of participatory theater, aiming to inspire the audience to reflect on and prioritize local issues. Everyone is welcome to join.