Wander Around ‘Resonance Island’ at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan

Key visual for this year’s Creative Expo revolves around the theme “Resonance Island”

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan— Since the Creative Expo was first held in 2010, it has become one of the most important cultural events in Taiwan. Each year, the expo challenges Taiwan’s creative community to dig into its culture, in the hope of promoting the nation’s soft power.

The long-awaited 2022 Creative Expo took place in Kaohsiung city, home to what was once ranked the world’s No.3 container port. Taking advantage of the city’s landmarks found along its historic harbour, the expo selected Kaohsiung Music Centre and Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre as the venues for this year’s expo..

Running from August 5th through 14th, the Creative Expo consisted of three sections: Culture, Creative and Licensing. Culture section was held at the Kaohsiung Music Centre, whereas the Creative (by local brands) and Licensing (by IP creators) sections were found at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Centre.

Cultural Journey through 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan

The highlight of the Creative Expo is none other than its Culture section, which spread over five different pavilions of the Kaohsiung Music Centre, transforming this archipelago of architectural feat into The Main Pavilion, The Craft Pavilion, Chiayi Pavilion, Matsu Pavilion, and The Echo Pavilion.

This year’s theme revolved around “Resonance Island”, shedding light on how the island’s diverse cultural landscape has been shaped by its citizens.

“Round-Island Arena” at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan
Courtesy of Ministry of Culture

With an aim to illustrate the showcase “the Taiwan in our eyes”, curator Lin Kun-Ying invites its visitors on a cultural journey through the “Round-Island Arena”, which is filled with all sorts of installations, including lush plants, interactive playground, and 50 iconic objects from everyday life that would resonate with most visitors.

An arena is found in the centre of this huge exhibition space, where series of programs, such as talks, performance, and tasting event, had been scheduled to take place, conjuring images of the Colosseum from ancient Rome. Through these special events, visitors are introduced the various ways of looking at Taiwan, be it through sound, taste or smell. For those who like to read, a selection of books are also available on the top level of the arena.

The expo’s theme “Resonance Island” is reinforced by a projection show “3-minute Resonance” inside the arena, which illustrates how the use of instant editing technology could weave visitors’ last-minute experience into a completely new piece of creation.

“Hotel Archipelago” at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan
Courtesy of Creative Expo Taiwan

Going up to the second floor, one arrives at the “Hotel Archipelago”. After checking in at the reception desk, visitor would be assigned to a random room that allows he or she to connect and co-create with an off-site artist. The downside, though, is that the appointment was already fully booked days before the expo started, making this experience inaccessible to most people.

The rest of the second floor is dedicated to “Formosa Ice Shop”, a fascinating exhibition that explores the history of bing (ice treats), particularly Taiwan’s world-famous shaved ice. Multi-media installation, interactive games, as well as a selection of local ice cream on sale at the balcony allows visitors to have a taste of Taiwan’s culinary culture. A treat that is hard to resist on a sweltering summer day, isn’t it?

“Formosa Ice Shop” at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan
Courtesy of Creative Expo Taiwan

The curatorial team for the Main Pavilion may be convinced that “collective” is the common thread through the three exhibitions presented here but, from the point of a visitor, I would argue that the Main Pavilion is overly ambitious in its attempt to showcase all these various themes under one roof. The “Round-Island Arena”, in particular, fails to leave a strong impression for most people who pay their visit outside the schedule of the special program.

In my view, a landmark cultural event on a national level should not only be experiential but also informative. Not to mention that this supposed point of departure for the Creative Expo, the Main Pavilion, deprived most visitors of their rights in gaining full access to what each section has to offer, except for the “Formosa Ice Shop”.

Like most people, I visited the expo on a weekend. During my visit at the Main Pavilion, the place was literally packed with people, making it difficult to navigate my way through the exhibitions.

But bearing in mind the idea of the “collective”, perhaps what’s most important at the Main Pavilion is not the exhibition nor its exhibits, but visitors who — wander from one space to another — contributed to the formation of this animated space of culture.

City of Impressions: Chiayi and Matsu

After visiting the Main Pavilion, most people continue their journey on foot by exploring the rest of the pavilions via the Dolphin Walk, while being embraced by the harbour’s panoramic view and briny air.

Chiayi Pavilion is one of the two pavilions dedicated to promoting locality. With the theme “A Modern City with Illumination”, Chiayi Pavilion’s curatorial team shed light on the past glamour of Chiayi as “City of Wood and Painting” during the Colonial Period.

Chiayi Pavilion’s exhibition title is written by the shadow on the wall at the entrance
Courtesy of Taiwan Design Research Institute

The space is installed with 6,000 wood sticks falling from the ceiling, creating an impression of the city that makes reference to the number of wood houses found in Chiayi today. Thanks to this poetic installation, Chiayi Pavilion has been dubbed as “the most beautiful pavilion” at the expo.

“Modern is rooted in the pursuit of modernity and western thoughts, so the exhibition must include historic landmarks from the Colonial Period, such as the Fountain Circle, Chiayi Botanical Garden, Chiayi Train Station…etc,” co-curator Ming-chang Huang remarked.

The phrase “there should always be light at where you depart” comes from the text that describes Chiayi train station. I could not explain why I was moved by this text but, after days of contemplation, I’ve come to the conclusion that I was perhaps caught by the word “light” — a metaphor for “hope” — which is indeed an important element throughout Chiayi Pavilion.

Tropic of Cancer runs through Chiayi, exposing the city under sufficient sunlight throughout the year. “This is perhaps the reason why painting from life was popular in Chiayi, also known as the ‘City of Painting’,” co-curator Gina Hsu said.

To stress the city’s importance in the development of Taiwanese art, the exhibition also showcases paintings by Chiayi-born artist Chen Cheng-po (1895–1947), whose work reveals the artist’s deep affection for his hometown.

Inside Chiayi Pavilion at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan
Courtesy of Ministry of Culture

Not far from Chiayi Pavilion is Matsu Pavilion. Matsu, officially known as Lienchiang County, is an outlying archipelago of 36 islets in the East China Sea.

Titled “Brewing Islands with Fog”, visitors enter Matsu Pavilion through a dark tunnel that recalls the “Battlefield Culture” that Matsu is known for. As Taiwan’s northernmost line of defence, Matsu is a relic of the Chinese civil war.

An air of uneasiness grows in the tunnel, until one arrives at a bright fog-filled space, which recreates Matsu Islands’ foggy air throughout spring and summer. Covered in the fog is a number of installations inspired by specialties of Matsu, such as the iconic red vinasse, dried kelp seaweed, and liquor.

Matsu Pavilion offers an experiential perspective of looking at the islands’ history and culture, turning local specialties into artistic installation.

Key visual for Matsu Pavilion at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan
Courtesy of Creative Expo Taiwan

Weaving Culture From Nature

The exhibition at the Craft Pavilion, The Craft Shop: Weave Our Ideal Life, explores the relationship between craft and its surrounding through three sections: Craft and Environment, Craft and Body, Craft and Life.

Upon entering the Craft Pavilion, visitors pass along a tunnel built from bamboo strips, transporting visitors from the city to the world of craft.

“Craft and Environment” presents a selection of natural material, including bamboo, ramie, shell ginger leaf, yellow rattan palm, sisal hemp, mat rush, and banana fibre. People of Taiwan, particularly Taiwan’s indigenous population, have been using these plants a myriad of objects, such as traditional chicken coop, fruit basket, sandals, wicker basket for drying tea leaves… etc.

The very existence of these hand-made objects testifies to the connection between human and nature. Visitors are welcome to touch nature’s gifts with their hands, to feel their textures in its raw state.

Inside the Craft Pavilion at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan
Courtesy of Plain Design

Craftsman is crucial to the process of craft-making. In “Craft and Body”, a series of black and white photographs showcases the working hands of anonymous craftsmen, capturing how the savoir-faire — etched in the maker’s muscle memory — is passed down from generation to generation.

Knowing that the act of weaving — a tedious process — is akin to a meditative practice, the Craft Pavilion invited dancers to create a dance performance inspired by the process of bamboo weaving, translating the act of weaving of into visually captivating performance.

The last section of the exhibition is dedicated to “Craft and Life”, which focuses on the idea that craft was born to fulfil our everyday needs. On display, we see the fruits of collaboration between brands and craftsmen, who co-created the ideal objects of life, all woven out of natural material.

Inside the Craft Pavilion at 2022 Creative Expo Taiwan
Courtesy of Plain Design

The Craft Shop is more than a shop — it’s a platform where the knowledge and skills associated with craftsmanship is exchanged. It presents a good introduction to organic weaving material available in Taiwan, and how these natural resources spurred creativity throughout the island.

The only draw back is that the exhibition fails to mention the name of the craftsmen behind the objects and the camera lens — the very men and women who, with their diligence and dedication, gave birth to these beautiful objects on display.

End of the Journey or Beginning of a New One?

Throughout my visit, I couldn’t help but wonder if “curated culture” is the best way to get to know a city or place.

For visitors who are well-travelled in Taiwan, they may be able to develop a different perspective of Taiwan’s landscape after visiting the Creative Expo. But for those who are unfamiliar with the themes or places presented at the expo, I would suggest them not to rely too much on the exhibition, but their personal experience if they have the chance.

2022 Creative Expo shouldn’t be seen as a milestone or a destination, but a point of departure that inspires people to embark on their journey around the island.

In celebration of the Creative Expo, as well as the upcoming Taiwan Design Expo which will also be held in Kaohsiung this October, the city has opened up a handful its historic sites: the Kaohsiung Port Museum, Former Patriotic Women’s Association Hall, Hamasen Trade Building, North Tower (Takao Railway Museum), and Red Brick House — most of which are opened for the first time.

I’ll write more about these places in upcoming story. Stay tuned!

Fore more information about the opening of heritage sites and exhibitions in Kaohsiung city, visit the link here.