Taitung design EXPO 18' - Exhibiton Catalogue

It’s as difficult to define the urbane cultural exhibition event that is the Taitung Design Expo as it would be to define theCity of Taitung in all its diversity. This was true even in the curatorialconferences, where curators from diverse backgrounds each proposed radicallydifferent perspectives of Taitung. Our different viewpoints produce differentencounters with Taitung. Among us were curators born and raised and thoroughlyat ease with Taitung; curators unfamiliar with Taitung but are filled withcuriosity. There are qualified elders full of experience, as well as youngblood eager to attempt new challenges. Taitung draws in their gaze with itsdiversity of people, objects, and events. They will take their own fascinatingpoint of entry, and through this mirror of exhibition, reflect the richsilhouette of Taitung.

FROM NATURE TO NATURE – International Craft Show, curated by Cheng Tsung FENG, focuses Taitung’s wealth of naturalresources, and thecharacteristically prevalent use of natural materials.Taking the spiritof mutually benefit between humankind and nature further torecognize howthese materials appear in other regions of the world. They differin thediversity of culture aesthetics, their utilization of materials,andcraftsmanship; with a shared respect and love of nature.

Taitung’s abundant agricultural and fishery resources are the theme in Cheng-Tsung FENG’s NEW TAITUNG BOXED MealPROJECT,where five professionals from different cities specializing indifferentcuisines are invited to collaborate within the small space of abento box.Using ingredients from Taitung, they use their detailedsensory andprofessional experiences and techniques to share in brand newpossibilitiesexcavated from Taitung’s colors, scents, and tastes.

TREND &WAVES – RETRO EXHIBITION OF AUSTRONESIAN INTERNATIONAL ARTS AWARD 2011-2016, curated by Jui Jen SHIN, isbased onthe Austronesian International Art Awards organized by TaitungCountyGovernment. Through a residency exchange program and art creationin Taitung,art exhibitions and award competition, the award has become aproductiveproject unique to Austronesian culture and creativity.Highlights of awardwinning works from the past have been selected forthis retrospective, andaward recipients have also been invited to submitnew works to create dialoguebetween the old and new in the exhibition.

Jointly curated by Cudjuy Maljugau and WU Shu Lun, FLOWING NEST concerns aboriginal culture in Taitung, which has thehighestconcentration of aboriginal communities. The curators haveinvited severalup-and-coming representative aboriginal designers. Thesedesigners begin fromtheir native culture, amalgamating modern lifeexperiences and aesthetics andovercoming the trials and challenges ofinnovation to create new, richlydiverse visions of traditionalaboriginal culture.

Re: DEFINED TAITUNG, curated by Li-Chin KUO, intervenes from recent transformations in Taitung in the past few years. Thename“Taitung” has now changed drastically from its past image andidentity,becoming a desirable unique arena for living in recent years.The exhibitiondetails Taitung’s metamorphosis in various lifestyleaspect, brining viewersinto the city’s steady yet powerful tide ofcharm.

With five featured exhibitions, five satellite exhibitions, and numerous events taking place throughout Taitung city, the2018Taitung Design Expo leads us into Taitung to partake in thespectacular wealthof culture, arts, design and their connections to itspeople, surrounded by themountains and the sea.