A giant "bamboo-woven beehive" lands in Taoyuan? You can even lie inside and listen to music by Matthew Lien

▲Pumpkins, garlic, and onions on the green lawn? This is actually a land art installation inspired by a "beehive."

Reported and photographed by Peng Huaiyu, Taoyuan

"Pumpkins," "garlic," and "onions" descending on the green lawn? From any angle, this land art enhances interactivity at the "Taoyuan 2017 Land Art Festival." Besides being Instagram-worthy, its 13-minute musical experience blends natural and urban sounds, prompting reflection on humanity’s relationship with nature.

▲"Surround" at Ping Cultural Land Art Park during the Taoyuan 2017 Land Art Festival.

This land art piece is titled "Surround" and is one of the exhibits at the Taoyuan Land Art Festival. Designed by Jiang Yuanhao and inspired by a beehive, it was crafted from over ten thousand bamboo poles, each 5–8 meters long, with its round shape symbolizing the concept of home. Featuring an eco-music masterpiece by Matthew Lien, the soundscape includes recordings of Taiwan’s high mountains, oceans, and cities, playing for about 13 minutes. It’s the organizer’s pioneering successful integration of sound installation with land art.

▲Sit on seats made of bamboo and wood, and quietly enjoy the music composed by Matthew Lien.

Displayed at Ping Cultural Land Art Park, "Surround" features 19 surround speakers installed at varying heights within the beehive. Starting with the sounds of high mountains and ocean waves, combined with indigenous music, the immersive 3D audio lets you comfortably drift in nature’s embrace. Beyond Matthew Lien’s compositions, real outdoor sounds like cicadas and birdsong also fill your ears, making for a truly unique musical experience.

▲Inside, 19 surround speakers are scattered at different heights within the beehive.

Yet, just as you’re about to drift off, the music suddenly shifts to urban traffic, construction noise, and honking horns—creating a stark contrast to the earlier soothing sounds. Matthew Lien hopes to inspire audiences to reflect on the relationship between people and their environment, aiming to raise awareness and care for nature. Breaking the notion that art is only visual, close your eyes and reinterpret artistic imagination through sound.

▲"Surround" currently plays once every hour on the hour and half-hour, each session lasting about 13 minutes.

Guides report that "Surround" will be exhibited until September 3, playing once every hour on the hour and half-hour, each time for about 13 minutes. After the "Taoyuan 2017 Land Art Festival" concludes, the giant beehive will remain for visitors to take photos.

▲After the "Taoyuan 2017 Land Art Festival" ends, the giant beehive will remain for visitors to take photos.

In addition to "Surround," another highlight at Ping Cultural Land Art Park is "Embrace"—a tree-shaped land art installation crafted from wooden pieces, equipped with a subwoofer. Visitors can approach and hug it to feel different heartbeats resonating from within the tree. At the end, you can also take a blank wooden piece, paint it, and place it in a gap on the installation. Your hand-painted artwork will become part of the land art.

▲After painting, you can color the blank wooden piece and place it in the installation’s gap. Your hand-drawn artwork will become part of the land art.