Text by MOOK Travel Life Network's Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
The inaugural “FORMOSA Sculpture Biennale” is being held from now until March 2 along the waterfront at the Pier-2 Art Center. This exhibition brings together 33 mid-career Taiwanese artists, showcasing nearly 50 works simultaneously in both indoor and outdoor venues. Through diverse materials, varied perspectives, and creative contexts, the event presents a comprehensive new landscape of contemporary sculpture shaped by continuous experimentation and expansion. This year’s theme is “What Lies Ahead of Us?” In addition to exploring the possibilities of diversity and progress in artistic creation, the theme also resonates with the development of the Pier-2 venue, which extends along the waterfront toward True Love Pier.
The inaugural “2013 FORMOSA Sculpture Biennale” is currently on display at the Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung. (Photo provided by Pier-2 Art Center)
Liu Junlan, curator of the “2013 FORMOSA Sculpture Biennale,” explained that the theme “What Lies Ahead of Us?” is borrowed from a work by Lin Shouyu, revered as the father of Taiwan’s minimalist art movement, which won an award at Taiwan’s first large-scale sculpture biennale in 1985. Nearly 30 years later, the first FORMOSA Sculpture Biennale revives the title of this piece to reopen a platform for sculpture creation, exchange, idea stimulation, and conceptual debate. It also explores the current state and trends of contemporary Taiwanese sculpture, as well as its engagement with or interpretation of the real world. The exhibition is divided into three major sections: “Nature Interpreted: Environmental Variations,” “Contemporary Portraiture: Polyphonic Expressions,” and “Everyday Reflections: The Language of Objects.” Through the distinct yet connected expressions of contemporary sculpture and traditional forms, these sections capture the new sensibilities and content of our times, highlighting the unique characteristics of 21st-century Taiwanese sculpture.
Sculpture art, through the ingenuity and inspiration of the artists, utilizes various materials and interacts harmoniously with suitable time and space conditions to achieve perfect presentation. The Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that based on the characteristics and materials of the artworks, both indoor and outdoor spaces were planned for this exhibition. The spacious grounds of the Pier-2 Art Center and the scenic backdrop of the waterfront and blue sky greatly enhance the works—something the artists truly appreciate. In addition to displaying sculptures, an artist talk was held on January 18 in Warehouse C1 of the Pier-2 Art Center, inviting participating artists to share insights into the development and trends of Taiwanese sculpture art, drawing from their own creative experiences.
Colorful and adorable works attracted many visitors to take commemorative photos. (Photo provided by Pier-2 Art Center)
Shih Che, Director of the Kaohsiung City Cultural Affairs Bureau, stated that through the opening up of the waterfront harbor area, Kaohsiung has undergone urban transformation and spatial liberation. The “2013 FORMOSA Sculpture Biennale,” based at the Pier-2 Art Center by the harbor, is grounded in contemporaneity, innovation, and diversity, encouraging cross-disciplinary experimentation. It provides contemporary sculpture art with greater vitality and imaginative space. Displaying Taiwanese contemporary sculpture in its full form at the ever-evolving Pier-2 harborfront holds even more significance. The bureau further noted that the development journey from Pier-2 to Greater Pier-2, and the operational expansion from the Dayong District to the Penglai District, and this year to the Dayi District, allows visitors walking along the waterfront in the park to sense, to some extent, the ongoing “Pier-2 Moving Forward” process.
● Further Reading:
Teddy Bear Mini Trip: Ring in the New Year at Taichung Park and Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
http://goo.gl/nR7VBh