Text by MOOK Travel & Lifestyle Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
In 2012, the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts was commissioned by the Kaohsiung Public Art Foundation to plan and execute the “Public Art Installation Project for the City Gateway Museum Campus,” extending art from inside the museum to outdoor spaces. Participating artists include two commissioned works—Dong Yangzhi’s *Silent Symphony: Variations* and Leonid Tishkov’s *On an Autumn Night, a Moon for One*. Additionally, five pieces selected through an open competition for the museum campus are Xu Zigui’s *Beauty of Mountains and Seas*, Lin Jianrong’s *Colorful City·Tomorrow’s Highlight*, Lee Ming-Che’s *Slippery Slide*, Annie Hsueh’s *An. Sheng. Hui.*, and Mei Ding-Yan’s *We Have Love*. These five works will be permanently installed on the museum grounds, becoming new artistic highlights.
Mei Ding-Yan’s *We Have Love* is located on the popular northern grass slope where couples often take wedding photos and will become a new landmark. (Photo provided by Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts)
Mei Ding-Yan’s *We Have Love* is installed on the northern grass slope, a popular spot for wedding photography. The slightly elevated, lush green hill features a three-meter-tall, bright red “Love” sculpture. The concise and heartfelt message of the word “Love,” combined with its gleaming form, spreads its message infinitely under the name of love, becoming a dazzling new landmark.
Annie Hsueh, a female artist of the Rukai tribe, believes that creating art is a process of dialogue between herself and her materials. With a natural talent for skillfully using natural materials—a hallmark of indigenous artists—her works reflect profound reflections on the relationship between humans, the land, and the pursuit of life. Her work *An. Sheng. Hui.*, located in the Austronesian Cultural Park, takes the form of a womb-like shape, resembling a cozy cocoon that brings a sense of comfort and natural security. Its long, arc-shaped forms resembling eyes are derived from the basic prototype of a lily. The six arcs can be combined to form a beautiful and sacred lily. The lily is the tribal flower of the Rukai people, symbolizing male bravery and female purity.
The two projects located near the Children’s Art Museum are designed primarily with children in mind, aiming to attract their attention to art and guide them to enjoy art while playing. Xu Zigui’s *Beauty of Mountains and Seas* transforms several chameleons into mosaic-style outdoor sculptures, perched around the exterior and the building of the Children’s Art Museum, echoing common animals like lizards found in the park. The chameleons, with their lively and adorable shapes and vibrant colors, are full of childlike charm. One chameleon is modeled after one of the museum’s collection pieces and is placed at the edge of a flower bed outside the building, becoming an artwork children can touch and get close to.
Lee Ming-Che, an artist with a fondness for nostalgic, everyday themes, displayed his flat paintings in an open space for public enjoyment for the first time. His concept is inspired by the common terrazzo floors found in traditional homes, with rustic colors and playful shapes. Lee Ming-Che’s *Slippery Slide* features an arc-shaped design similar to a screen curtain, combining tilted cement with the smooth texture of terrazzo, allowing children to feel as carefree as playing on a living room floor. It offers an alternative play area infused with artistic flair.
Lin Jianrong’s *Colorful City·Tomorrow’s Highlight* is situated along the sidewalk of Museum Road. Based on the cityscape of Kaohsiung and local industries, it integrates silhouette imagery related to the city with the form of street seating. Whether it's landmarks like Kaohsiung Harbor, the 85 Sky Tower, the Museum of Fine Arts, or scenes like large ships entering the harbor and container trucks, all symbolize the past and present of urban development, evoking emotional connections to the remembered image of Kaohsiung. The cute shapes of the light bulb man and light bulb dog, with their round forms and glowing effect, bring warmth and hope.
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