A diverse group of curators brought their own perspectives to Taitung, creating unique encounters with the city. Some were born and raised in Taitung and knew it intimately; others were strangers to the region but approached it with curiosity. The team included experienced veterans as well as young, eager newcomers. Taitung, with its rich variety of people, culture, and landscapes, captured their attention, and each curator approached it from the viewpoint that fascinated them most. Using the exhibition as a reflective lens, they sought to reveal the rich contours of Taitung.
Fan Cheng-Tsung’s “Nature, Naturally – International Craft Exhibition” focused on Taitung’s abundant natural resources and the widespread use of natural materials, while also reflecting on how these materials appear and are used around the world. The “Taitung New Bento Project” highlighted the region’s fertile agricultural and marine products, inviting five culinary professionals from different fields to create innovative bento meals using local ingredients.
Shih Jui-Jen’s “Before Wave, After Wave: 2011–2016 Austronesian International Art Award Retrospective” gathered standout works from past years and invited award-winning artists to present new creations, fostering a dialogue between past and present works within the exhibition.
Hsieh Sheng-Hua and Wu Shu-Lun’s “Nest・Flow” explored Taitung’s rich indigenous cultures, the most diverse in Taiwan. They invited numerous young indigenous designers to reinterpret traditional cultural practices, creating fresh expressions rooted in ancestral heritage.
Kuo Li-Chin’s “There Is a Wave Called Taitung” focused on the city’s recent transformations. The exhibition highlighted Taitung’s changes across multiple aspects of daily life, inviting visitors to experience the city’s gradual yet powerful charm, like a rolling wave.
In total, the exhibition featured five main themed shows, seven satellite exhibitions, and countless events, allowing visitors to explore Taitung and enjoy the vibrant interplay of its mountains, sea, and local culture.
Exhibition Highlights:
Across five themes and ten exhibition zones, the main venues—including the Taitung Art Museum, the Indigenous Cultural and Creative Industry Cluster, and Warehouse No. 275 at the Tiehua New Settlement—were complemented by seven satellite exhibitions, lighting up Taitung and offering a comprehensive urban design perspective.
During the exhibition, visitors could attend lectures, forums, design workshops, weekend markets, and other events, experiencing the dynamic interaction between nature and design, and savoring Taitung’s distinctive design culture.
