Lin Ching Ke · CLIENT: Shilin Shennong Temple
Incense is a large scale bamboo art installation created for a temple in Taipei. The work reinterprets the traditional ritual of incense burning. Locally sourced Taiwanese bamboo is heat bent and woven in multiple layers, and translucent textiles are added. The spiraling form recalls the movement of rising smoke. The installation measures 3000 millimeters in width, 3000 millimeters in depth and 4000 millimeters in height. Visitors can move around and beneath the structure and observe sunlight passing through the bamboo weave.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Incense is a large scale bamboo installation that reinterprets the ritual of incense burning through contemporary spatial art. By integrating translucent textiles with organic bamboo structures, the work captures the ephemeral quality of rising smoke. The installation invites viewers into a quiet encounter with spiritual transcendence, bridging traditional cultural practices and modern aesthetics.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The installation measures 3000 millimeters in width, 3000 millimeters in depth, and 4000 millimeters in height.
- Tags
- Bamboo installation, ritual art, incense culture, temple-inspired, spiritual design, contemporary craft, Taiwanese bamboo, ephemeral forms, faith and memory, sustainable installation
- Production Technology
- Crafted from locally sourced Taiwanese bamboo, the installation utilizes original weaving techniques developed by the artist. Through heat-bending, multi layered weaving, and precise structural calculations, the design forms a spiraling shape that echoes the movement of smoke. The work harmonizes engineering precision with the natural flexibility of bamboo, resulting in a structure that is both stable and ethereal.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was achieving structural balance between visual lightness and physical stability. Traditional bamboo techniques were adapted for large scale application, requiring iterative experimentation, sensitivity to environmental factors, and thoughtful integration with the historical context of the sacred site.
- Project Duration
- The project was developed over a six month period in Taipei, with installation completed at Shilin Shen Nong Temple between August 8 and September 8, 2024.
- Operation Flow
- Viewers are invited to move around and beneath the installation, observing shifting patterns of light and shadow as natural sunlight filters through the bamboo weave. This dynamic interaction encourages quiet contemplation, evoking the transience of incense smoke and establishing a dialogue between spiritual ritual and contemporary interpretation.
- Research
- This project involved design research focused on reinterpreting incense rituals through the use of sustainable materials. The objective was to visualize ephemeral smoke using stable spatial forms. The process included material experimentation, digital simulation, and structural prototyping. The results highlighted bamboo’s potential to express intangible cultural heritage within a contemporary design framework.
- Inspiration
- Incense draws inspiration from the intangible cultural tradition of incense burning in Taiwanese temples. The ephemeral movement of smoke and its spiritual connotation are reimagined through contemporary spatial design, transforming invisible rituals into a meditative and immersive visual experience that connects memory, faith, and modern life.
Press releases are available in 1 languages.