Silver Event and Happening Design · 2024
Chenglong Wetland Environmental Art Event
- A' Design Award 2024 Silver Winner in Event and Happening Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: Yunlin County Government
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 129,509
- Verification code 7D626512C4 · Verify this award
About Chenglong Wetland Environmental Art Event
Chenglong Wetland is an environmental art event held in Yunlin, Taiwan. In Chenglong Village, over-extraction of groundwater caused land subsidence and seawater intrusion in farmlands, which formed a wetland. Since 2010, artists from Taiwan and abroad have worked with residents to build installation artworks from local materials. In 2022, a flowing feast of art moved performance art into the natural environment, and an eco-dining table served dishes made from local seasonal ingredients. The event raises attention to environmental issues and supports the local economy.
Yunlin County Government's Chenglong Wetland Environmental Art Event presents a remarkable convergence of sculptural installation and live performance that exemplifies the growing global movement toward site-responsive environmental art practice. The monumental bamboo structure rising from the wetland waters demonstrates extraordinary command of traditional weaving techniques scaled to architectural dimensions, its teardrop silhouette suggesting organic growth forms such as seed pods or water droplets while the open lattice construction allows atmosphere and light to permeate the form, creating a dialogue between solid and void that honors both Eastern philosophical principles and contemporary sculptural concerns. The performers in their carefully considered costumes evoke ceremonial traditions while engaging in choreographed movements that activate the installation beyond static object-hood, their synchronized gestures toward the water surface suggesting themes of human relationship with aquatic ecosystems, the harvesting practices that sustained coastal communities, and the meditative attention that wetland environments invite. The material choice of bamboo carries profound significance within regional craft heritage, this rapidly renewable resource embodying principles of sustainability while its warm golden coloration creates visual warmth against the cool atmospheric conditions captured in this documentation. Compositionally, the work achieves sophisticated spatial orchestration through the distribution of human figures across multiple floating platforms at varying distances, establishing processional movement through the landscape while the central sculpture provides a focal anchor that unifies the dispersed elements. The environmental context proves essential to the installation's meaning, the wetland setting with its ecological complexity and vulnerability becoming not merely backdrop but active participant in the artistic statement, the reflective water surface doubling and extending visual elements while weather conditions contribute atmospheric poetry. One might observe how this work participates in international conversations around land art, relational aesthetics, and ecological awareness while maintaining distinctive regional identity through material choices and ceremonial references. What memories of traditional practices or hopes for environmental stewardship might this ephemeral gathering in the wetland waters awaken in those who witnessed it?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- In Chenglong Village, over-extraction of groundwater has resulted in land subsidence and seawater intrusion in farmlands. The government brought public attention to environmental issues through environmental art and artistic activities, thus boosting the local economy and turning the place into a sustainable art village with “ecological conservation and artistic and cultural roots”.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The Chenglong Wetland covers a total area of about 171 hectares. The government and the cultural team have invited artists from home and abroad to create environmental artworks together with the residents through an art initiative, creating the largest environmental art gallery in Taiwan.
- Production Technology
- The government combined the environment and art to raise attention toward environmental issues and create a sustainable art village with “ecological conservation and artistic and cultural roots”.
1. International Exchange:In 2010, the government invited artists from around the world to move in, use local natural resources, and create installation art pieces jointly with local residents.
2.Holding Art Seasons:Exhibitions of environmental art were held regularly from 2010.
3.Transformation of Art Festival:A Flowing Feast of Art was held in 2022 to move performance arts out of the theater and into the natural environment.
The eco-dining table event presented dishes made from local seasonal ingredients.
4. Eco-Dining Table:Specialized food and drink made from local seasonal ingredients. - Design Challenge
- 1.The constant over-extraction of groundwater and the extreme climate in Chenglong Village has resulted in land subsidence and seawater intrusion, flooding 60% of the farmlands and forming a wetland.
2.The population has dropped by 40% from 1,600 in 1986 due to the loss of industries, leaving only about 500 people, of whom more than 40% are elderly.
3.The government uses environmental art as a tool for wetland protection and local culture promotion, responding to environmental issues through artistic interpretation, thereby connecting with the international community and revitalizing local culture and local vitality. - Project Duration
- Launched on September 2022 in Taiwan Yunlin
- Operation Flow
- Purpose: Artistic action to revitalize the wetland into a sustainable art village.
Method: To create a theater-style art event through artistic action, environmental art, and performance art.
Results: Environmental and artistic symbiosis, greater environmental awareness, and economic boost. - Research
- The Chenglong Wetland demonstrates local participation in public affairs. Residents and international artists collaborate to create environmentally friendly installation art from local materials. The art festival and eco-dining table have opened up new possibilities for local industries. Over the past ten years, the government has worked hard to build up residents' sense of identity toward their hometown and their confidence in it to draw attention to environmental issues, show the influence of creativity and environmental education, and promote sustainable development.
- Inspiration
- The Chenglong Wetland is located on the coast of Taiwan, where the over-extraction of groundwater has resulted in land subsidence and seawater intrusion on farmlands. The village has lost its vitality due to massive rural flight, aging, and economic recession.
In 2010, the government launched an environmental art project and invited artists from around the world to move in, use the local natural resources, and create environmental installation art pieces jointly with the local residents. A Flowing Feast of Arts, which was held in 2022, moved performance arts out of the theater and into the natural environment, where the vitality of Chenglong Wetland was manifested. The eco-dining table event promoted the local industry with dishes made from seasonal local ingredients.
The two-day event attracted 5,000 participants and generated a tourism economy worth NT$2,500,000 despite the tourism downturn caused by the pandemic. The combination of ecology and art brought public attention to environmental issues, brought new hope to the Chenglong Wetland, created a local economic boost, and became a sustainable art village with “ecological conservation and artistic and cultural roots”.
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