Silver Fine Arts and Art Installation Design · 2025
Free Air Artwork With Medical Functions
- A' Design Award 2025 Silver Winner in Fine Arts and Art Installation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Fresh Design Studio
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 76,930
- Verification code B8926AEF52 · Verify this award
About Free Air Artwork With Medical Functions
Free Air is a metal sculpture installed in a public space in Ube City, Japan. The work takes the form of a bottle partly buried in the ground, a reference to discovery and to the industrial history of the site. The upper part is made of 316 stainless steel with a mirror finish, shaped by digital sheet metal forming. The lower part is cast in antique bronze. Rounded bubble forms and few connection points give the heavy metal a light appearance. The sculpture stands 300 centimeters high and invites visitors to approach and touch it.
Situated within the evolving discourse of contemporary public art that bridges aesthetic experience with functional purpose, this sculptural installation by Huang Yu Jung represents a compelling synthesis of phenomenological inquiry, environmental consciousness, and medical innovation. The work engages with longstanding artistic traditions of reflective surfaces as instruments of perception, recalling the convex mirrors of Northern Renaissance painting while simultaneously participating in the lineage of contemporary artists who have employed polished steel to create dynamic environmental dialogues. The formal vocabulary demonstrates sophisticated understanding of material semiotics: the pristine, almost immaterial quality of the mirror-finished ovoid suggests atmospheric purity and celestial aspiration, while the hammered bronze base grounds this ethereal form in earthbound craft tradition and alchemical transformation. The inscription of the chemical formula for oxygen introduces a layer of scientific specificity that transforms the sculptural object from pure aesthetic contemplation into an instrument of wellness awareness, suggesting the fundamental importance of clean air to human vitality. Technical accomplishment is evident in the seamless integration of disparate materials and surface treatments, the precise engineering required to balance the substantial upper form, and the calibrated positioning within the landscape to maximize reflective potential during optimal lighting conditions. The work invites consideration of our relationship to the atmosphere we breathe, the environments we inhabit, and the potential for art to function as both aesthetic catalyst and reminder of essential life-sustaining elements. Thematically, the piece resonates with contemporary concerns regarding environmental stewardship and holistic approaches to health that recognize the interconnection between natural systems and human wellbeing. The reflective surface serves as more than optical phenomenon; it becomes a philosophical device inviting viewers to see themselves situated within a broader environmental context, their image literally embedded within the reflected landscape and sky. How might this synthesis of beauty and function transform our awareness of the invisible yet essential elements that sustain us?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Through a single piece of art,an urban space is liberated from the burdens of its past as an industrial city.This is an artwork that makes the presence of wind and air visible,allowing the free-flowing breeze to sweep across Japan.Rooted in Ube City’s historical foundation as an industrial hub,the piece invites observation of how artistic intervention revitalizes spaces,fostering a transformation towards green,nature-integrated urban living.At the same time,with Japan and Taiwan collaborating in the advancement of semiconductor technology,this fusion of innovation envisions a future of freedom and new possibilities for everyday life.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 300(H)x193(W)x179(D)CM
- Tags
- Made in Taiwan, Artwork, Art Therapy, Sculpture, Freedom, Air, Metal Sculpture
- Production Technology
- The artwork is crafted using 316 stainless steel and bronze.The stainless steel component is produced through digital sheet metal forming technology,a highly competitive method that eliminates the need for custom forming tools,molds,dies,or presses.This approach allows for precise fabrication,enabling the creation of truly unique works of art. As for the bronze casting process, casting has been an enduring metallurgical technique for thousands of years.By incorporating both contemporary digital fabrication methods and time-honored bronze casting techniques,this artwork embodies the fusion of cutting-edge technology with centuries-old craftsmanship-a beautiful legacy of innovation and tradition.
- Design Challenge
- The artist aims to finalize the organic form with full, rounded bubbles, ensuring that the bubbles appear natural from every angle to emphasize freedom. To create maximum tension and contrast, the connection points must be minimized while still maintaining structural strength. Additionally, the form must align with the material’s characteristics to counteract the top-heavy visual effect, preventing the intended sense of lightness and freedom from turning into an overwhelming sense of oppression instead.
- Project Duration
- Sculpture creation began in Taiwan in January 2024 and was completed and installed in Japan in September. Starting in October,it was publicly exhibited at the Ube Biennale (Modern Japanese Sculpture Exhibition).The exhibition is scheduled to conclude in December 2025.
- Operation Flow
- Everyone is welcome to touch the artwork,approach it,and interact with it.Try to let your body feel the lightness and freedom-like air-transforming that sensation into a state of spiritual liberation.If,after experiencing the artwork,you feel a sense of relaxation and healing,that brings me the greatest joy,for it means reaching a realm where art and therapy merge into one.
- Research
- The artist seeks to connect art and healing, believing that beauty brings joy, which fosters health and happiness. A free mind is key to well-being. He aims to create a small yet impactful artwork that transforms its surroundings into a tranquil, uplifting space, offering viewers freedom and happiness. Through art, the most natural form of healing can occur.
A static sculpture must appear dynamic. The invisible air should become visible, and heavy metal materials should radiate lightness and freedom.
Medical research confirms emotions influence health. Maintaining a positive mindset is the artist’s focus. Installed in Ube City, Japan, the piece evokes joy, encouraging viewers to pause, play, and feel free. It inspires a state of mental clarity—"net zero," a carefree, healthy mindset.
The artist believes this artwork’s therapeutic effect is its greatest real-life impact. - Inspiration
- In archaeological activities,it is common to find partially unearthed old bottle bodies,symbolizing the essence of "discovery and exploration".In this creation,a bottle is depicted as being partially buried in the ground,subtly conveying messages about the past life of this land.It serves as a reminder that this former industrial city, through the intervention of artistic transformation,can be revitalized and become lighter, shedding its former heaviness.
For the upper part of the artwork, medical-grade 316 stainless steel is chosen for its highly reflective mirror surface,enhancing the clarity of environmental reflections while evoking a sense of eternity and technological sophistication.Meanwhile,the lower portion,which is embedded underground,is crafted from antique bronze to interpret the historical depth of the land.This contrast allows the materials themselves to tell a compelling story. - Image Credits
- Photographer (Kao,Ming-Chieh)
Colors of Free Air Artwork With Medical Functions
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