Earth Worker Umsebenzi Womhlaba by Yu Liang Chen

Earth Worker Umsebenzi Womhlaba by Yu Liang Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award in Ubuciko Obuhle Competition Category.

InsimbiUbuciko Obuhle· 2021

Earth Worker Umsebenzi Womhlaba

by Yu Liang Chen

Client: NewLocal Art Studio

Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award Winner in Ubuciko Obuhle Category

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The Design

About Earth Worker Umsebenzi Womhlaba

I-Earth Worker iwumsebenzi wobuciko basezindaweni ezivulekile obekwe exhaphozini ePingtung County, eTaiwan. Isithombe somuntu esiyingxenye simi emanzini njengesiqhwaga esidala zonke izidalwa eziphilayo. Uhlangothi olulodwa lomzimba lubheka phansi emhlabeni, kanti olunye uhlangothi lubheka phezulu esibhakabhakeni. Isamensi eqiniswe ngefayibha yengilazi yisona simboni esiyinhloko, sifakwe phezu kohlaka lwensimbi kanye nendikimba yefomu ebazwe. Indawo yesibekelo somsamensi ekhandwe ngobushuki ishiywe injalo, ngaphandle kokwengezwa umbala noma amachashazi. Lo mklamo ubhekisela emlandweni wendawo nasesikweni sabantu bakwaMacadao.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award

Earth Worker Umsebenzi Womhlaba iwinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile okunikezwa imiklamo emihle ehlangabezana nezidingo zobungcweti nezemboni ezilindelekile ezimpahleni ezihlelwe kahle. Abawinile beNsimbi babonisa ikhono elikhulu, ubungcweti obuphezulu, ukuqonda kochwepheshe namandla okudala abadali babo. Earth Worker Umsebenzi Womhlaba ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo nenezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu zemboni futhi unezimfanelo zobuchwepheshe ezifanelekile ezihlanganiswe nolwazi nethalente. Earth Worker Umsebenzi Womhlaba iyahlonishwa ngenxa yokucophelela kwayo futhi ihlelelwe ukulethela izinguquko zomgangatho wempilo ezisiza ukwenza umhlaba ube yindawo engcono.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The designer metaphors the earth worker as a giant coming from afar, stopping in the wetland to create all living things, using semi-representative human shapes to express local stories through the body, movement, and temperament. In order to bring out the local elements of Taiwan, through long-term interviews and field investigations, to understand the local history and culture, based on the idea of the aboriginal peoples of Macadao that were once a matriarchal society in the local coastal area, and then set up the legendary story of "The Mother Earth".
Dimensions & Packaging: The designer first sculpts the styrofoam to complete the outline of the prototype, then uses all kinds of metal components as the bone material, covering the overall shape to make it more stable, so as to continue the sculpture work of the surface material. Since the main material of the project is on the surface, the construction needs to consider the hardening time of the cement, and sculpt in stages, and set various seams and edges. How to keep the humidity during the production process to slow down the hardening speed of the cement is required.
Tags: Installation art, Earth Worker, natural, harmonious, local history, stories
Production Technology: This project uses GlassFiber Reinforced Cement as the main material and uses low-alkali cement mortar to add glass fiber filaments. The exterior design mainly uses cement mortar as the brush texture, without unnecessary patches or color processing, and uses the simple and rough material characteristics to emphasize the sensibility of the project and the natural environment of the wetland.
Design Challenge: The overall project needs to include geology, weight, average force, strong gusts, earthquakes, and other climatic factors into the structural calculations. Depending on the data, the marine engineering foundation steel piles are used to design the water foundation. The project of hanging on the water is divided into upper and lower parts due to the weight of the work and the restriction of the equipment, using subtle joining methods, and the joint is set as part of the appearance, without excessive on-site processing or modification.
Research: The semi-representative humanoid device is like a giant standing in the water, using both hands to create all things on the earth, and the stem buds growing on the hand symbolize "all things". Both sides of the body shape have their own meaning, one overlooking the earth, the other one looks up at the sky, and there is a gate for gestation in his body. All the life of all souls comes out from the gate, and on the other hand is the naughty creature "human" who jumps out of the gate, who is the protagonist of the plot.
Inspiration: The inspiration originally came from the first impression during the first meeting with the local environment. It is hoped that the project will combine the wetland environment and connect the water, woods, and sky to create a natural and harmonious picture. It integrates into the aboriginal culture of the local Macadao tribe, evokes a sense of visual impact with the "Earth Worker", and also brings out the local history and stories.
Project Duration: The project was completed in December 2020 in Pingtung County, Taiwan.
Operation Flow: In addition to implying the mother of the earth, the work also symbolizes "broaden the horizon", which means "everyone is his own creator, and you are the center of your own world." When starting a new stage or dream in life, it is like the gesture of the "Earth Worker", with both feet deeply rooted in the earth and hands deeply cultivating life. The result of the dream is not a secular achievement or the end of happiness, but a "proof of bringing up the courage to change." The designer looks forward to paying tribute to people working hard in society through the project.
Team Members: Yu-Liang Chen
Image Credits: Yu-Ching Huang