After six years of planning and installation, the public art project at Taichung's Shuinan Trade and Economic Park (水湳經貿園區) held its completion ceremony at the New City Hall on November 3rd. The Deputy Director Zeng of the Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the Shuinan Trade and Economic Park has become one of Taichung's most significant city achievements in recent years. He expressed gratitude to the curatorial team and artists for their dedication. Besides successfully installing 15 public artworks, several works have also received international design accolades. Citizens are invited to visit Taichung Central Park (臺中中央公園) to experience the urban atmosphere where nature and art intertwine.

Anchored in the core concepts of “low-carbon, smart, and ecological symbiosis,” the project encompasses diverse creative expressions, including kinetic art, light-and-shadow art installations, interactive artworks, and AR experiences. Sustainable materials such as recycled plastic, stainless steel, and glass were used to embody an environmentally conscious philosophy. With major new facilities-including the Taichung Green Museumbrary (臺中綠美圖), the Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center (臺中國際會展中心), and the Shuinan Transit Center (水湳轉運中心)-now in operation, additional public art installations will be introduced. These efforts aim to create an urban corridor that integrates infrastructure with art, showcasing Taichung’s vibrant and multifaceted character.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that the Shuinan Trade and Economic Park spans 253.34 hectares. To ensure both coherence and diversity, the project not only engaged a curatorial team for overall planning but also launched an open call for submissions, inviting outstanding artists from Taiwan and abroad to participate. Since its launch in 2019, 15 public artworks have been completed, presenting a rich and varied collection of creative expressions.

Curator Chen Hui-Ting (陳惠婷) noted that Taichung Central Park is celebrated as the city’s “urban lung.” Its architectural design emphasizes low-carbon, smart, and ecological symbiosis concepts. The public artworks reflect these themes and embody a vision of harmonious coexistence between people and nature. For instance, “Floating Petals” (《浮遊之花》), a wind-activated installation by New Zealand artist Phil Price located within the flood detention pond, draws inspiration from Taichung’s city flower, the mountain cherry blossom. As the sculpture moves with the breeze, it evokes the image of petals dancing gracefully through the air, capturing nature’s fluid beauty.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau also highlighted several installations that have garnered international acclaim, such as “Island Sphere Signal” (《島球訊號》), which received the 2025 MUSE Design Award, while “Wandering in Greenfield” (《綠野遊蹤》), a nearly 10-meter-long caterpillar-inspired installation, has become a favorite among families and visitors. It earned consecutive global accolades from 2024 to 2025, including the London Design Awards, the MUSE Design Awards, the French Design Awards, the Swiss BLT Built Design Awards, and the International Design Awards. Creator Kuo Kuo-Hsiang (郭國相) remarked, “If I were a caterpillar, I would be thrilled to live in such a park. I hope the work becomes part of the environment so that when people encounter it in the park, it feels as natural as appreciating a landscape painting—and that they can interact with it.”

In addition, the Shuinan Trade and Economic Park was once a joint military-civilian airport. To evoke citizens’ memories of this land, tech artist Tao Ya-Lun (陶亞倫) was commissioned to create the AR work “My Story in Shuinan” (《我在水湳的故事》). The artist personally interviewed the relatives of eight former Shuinan Airport employees to reconstruct scenes from that period. Using only their smartphones, visitors can step through a portal of time to experience the past, present, and future of Shuinan Airport and “hear” the authentic stories that belong to this land.