Taiwan Design Expo to kick off in Taitung

2014-08-04

The Taiwan Design Expo will take place Aug. 2-17 at Taitung Sugar Factory in southeastern Taiwan, showcasing the country’s prowess as a global design center.

Organized by Taiwan Design Center under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taitung County Government, this year’s edition is based on the theme of open design.

“Employing 10 colors representing Taitung and its special offerings, the annual expo brings together Taiwan’s top design talent for professional exchanges,” curator Chen Jun-liang said. “It allows featured designers to display their artwork and concepts, as well as opens the county’s doors to innovative design elements.”

According to Chen, among the colors, grey symbolizes the stone slab houses of the Puyuma tribe, red the famous sunrise at Taimali Township, yellow the golden rice paddies of Chihshang Township and green the sugar apples of Donghe Township.

A total of 10 local designers will use these colors to build their ideal homes at the exhibition’s main pavilion, the Green Island Hotel. Other items on display include more than 100 works reflecting Taiwan’s maritime tradition and cutting-edge renewable energy technology.

The other two exhibition halls, Local Beauty Pavilion and Open Shop, spotlight the aboriginal culture of Orchid Island, Taitung’s agricultural heritage preservation, award-winning pieces from its Austronesian Cultural Festival and unique folk art and handicrafts.

Beginning in 2003, the expo has been staged in the cities of Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan and Taipei, as well as Yilan County. This is the first time for the event to be held in southeastern Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=220212&ctNode=445)