Artwork celebrates Taiwan-Germany ties

2015/08/25

A sculpture crafted from Taipei 101’s recycled steel elevator cables was donated Aug. 21 to Karlsruhe by the ROC government, celebrating the city’s 300th anniversary and marking robust ties between Taiwan and Germany.

The 3-meter-tall, 3-ton “Taiwan Ruyi” was installed at Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe in the heart of the southern German metropolis, also the seat of the country’s two highest courts: the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice.

At the unveiling ceremony, ROC Representative to Germany Agnes Chen said the art piece serves as a reminder of strong Taiwan-Germany ties. “It is further testament to the success of the ROC government’s viable diplomacy approach, which has expanded Taiwan’s international space.”

Creator Kang Mu-xiang of Miaoli County in northern Taiwan said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-commissioned project is the most difficult he has worked on to date. “The sculpture was fashioned after the Ruyi image, a traditional symbol of auspices and prosperity, adorning the exterior of Taipei 101.

“It also represents a state of equilibrium for natural elements, which is especially salient given that it was made out of used cables from the world’s tallest green building.”

Serving 6.6 million passengers for over 600,000 kilometers of trips, the cables were put out to pasture after six years in operation.

“Once used for vertical transportation, the cables were bound together and transformed into a bridge of friendship spanning our two cultures. I am optimistic this piece will continue conveying goodwill and understanding between Taiwan and Germany,” Kang said.

Part of the MOFA’s public-private partnership program to boost Taiwan’s international cooperation, the artwork has received a warm welcome in Karlsruhe.

“We will continue stepping up collaboration with the private sector going forward and strengthening Taiwan’s role as a promoter of cultural exchanges in the global community,” a MOFA official said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=234127&ctNode=413)