Ghost Fountain
2021 Taiwan Design Expo - City as Home, Beneath the surface
中央噴水池無疑是嘉義市最重要也具象徵意義的「公共空間」，然而在多次改建之後，這個「公共空間」從市民可以任意穿梭、休憩的場域，成為了只能遠觀的象徵，隔閡市民與水池的是往來的車輛，以及由水泥和鐵鍊砌起的圍欄。
如果我們無法用身體去感受一個空間，那它還是一個「空間」嗎？而它的使用權又是屬於誰的？
「不存在的噴泉」試圖將這個事實以另一個角度重現給觀者；團隊以透明水管重建嘉義中央噴水池，將噴水池的存在感壓到最低，同時把噴泉倒吊在觀者無法觸及的高度。此時，透過仰望，噴泉又再次成為只能觀看的美麗存在，只是這一次它並非在地面上，而是在空中，但這又有什麼不同呢？
Since the Japanese occupation period, the central fountain park had been planned and built in Chiayi city’s downtown. With the shifts in governments and dominators, the fountain park has gradually become the local political centre, and the beginning and end of the famous February 28 incident in Chiayi also spread from the central fountain.
With the establishment of the wall, the expansion of the roads and the installation of the statue, the fountain slowly lost its resting function, and become the monument of dominators.
We displayed the fountain in the form of reflexion, in a visible but inaccessible position, allowing viewers to reflex on the relationship between public space and the masses. “The concept of public space has never been guaranteed, it can only be obtained through constant struggle.”
1956
1970
The central fountain in Chiayi was used as a part of the Chiayi City Wall during the Qing Dynasty. After the earthquake during the Japanese occupation period, the affected area was converted into a fountain park. However, after the end of WW II, the R.O.C. government took over Taiwan, and the fountain was renovated and expanded, gradually swallowing up the resting spaces and trails.
In 1969, the fountain and the surrounding roads were expanded for the last time, and the space that could have been rested was completely wiped out. The fountain has also changed from a public park to an inaccessible sculpture that can only be seen from a distance away.
「公共空間的概念從來就不是被保障的，它只能由不斷的抗爭中得來」
"The concept of public space has never been secured; it has only been won through constant struggle."
-Mitchell 2003:5
The shape of the fountain is scaled down in a non-uniform way to highlight the square column in the centre, making the most iconic part of Chiayi’s central fountain stand out. According to the shape, we began to experiment with different materials. Finally, we found that the PVC tubes were the most ideal to present the flowing liquid.
Due to the site’s limited conditions, it can only be assembled by humans is the main challenge. But the entire installation is more than 280cm in diameter and weighs more than 300kg. I have to make sure each part and component can be carried and installed by manpower, so that the dimensions and weights fit in a reasonable scale, but are not too fragmented.
Hoping this work can stimulate more conversations among the masses on public space, let people discuss the distance between themselves and public space, and always monitor the publicity of every space.
Director: Shikai Tseng
Project Manager: Muriel Wong
Designer: Sean Wen
Production: Sean Wen, Jeff Wu, Muriel Wong
Size: 280*280*100cm
Material: Steel, Tube, Acrylic, LED
Photographer: Cooperaphy
