Nan Kang Station Public Art Decoration
Midday somewhere on the earth
This art work consists of 24 characters /totems laid out in circle symbolizing the time zones.
On each time zone are running the cities which correspond to it as well as the hour. The peak of the composition is the time zone on which it is midday. This one is more particularly illuminated, as a sun, shining on both faces.
The idea:
To transport the passer by, the traveller, on the planet.
While crossing the esplanade, to make him become aware of this planet as a whole by showing him the infinity of the cities which composes it and the position of the sun, source of life, in this moment.
Perception:
Seen from the far and from every angle the art work is gripping because the texts which are running vertically seem to raise the whole of the composition. It attracts the glance. You want to approach it, to discover it.
Approaching, the visitor discovers that this run corresponds to cities located on the same time zone as well as the corresponding hour. One among them shines more particularly of the two faces : it is midday.
You can see the work under another angle, as if the posts were characters or giants welcoming the travellers and passers by.
What characterizes this work is that it seems alive, the seconds running, the texts flying away.
This work symbolizes the planet with its cities and villages. It reflects our current civilization where everyone is connected. We consume products which come from the other side of the world, we produce goods and services which are dropped in the smallest village. In front of our screens we discover the whole world. It makes us becoming aware of our position towards the planet.
This feeling will help us to respect it, to take care of it.
A 190cm pole spacing allows spectators to move through the installation freely. And without restraint, one can wonder freely between each time zone.
Anchored at the plaza’s corner, we propose series of expanding radial rings on the horizon to symbolize the formation of a black hole. The 24 vertical golden poles on its surrounding represent the 24 time zones on Earth. With variations of lighting effects in between each time zone stage a visual rendering of the relation between time and timelessness.
The golden metal poles are 6 meter in height each. Each pole will be engraved with names of 5 cities in both Chinese and English. Each pole will also be paired with one “Solar Lighting”. A device will show various shades and colors and will also change in accordance with the Sun.
“Solar Lighting” will have the mechanism installed inside the poles. The sphere itself will have two halves. The half facing inward is constructed of translucent acrylic and half facing outside will be painted gold. The number and light emitting holes will be translucent acrylic fitted with LED inside. Colors can change from white to yellow, to red, to blue, to represent the changing sky in each time zone.
During conceptual, our design team thought about the Cartesian coordinate system to portrait time and space. On the horizon, we propose a visual black hole to symbolize the source of immense energy; and from there, the concept of time warp and bending of space were introduced to bring 24 time zones of Earth toward the edge of the frontier of our time, the black hole.
To emphasize the 24 time zones, metal poles are used to represent each longitude. On top of each pole will have spot lights to beam down rays of “longitude” at night. Moreover, we enlighten the poles by engraving name of cities in Chinese and English with lights emitting from within.
At this point, we felt the concept was somehow similar to map plotting in the 17th century. Therefore, the incorporation of the “Solar Lighting” become the gateway to the 21st century. A computer program controls LEDs within to simulate path of the Sun. Each “Solar Lighting” can change color with the progression of time. It should portrait the dramatic color spectrum from sunrise to sunset. Also, a code for each time zone at the back of the “solar lighting” makes the project even more educational and intriguing. This code will instantly allow spectators to find out current time of the given cities.
From here, we tried to figure out the cultural connection between this project and the city of Nan Kang. While navigating through the model, we discovered a phenomenon. By standing in the center, we could see the surrounding environment beyond. Visually, the entire Nan Kang landscape and cityscape became connected and united along the circumference. This was something unexpected and stimulating. Therefore, we felt honored to participate in the design process of this monument and have high hopes for the neighborhood development.
Finally, we hoped to process our perspective from the universal to a personal level. And as individuals to help create a prosperous urban society. This would be our expectation for this project and hope it can be carried out through time.