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Through the Membrane
Exhibition
Location
Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Year
2020
Material
Polarizers, Acrylic, Galvanized square
Dimensions
14 (m) x 14 (m) x 2.9 (m)
Polarizer
Cheng Mei Materials Technology Corp.
Structural Consultant
Kuan-Fan Chen + A.S studio
Structure
Xiang Yu Co. Ltd.
Photography
Rex Chu & Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Film production
Liu Che Chun
膜
PROJECTS
We define the space around us by observing and perceiving light and shadow. That is to say, our perception shapes our basic understanding of this sensory world, and hence the “reality” we believe in. If our experiential knowledge and awareness of space are challenged, would our definition of a “real phenomenon” also be changed?
Through the Membrane utilizes optical polarizers to change how light passes through space. The installation does not rely on any electromechanical devices. Simply with creative use of material and structure, it presents a super-sensory experience in space where reality and illusion are inextricably juxtaposed.
The creative collective WHYIXD believes that audience experience is undoubtedly the core of an artwork. Therefore a set of special polarized glasses was designed for the viewers to better interact with the installation. As the viewers walk inside Through the Membrane, they are able to observe the microcosmic world created by the artwork, as if they were temporarily endowed with some superpower.
Through movements of head or body, the viewers are no longer passive members of the audience—they are enabled to not only interact but also bring changes to the surroundings. When they recognize the connection between their body and the installation, their perception of space becomes stronger and keener. It is intended for the viewers to develop different body awareness in contrast to experiential knowledge already acquired. Together the unfamiliar and the accustomed bring forth a sense of “X-Reality”.
Through the Membrane is a multi-layered immersive installation. Its interior is difficult to be seen from the outside and thus it intrigues people to walk in and find out. As the viewers “pass through the membrane” between layers of circular boundaries, the optical effect of polarizers creates a unique visual illusion—what seems to be solid black walls suddenly becomes transparent.
A polarizer is typically used in components for LCD products and usually comes in relatively small size. During the process of making, the creative collective experiments on how to use this material to the extent of architecture, trying to strike a balance between precision and scale.
Through the Membrane received the first prize of “Program X-site” in 2020, the 7th year of the competition. Displayed on the plaza of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, it was a temporary architectural installation lasting for two months.
Ａ polarizer is an optical material that filters light waves into a specific polarization angle. One of the characteristics of polarizers is that, if stacked at different angles, they alter the amount of the light that is able to pass through. Visually this creates a dramatic shift between brightness and darkness.
The creative collective puts this into use and designs a multi-layered structure composed of overlaid polarizers of different polarization angles. Meanwhile, special polarized glasses are distributed for a better viewing experience. The viewers can feel the gradual and intriguing changes of space as they walk inside the installation.
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“What is real?” is thus the perpetual question that obsesses the viewers while they explore in the installation. ”
The viewers' participation is a course of building up relationships between the senses, surroundings and unknown phenomena. As they search what it means for an architecture to be “real”, the connection is therefore formed and they become an integral part of the artwork.
Program X-site is one of the most significant competitions in architecture in Taiwan. It holds an annual open call for proposals, encouraging cross-disciplinary and experimental spatial designs and aesthetic attempts to reimagine the familiar space. The theme for 2020 was “X-Reality”, as it is quintessential to have continuous cross references (X-Reference) in our search of reality.
The open call of Program X-site 2020 started in May 2019. After two rounds of preliminary review, Through the Membrane by the cross-disciplinary collective WHYIXD was selected among a total of 42 participating proposals. The installation was on view from June 13 to August 9 on the plaza of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
人類藉由觀察、感受光影以定義出空間的樣貌。換言之，意識形塑我們對於感官世界的基本認知，進一步建構出所謂的「真實」。然而，若更動人們恆常經驗中對於空間的想像與知識，是否就會因此改變人對於「真實現象」的定義與理解？
《膜》是一個多層次的環繞裝置，內部難以被立即辨識，因而誘使人必須入內走動、探索之後，才能理解其為何物。觀者在「穿膜」的過程中，身處在其多層次的環繞邊界中，因偏光片（polarizer）的特殊光學效果將產生觀看錯覺──原為黑色、無法穿越的實牆，隨著觀眾視線的移動，瞬間又轉換為透明的邊界，「何謂真實」也成為探索過程中的反覆探問。
人的介入是一種尋找關係的過程，一種對於既定感官、環境與未知現象探尋的參照，追求建築「真實」的可能性，並因而與建築體產生連結，融為作品的一部分。《膜》運用偏光片改變「光影」在空間中的穿透方式，並沒有透過額外的機電設備與科技技術來操作光影，僅以單純的媒材與結構，就創造出一真實與幻境交疊的超感空間體驗。
《膜》為2020年第七屆「X-site計畫」首獎作品，其以臺北市立美術館的戶外廣場作為基地，為一座展出歷時兩個月的臨時建築。
「X-site計畫」是台灣具指標性的建築競賽，每年公開徵選空間提案，鼓勵跨域、實驗性的空間構築和美學的延伸與突破，激發對於場域的重新感知與想像。 本屆徵件計畫提出「多重真實（X-Reality）」之命題概念：探索真實的過程需要持續的交互參照（X-Reference）。
2020年第七屆「X-site計畫」於2019年5月公開徵選，經兩階段的評選，最終由跨領域團隊「何理互動設計WHYIXD」以作品《膜》在42件的報名作品中獲得首獎，並於2020年6月13日至2020年8月9日在臺北市立美術館戶外廣場展出。
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我們認為「人」的認知及體驗才是作品的核心，因此設計了由偏光片製成的特殊眼鏡，當觀者戴上它遊歷《膜》時，觀者彷彿被賦予特殊能力，得以窺探《膜》分子般的微觀世界，透過觀者的「移動」、「擺頭」等微妙動態，主動與《膜》互動，原本被動的觀者將產生空間的主動更動能力，感知身體與裝置之間的連結變化，感受也將更為放大。
創作團隊期望在裝置的探索過程中，觀者能產生嶄新的身體感受，與其恆常的感官經驗形成並存的「多重真實X-Reality」感。
