The light-based installation symbolizes an entrance to an enigmatic spatial experience, where humans communicate with nature. The exhibition entitled The Search of the Glow by artist Ling-Li Tseng was on view at the 2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Houli.

The complexity of the installation required a combination of traditional artistry and digital production, which is why it was manufactured in collaboration with Serendipity Studio. The artist employed the technique called lofting. She first drew the lines on wood, cut them out into long strips, and finally twisted them to create the final form. Every line is made out of eight layers of wood veneer, outlined by strips of LED lights. By using double curvature to produce and uphold the desired sculptural form, the artist managed to create a massive artwork that looks light and airy, despite its substantial size.

Artist Ling-Li Tseng later explains “All senses are slowly enhanced, and rays of the light guide us to an adventure in the mist. In a grove of trees, we discover an object emitting flickering light—its woven and curved staves engage in a dialogue with the natural curves of the surrounding trees.”

The hazy Taiwanese forest represents the perfect environment that allows a wooden sculpture to truly shine, as the wooden orb and the surrounding trees communicate with each other. Although the sculpture captivates at any time of day and night, the piece reaches its true glory, during the nights and misty, foggy days, when it cuts through the dark, illuminating its temporary timber home.

IMAGE SOURCE: (Source: Colossal, Image source Ling-Li Tseng)