For this year’s Taoyuan Land Art Festival, Manfred Eccli and Pedro Cavaco Leitão’s Moradavaga teamed up with Blue Dragon Art Company to present “Squid Squad: Family Day.” Following their previous squid installations, the Italian and Portuguese architecture duo take to Taiwan to reflect on the rich history and culture of the city's Guishan district. They are joined by a band of local and international artists, coming together for an electric display of outdoor artworks.
Found along the rim of Zhiqing Lake, the interactive installation features three life-size colorful squids — small, medium and large — symbolizing the typical Taiwanese nuclear family. With tentacles outstretched and interwoven in trees, the family of creatures emerge from the grass. While the artwork serves as an acoustic play space during the day, “Squid Squad” engulfs the park in a soft light of red, orange and blue, creating an illuminated ambiance after the sun sets.
More than a cute spectacle, the piece aims to connect families through a unique experience of play and sound. The artists invite viewers of all ages to pop their heads into the squids’ window-like eyes and send a message to listeners with ears perched at the end of the tentacles.
In song with the greater mission of the festival, “Squid Squad” is one of many pieces that deepen the connection between art and ecology. Among this forest of creatures you can find neon-lit rabbits, tall iron tortoises and cloth fish whose glow resembles traditional lanterns. Taking inspiration in the park’s surroundings, the festival’s featured artists take advantage of space and place to shine a light the organic flow of nature.
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