透過行動參與或活動方案,讓眾人成為關注當代社會的一員,是不同學門及領域中,近年來的一種共識和實踐策略。在這當中,從實用設計出發的「社會設計」即致力結合日常用品、科技產物的發明,試圖改善人類與土地之間的關係。社會設計師們從個人微小的出發點,觀看世界進而關心這個社會,提示了人類透過設計追求方便與進步之同時,更不應忽略對於永續自然環境的維護,以及對底層弱勢族群的關懷。
本次展覽邀請了11組荷蘭設計師和6組台灣設計師,透過「大地」、「援助」、「關懷」、「共享」與「生技」五大主題分享他們的設計成果,讓我們從中對照觀摩,在台灣和荷蘭這兩個地理氣候相似的國度裡,社會設計師如何以創意的視野和人文的胸懷,與自己的土地與人民進行雙向的互動。
本展的五大主題中,「大地」闡述了事物根源於土地,土地則因人們的活動、耕種作物的不同,而有著不同的特性與呈現。設計師從觀察土地和人們的生活中擷取靈感,傳達與自然相關的種種理念。「援助」敘述了戰爭為人們所帶來的苦難與折磨,設計師們雖無法阻止戰爭,但致力於構思如何改善人們的戰後生活。「關懷」系列說明醫療、疾病及人類的關係,病痛總是引發恐懼和隔閡,因此設計師們試圖透過有趣及靈活的作品設計,化解人們的窘境與恐慌,並改善患者的生活。「共享」系列提出「Open source」這個新名詞,以資訊開放與資源共享的概念,為下一世代架構新格局。「生技」系列的設計師以生物科技為基礎進行新材質的研發,並透過工作坊等形式推廣新知及新觀念,擴大眾人對於未來設計的想像與投入。
本展由臺北市文化局主辦,可視為台北市辦理2016世界設計之都的一種前奏曲,策展人為留學荷蘭的台灣設計師徐景亭,透過五大面向的闡述,提出對社會與環境不同的觀點與反思,希望觀者能以嶄新的視角重新觀察生活環境並付諸行動。當我們發現自然的美好,並重視人與人之間的和諧關係,失衡的世界也將因此獲得扭轉的機會。
In recent years, many disciplines and fields have reached a consensus that everyone could be a member that cares about society through participating in activities and taking real actions. “Social Design,” an idea expanded from functional designs, combines commodities and technological invention, attempting to improve the relation between human beings and nature. Starting from individual perspectives, social designers show their concern for the society and the world, suggesting that human beings should not ignore the importance of protecting nature and caring for the disadvantaged while pursuing convenience and growth through design.
11 groups of Dutch designers and 6 groups of Taiwanese designers are invited to display their works in five themes—Earth, Aid, Care, Share, and Biotech. Taiwan and Holland share similar climate and geographical composition. This exhibition allows us to compare and contrast the works of social designers in these two places. It shows us how social designers use creativity with humanist concern to mediate between the land and people.
The five themes of this exhibition—“Earth” demonstrates that all things originate from earth; earth presents itself differently according to human cultivation and activities. Designers gain inspiration by observing lands and people’s lives to convey messages related to nature. “Aid” displays the suffering and torture caused by war; although designers cannot stop wars from happening, they contemplate on ways to improve people’s lives after wars. “Care” explores the relationship between medicine, disease, and human beings; illness arouses fear and seclusion, and designers try to resolve people’s dilemma and fear through interesting and intriguing works, further bettering people’s lives. “Share” proposes the term “Open source,” a concept of technological access and sharing, as the new framework for the next generation. “Biotech” presents fabric innovation based on biological technology; the designers hope to broaden people’s imagination and interest in design through workshops that promote new ideas.
This exhibition is organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government and can be viewed as a part of an overture for Taipei as the 2016 World Design Capital. Curator Gina Hsu is a designer who studied in Holland. Through the five themes in this exhibition, she hopes to introduce a different perspective and reflection on society and our environment so that audiences could review their own lives from new angles and take actions to make changes. When we discover the beauty of nature and the value of harmony between people, the imbalanced world would have the possibility to become better.