Taichung World Flora Exposition-Blossom Pavilion 2018臺中世界花卉博覽會花舞館 | 2018.11.03 - 2019.04.24
Curious why Darwin is smiling?
It all began with the Orchid Research Team at National Cheng Kung University deciphering the genome sequence of orchids, unraveling Darwin's curiosity. Thus, the "Darwin's Smile" Orchid Pathway was created as a prelude to the Floral Pavilion. SyndAvant is honored to be part of this collaborative project, utilising visual concepts and design to unravel Darwin's mysteries and explore the wonders between orchids and biology.
It all began with the Orchid Research Team at National Cheng Kung University deciphering the genome sequence of orchids, unraveling Darwin's curiosity. Thus, the "Darwin's Smile" Orchid Pathway was created as a prelude to the Floral Pavilion. SyndAvant is honored to be part of this collaborative project, utilising visual concepts and design to unravel Darwin's mysteries and explore the wonders between orchids and biology.
想知道達爾文為什麼笑了嗎？
起因於成大蘭花研究團隊陸續解密蘭花基因體序列，解開了達爾文的遺憾。因此，以「達爾文的微笑」蘭花散步道揭開花舞館的序幕，也很榮幸SyndAvant能參與此合作專案，透過視覺發想與設計製作一同解開達爾文的疑惑，探索蘭花與生物之間的奧妙。
“I never was more interested in any subject in my life, than in this of Orchids.” — Charles Darwin
達爾文還曾說過，「在我的一生中，最感興趣的莫過於蘭花了。」
According to research, as early as 1862, Darwin discovered a peculiar species native to Madagascar called Angraecum sesquipedale, also known as the Comet Orchid. It has a long green spur behind its lip, extending up to 30 centimeters, with the nectar located at the bottom. Darwin hypothesised that there must be a moth in Madagascar with a proboscis long enough, around 30 to 40 centimetres, to reach the nectar at the base of the spur.
In 1903, this moth, known as Xanthopan morganii praedicta, was finally discovered. This large hawk moth, roughly the size of a small bird, had a proboscis that measured 25 centimeters. It had been 41 years since Darwin made his prediction. As a result, the Comet Orchid became known as "Darwin's Orchid."
根據文獻考究，早在1862年達爾文發現了一種原產於馬達加斯加的奇異物種 - 彗星蘭。它的唇瓣後面有一條綠色鞭狀長達30厘米的花距，花蜜則聚集在其底部。因此達爾文推測在馬達加斯加有一種巨蛾能夠將喙伸長至30厘米至40厘米，足以吸食到花距底部的花蜜。
在1903年，這種巨蛾終於被找到了。這一大型天蛾如小鳥般大小，喙長25厘米。這時距離達爾文做出預測已過了41年。彗星蘭也因此被稱為「達爾文之蘭」。
Design Rationale | 設計理念
The design scope for the Flora Pavilion is the entrance area composed of three large curved wooden structures. For this project, our design concept evolves along the continuous surface on the left, depicting the process of evolution, while on the right, it showcases five subfamilies derived from the evolution of the Orchidaceae family over approximately 70 million years. The final stage of the corridor concludes with Darwin's words to the orchids, linking the mysterious relationship between them.
透過花舞館的平面圖可知，我們設計的範圍是由三作大面積弧面木作去組成的長廊入口區。而這次專案設計發想，在左側長達30公尺的連續面上用演化論的經過去發展，右側則是以蘭科植物歷經約7千萬年的演化而衍生的五種亞科去揭開序幕，直到長廊的最後一個階段，讓達爾文對蘭花說的那段話去串聯起他們之間的神秘的關係做結尾。
In terms of graphic design and material usage, we adopted a style reminiscent of ink wash painting and incorporated an aged texture resembling parchment. This guides the audience into a nostalgic textbook atmosphere, exploring the genetic knowledge of orchids.
在圖像設計與材質運用上，是以水墨暈染風格與羊毛紙的仿舊感呈現，帶領觀眾走入充滿年代感的教科書中，一同探討蘭花的基因知識。
Printing & Setup | 印刷施作
During the project, we conducted on-site visits in Taichung and discovered that it was challenging to achieve 100% accuracy between the curved wooden structures on the floor plan and the physical construction. This increased the difficulty during the production process. During the modification phase, we had to consider not only the overall visual presentation but also the ease of construction. After extensive communication and coordination with the partners, we found a solution with the lowest production risks: printing the large surface area in layers as long strips to minimize discrepancies in the final presentation.
在專案進行中，我們曾下臺中實地場勘，當中我們發覺大型弧面木作在平面圖與實體搭建，是無法達到百分之百準確，這讓後續加工上的難度提升。場刊過後，我們在修改過程中，不僅要考量到整體畫面呈現的完整度，更需要思考到時施工過程的難易度，所以經過與夥伴們來回的溝通協調後，找到施作風險最低解決方法，就是把大面積的印刷，分成一層一層長條狀輸出，讓最後的呈現盡可能完整沒落差。
Final Outcome | 最終成品
We have created a captivating and immersive experience centered around the theme of orchids and Darwin's legacy. Through meticulous environmental design and an engaging exhibition, visitors are taken on a journey to discover the remarkable story of the Comet Orchid and its connection to Darwin's findings. The Flora Pavilion showcases the evolution of orchids, incorporating elements of flora and fauna to create a visually stunning and educational experience. Our goal is to inspire curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the beauty and diversity of orchids while honoring Darwin's contributions to the field of biology.
在「臺中花博 達爾文的微笑」中，我們打造了一個引人入勝且身臨其境的體驗，以蘭花和達爾文的遺產為主題。通過精心設計的環境和引人入勝的展示，參觀者將踏上一段探索彗星蘭花令人驚嘆的故事以及它與達爾文發現的聯繫的旅程。花舞館展示了蘭花的演化，融入了植物和動物元素，打造出一個視覺震撼且富有教育意義的體驗。我們的目標是激發人們的好奇心，深入欣賞蘭花的美麗和多樣性，同時致敬達爾文對生物學領域的貢獻。
Credits
Art direction & curation: Achó Lee 李玄俅
In collaboration with: Tony Lin 林昱丞, Chuchu 朱瑀晨
Photos provided by: 藏鋒舞墨 & North Lee 李北偉
