The essence of life in Taitung exists between the ocean and the mountains, slow and ever-changing. It is like the wind blowing across the coast, gently tapping the pebbles to create a clinking sound; or sweeping through the rift valley, pushing the waves of rice to bring about a rustling whisper. The people living on this land know how to coexist with nature and thrive with the ecology; they know how to adjust their breathing, living and worshipping according to the solar terms, chanting with songs, and giving thanks with dances. People and the environment converge in Taitung, just like a circle—endlessly regenerating, inclusive, and diverse. This is the essence of life belonging to Taitung, and it is also the true feeling of every creator who has set foot on this island's soil.

# Artists' Creative Concepts

Lafin Sawmah (Wood) Eastern Taiwan faces the vast Pacific Ocean, and the Kuroshio Current is a branch of the Pacific currents, ranking as the second largest ocean current in the world. Besides possessing a rich ecosystem, the Kuroshio has a remarkably close relationship with the residents of the east, as many of their living habits and traditional festivals stem from a reliance on it. In addition to bringing an abundance of fish, it has deeply influenced the local maritime culture. Therefore, the artwork will present the trajectory and flow of the Kuroshio Current, symbolizing the life cycle of coexistence and symbiosis between humanity and the ocean.

Chuang Chih-Heng (Light) Because of Taitung's "water," we have Chishang's rice, Zhiben's hot springs, and the fish of Chenggong Fishing Harbor. Because of Taitung's "water," we deeply love Taitung, cherish Taitung, and take pride in Taitung. Taitung's "water," not only nurtures those who live within it but also blesses everyone on this land of Taiwan. Taitung's "water," not only magically flows upward but also bravely flows out to the whole world. The artwork attempts to use the natural element of "water" as its main subject, simplifying the complex and governing complexity with simplicity, purely presenting "water" to the audience in an effort to evoke memories of the beautiful things and charm that belong to Taitung.

WANG Yu-Jun (Music) The moment of looking up at the moon, In the city, in the hometown, in a foreign land, in another place, At that instant of quiet observation, the surroundings gradually and slowly sink downwards. Like snowflakes falling endlessly, covering the noise bit by bit. A beautiful circle, the Lantern Festival celebration. The ever-repeating circle, the circle returning to its origin, the endless circle. The person strolling in the glimmer, watching the moon traverse the universe; The person lingering on the coast, as longing strikes with the waves; The person opening the window to bathe in the moonlight, in a faraway land. What does your full moon hold? What does your full moon wait for? My full moon is grateful for reunion.

Walkin Chishang (Photography) Living in Taitung, your pace unconsciously slows down, allowing you to empty your mind and feel the beauty of the environment. Walkin Chishang has specially selected 365 photographs, symbolizing a year of living in Taitung. Here, there are the rich colors of nature, the daily routine of strolling by the lake, and mountains that are so close to the lives of Taitung's people. If you feel it with your heart, you can understand this land a little more every day. The magnetic pull woven by the mountains and the sea brings many new immigrants or returning locals here with different cultures, who are then embraced and transformed by the people already living here. Layers of changing beauty are continuously unfolding, constantly presenting various new facets of life. All of this is deeply fascinating; every person in Taitung lives earnestly, striving to practice the attitude of traveling within their daily lives.

CHUANG Chih-Wei (Sun/Moon) Stemming from the experiences of several exploratory trips back and forth to Taitung, starting from the process of bodily perception, encountering the first light of the sun rising over the mountain peaks, the shimmering tides reflecting the sky, and a profound impression of the moonlit sea. The spatial installation encapsulates the light from these memories, rising towards the east and slowly descending along its trajectory. First, it is a tangerine red, gradually turning into a soft yellow, and then spreading into transparent daylight. It continuously circulates, establishing a gentle and unhurried atmosphere that distinctly belongs to Taitung. Inside and outside the space formed by this elongated corridor, it is simultaneously moonlight and sunlight.