Marketplaces/Commercial Districts

The Heart of Shuiyuan: An Artsy New Face for an Old Market

• Source: Taipei City Government
• Date: 2010/8/2

The venerable Shuiyuan Market, located in the Gongguan commercial district, is approaching its 60th birthday. Recently, the market has undergone quite a change. The old and shabby walls have been given new life donning 177 different color hues, with blue predominant, arranged in geometric patterns to create a grand work of public art. The work, which has been christened “The Heart of Shuiyuan,” is based on the 3D work Polymorph by Israeli experimental artist Yaacov Agam, who specializes in optical and kinetic art.

This novel marriage of architecture and art can be admired from three angles—from the front and the two sides—bringing three entirely different perspectives. From one a rainbow gradually forms over the sea. From another sparkles of light skip over waves striped in blues and whites. And from another you see the refraction of light on the surface of a shimmering, sparkling sea. These symbolize the grand and multifarious cultural mix that defines Taipei's personality, and at the same time are a nod to the origin of the name “Shuiyuan,”( lit. water source) a seemingly endless supply of water. The artist has also brought the concept of “time” into the mix, creating a dynamic aesthetic that is able to interact with the viewer—as you move to different positions, the images seem to seamlessly move and transform, changing along with your perspective.