In the painting "Taiwan: The Liberty of Ocean" by Taiwanese indigenous artist Andy Chen Kang-I, Taiwan is depicted as a whale in the ocean. The story of the immersive theater is inspired by this artwork, transforming the island of Taiwan into a giant whale island. The little whales moving around the island in the animation symbolize the people of Taiwan.
When individuals from different cultures reflect on their perception of what feels like "home," it's mostly shaped by their personal external experiences, varying or aligning accordingly. Culture is thus manifested in this context. The sounds of a passing motorcycle or the aroma of stir-fried food often evoke memories of Taiwan because these tiny elements of "Taiwanese culture" are deeply interwoven into our daily lives, from childhood to the present.
In the Time Station theater, we transform "Taiwan" into a giant whale, and a group of small whales, as a metaphor of Taiwanese people, guides the audience to experience "Taiwan's five senses."
The adventure starts at a mysterious train station, where a train on the platform invites passengers to begin a journey through time and space.
The train first passes through the Auditory Maze, focusing on the sense of hearing, guiding passengers to explore familiar sounds of Taiwan within the maze.
The train then reaches the Visual Miniature World, highlighting Taiwan's natural colors to guide passengers explore familiar visual in daily life.
The train heads towards the Tactile City of Bouncing Collisions, spotlighting touch by showcasing the bustling cityscape and familiar tactile experiences from Taiwan's households.
The train weaves through intricate pathways, spotlighting taste by showcasing a variety of foods representing Taiwan's multicultural context.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind from the cave propels the little whales and the train upward into the clouds, where they hover in mid-air.
The train floats through a mist filled with diverse scents, representing Taiwan's unique smells. This experience, focused on smell, reflects the blend of different ethnicities in Taiwan, creating a sense of shared "home."
In the Train Theater, where two screens project simultaneously, we aim for every audience member, regardless of their seat (front, back, left, or right), to have a uniform storyline experience. To address this, we arrange the visuals by using the protagonist, the little whale, as a guide for the main plot. We design scenes with the same theme but different details, presented on the left and right screens simultaneously.
To effectively communicate with our clients and ensure the script layout for the theater, we use storyboards as a solid foundation for mutual understanding. This allows us to quickly make any necessary content adjustments.
