An immersive experience that transcends the intersection of design, faith, and science

Bito represented Taiwan in the London Biennale 2021, exploring the power of design in producing chain reactions through the theme, “Resonate.” This was an immersive performance held within a small space, with the challenge being coming up with content that only Taiwan can respond to, while also integrating audiences from all sorts of cultural backgrounds.

The Taiwan Pavilion’s exhibition was named “Swingphony,” drawing inspiration from the inseparable characteristics of Taiwan’s diverse folk beliefs and life itself. The repeated swings of the metronome’s pendulum created a symphony of goodwill, faith, and empathy.

This experience was designed with three main elements: the metronome, the video design, and the surrounding lantern devices. Multiple metronomes can achieve the physical phenomenon of heterogeneous resonance, responding to the rhythms created by acts of faith: repetition, cycle, connection, and resonance. The appearance of the metronome featured hands folded together in prayer combined with the concept of heaven being round and the earth being square. The pendulum came from burning incense, with its swinging motion representing the ritual of praying with incense in hand. The video design took the smoke lingering in temples as its visual concept, its delicate flow rendering the colors of Taiwan. Surrounding lantern installations recreated the elements of Taiwanese temples in different places, while also symbolizing hope.