Above the Clouds: A Museum Exhibition by Kai-Luen Shiau

Abstracting and Concretizing the Concept of Clouds

Clouds have long been a source of inspiration, representing both the intangible and the tangible. With "Above the Clouds," Shiau aims to illustrate how designers can transform their abstract thoughts into concrete designs by expanding the concept of clouds into a conceptual state of abstraction and concretization.

The exhibition showcases a range of unique design elements, including geometric cloud gates, artificial clouds, cloud platforms, and cloud walls. These elements are brought to life using soft and transparent yarn cloths, which serve as the expression of the exhibition's general structure and function.

Transparent yarn cloths, wood, and wire are the primary materials used in the realization of this design. The exhibition covers an area of 1,150 square meters, providing ample space for visitors to immerse themselves in the cloud-inspired environment.

"Above the Clouds" is not merely a static display but an interactive experience. The design aims to convey the impact of clouds on our daily lives, presenting visitors with the possibilities of future life through the interplay of abstraction and concretization. It serves as a platform for transforming abstract ideas into tangible realities.

The exhibition took place from June 2017 at the Zhejiang Art Museum in Hangzhou, China. It was a result of months of creative and technical challenges, including the curation of exhibits to convey meaning and imagination in a conceptual way. The design successfully created a dialogue between the exhibits, allowing visitors to explore the history of future furniture development through a progressive arrangement of different types of furniture, multimedia images, and design manuscripts.

"Above the Clouds" was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in 2018 in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category. This prestigious accolade recognizes the exhibition's outstanding creativity and resourcefulness, incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology. The design not only showcases strong technical and creative skills but also contributes to improving the quality of life, making the world a better place.