Linear Flora: A Light Sculpture Reimagining Tradition

Ray Teng Pai's Award-Winning Design for Taiwan Lantern Festival

Linear Flora stands out for its unique properties and design inspiration. The design is deeply rooted in the mathematic nature of the bougainvillea, with variations and multiples of the number three spotted in different aspects. This reflects the structure of the bougainvillea, where each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or six bracts. The design also sends a message of transforming the heritage of the festival and connecting it with the future, a testament to Ray Teng Pai's forward-thinking approach.

The realization of Linear Flora was a feat of engineering and design. The body of the installation is composed of 396 aluminium tubes, borrowed from Pai's earlier work, "Linear Task Light". A cable-suspension system and three steel pillars were used to hang the Flora body, while complex electrical wiring illuminated the color-changing LED lights. The design's specifications are impressive, with a diameter of 11,000 mm and a height of 6,000 mm.

Linear Flora is not just a static installation, but a dynamic artwork that changes over time. As visitors walk around the artwork, the lighting pattern changes, creating a dynamic atmosphere. The polyhedron structure of Linear Flora also allows it to be observed from different angles, revealing a strong sense of symmetry.

The design project began in November 2018 in Taipei and was completed in March 2019 in Pingtung. It was exhibited at the Taiwan Lantern Festival in March. The design process involved extensive research into the morphology of the bougainvillea and the mathematic nature behind it. The design team also made scale models to better understand the structure and electrical wiring.

Linear Flora faced several design challenges. The team wanted to hang the flora body with minimal material, leading to the development of a cable and steel suspension system. Lighting up the entire LED bars was also a challenge due to the small space for electrical wiring in the linear structure. Despite these challenges, the design team successfully created a unique and innovative installation.

Linear Flora's unique combination of form and technology earned it the Golden A' Lighting Products and Fixtures Design Award in 2019. This prestigious award is granted to outstanding creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom, advance art, science, design, and technology, and significantly impact the world with their desirable characteristics.