Taiwan’s Fang Hsin-chiao creates ‘Circular Tea Room’ for Venice Biennale of Architecture

Taiwan’s Fang Hsin-chiao creates ‘Circular Tea Room’ for Venice Biennale of Architecture

2023-05-25

Taiwanese art is having a moment at the 2023 Venice Biennale of Architecture. Celebrated architect Fang Hsin-chiao was invited by the European Cultural Centre to contribute to the prestigious festival. Her response was a major installation based on Taiwanese tea culture, featuring symbols of Taiwan’s landscape made from sustainable materials. The “Circular Tea Room” is also an interactive venue. Visitors from around the world can get creative with the sensory potential of tea. We go now to Venice to learn more.

A mother brings her child up close for a sniff. It seems to pass the test. These Taiwanese tea leaves have traveled halfway round the world to Venice, to bring Taiwan’s tea culture to Italy.

Architect Fang Hsin-chiao was invited by the European Cultural Centre to bring the “Circular Tea Room” to the 2023 Venice Biennale of Architecture. The building is made entirely of recycled materials. On the roof, a symbolic representation of Taiwan’s great mountain range, and a sketch of Taiwan’s forests, made of Taiwanese timber.

Fang Hsin-chiao
Taiwanese architect
We used so-called PET bottles, recycled into fabric. In the center is Taiwanese timber from the Forestry Bureau’s sustainable plantations, a Japanese cedar. The floorboards are made of tea leaf waste, in a collaboration with the Tea Research and Extension Station.

The semi-open space in the park offers various activities, letting visitors make design experiments in sight, sound, smell, touch and taste, and introducing Taiwanese tea culture. The simple gesture of pouring hot water over leaves has been worked into this performance by an artist.

Fang Hsin-chiao
Taiwanese architect
All the visitors – from Italian and German people, to the Japanese biennale organizers who we invited – have all been very surprised. They want us to create more events to introduce Italy to Taiwan.

The whole project conveys a message of symbiosis with nature, attempting to make sustainable living not just a slogan. It’s also an avenue for Formosa’s unique tea traditions to find new enthusiasts from around the world.

威尼斯建築雙年展登場台設計師作品發揚茶文化

2023-05-25

2023年威尼斯建築雙年展，在水都威尼斯盛大登場，台灣建築設計師方新樵，受到歐洲文化中心邀請，前往參展。作品"循環茶事"，外觀以台灣百岳為意象打造，還利用國產木材，讓觀展民眾彷彿走進台灣山林，而現場更有互動裝置，要讓外國人，認識台灣的茶文化。

媽媽把小朋友抱起，鼻子靠近一聞，馬上露出笑容。台灣茶葉飄香，遠征威尼斯，要讓外國人更了解我國茶文化。

台灣建築設計師方新樵，受歐洲文化中心邀請，以"循環茶室"參加2023威尼斯建築雙年展，作品全使用回收再生材料，在屋頂創造台灣百岳的山脈意象，也利用國產木材，勾勒出台灣森林。

[[台灣建築設計師方新樵]]
"我們這次用了所謂寶特瓶，回收再利用變紡紗，那中間的話就是林務局永續林業的國產材，柳杉，地板的話就是跟茶改場的合作，就是所謂的茶廢渣"

在公園裡的半開放空間，以不同活動，針對觀眾的視覺、嗅覺、觸覺、味覺和聽覺進行設計，介紹台灣茶文化。也有藝術家把泡茶動作編入表演之中。

[[台灣建築設計師方新樵]]
"所有來的貴賓，從義大利人到德國人，我們也邀請到日本的策展人來到現場，他們都覺得非常出乎他們意料，也希望我們辦更多的活動，可以在義大利，讓他們更認識台灣"

作品傳達與自然共生的理念，讓永續不再只是口號，更同時讓台灣的茶文化，在國外發光發熱。

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Chen Pao-lang
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Our first-quarter pre-tax profit was NT$5.3 billion, which we don’t find satisfactory.

The four major subsidiaries of Formosa Plastics Group will hold their shareholders meetings in late May. Leading the way was Formosa Petrochemical, with a Thursday conference convened by Chairman Chen Pao-lang . Although the firm staged a turnaround in the first quarter to make more than NT$4.43 billion in profit, the chairman said he was unsatisfied with overall performance. He said that due to international factors, the recovery in oil prices was not meeting expectations, and so profits in the second quarter would not be better than the first.

Chen Pao-lang
Formosa Petrochemical
Many changes are taking place around the world, and none are under my control. So we will post losses in May. It will be unlike January, February and March, when we made profits, profits all three months. Q2 will not be better than Q1.

In the first half of 2022, Formosa Petrochemical’s exports grew amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a greater imbalance in supply and demand for oil products. But in the second half of the year, inflation, lockdowns in China, and economic stagnation delivered losses. Over the entire year, Formosa Petrochemical posted consolidated revenue of NT$848 billion, up 36.8% from 2021. Earnings per share stood at NT$1.51. At Thursday’s conference, the company announced a dividend per share of NT$1.1, a stark difference from last year’s NT$3.8.

Chen Pao-lang
Formosa Petrochemical
This year, the impact from inflation and the Russia-Ukraine war remains. We have to stay especially cautious.

As for the outlook this year, Chen reiterated that demand for petrochemical products had not recovered as expected. In addition, profit margins were falling for previously better-performing products like diesel and aviation fuel. He said that the company would be flexible in its operations, while working to strengthen its fundamentals and competitiveness.

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Ko Wen-je meets former President Chen Shui-bian in Tainan

Turning now to the election. Presidential candidate Ko Wen-je met up with former President Chen Shui-bian in Tainan on Wednesday. The ex-president posted a photo of the two together, saying they spoke about the economy and Taiwan’s wealth gap. The visit is seen as Ko’s latest effort to court deep-green supporters. But a DPP lawmaker says that no matter his efforts, Ko will not be the choice of the nativist faction.

Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je campaigned in Tainan on Wednesday, touting his political achievements. He stopped by a temple before giving a university lecture. He also had a meeting with former President Chen Shui-bian.

On social media, Chen shared a photo of himself shaking hands with Ko, and wrote that Ko did not come seeking campaign support. Instead, Chen said, Ko visited in his capacity as the first convener of Chen’s medical team. Ko also sought advice on how to strengthen the economy and close the wealth gap.

Vicky Chen
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Ko considers Chen Shui-bian to be a political predecessor. With this predecessor, Ko – whether in his role as Taipei mayor or as presidential candidate – can engage in exchanges regarding political experiences and thoughts.

Ko’s office said the two met for roughly an hour, and that Ko mainly consulted Chen about city and national governance. But the visit is seen as Ko’s latest attempt to court the deep-green camp.

At his May 20 press conference announcing his candidacy, there were members of Chen’s medical team in the audience, including a physician and the team’s spokeswoman. Also present were former Taiwan Solidarity Union Chairman Shu Chin-chiang and former TSU Legislator Hsu Chung-hsin. Political watchers say Ko is working to reconnect with his deep-green roots, to expand his voter base. A DPP lawmaker says it won’t work.

Hung Sun-han
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These past few years, Ko Wen-je has pushed the line that the two sides of the strait are one family. Any partners with a nativist consciousness would be very aware of that. Ko Wen-je’s long-time stance on cross-strait affairs will not make him the choice of the nativist faction.

As Ko continues his campaign, the green camp is urging supporters not to be misled.

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Students create videos for endangered animals competition

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Speaking fluent English, he gives a PowerPoint presentation about Formosan black bears. This is Kuo Han-tien, the first-place winner in the English individual category. Kuo hopes that his presentation can bring to light the crisis that Formosan black bear faces.

Kuo Han-tien
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I chose Formosan black bear for my topic because I think they were cute and the first animal in my mind when I heard the topic about endangered animals are Formosan black bears. I want to work with non-governmental organizations to let the Formosan black bear stay in Taiwan and don’t go from endangered to extinct.

There’s also this brother-and-sister duo who played the role of a news anchor and reporter. Their presentation was about the challenges faced by Taiwan’s leopard cats.

Huang Yun-hui
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I previously participated in a news anchoring competition. I was in charge of speaking, and my brother was in charge of acting. We had a good time working with each other.

To encourage animal conservation, a tourism group and cultural foundation held a competition inviting children to introduce endangered animals through a variety of mediums, such as videos, graphics, and drawings. Over two months, 100 works were submitted, putting the spotlight on Formosan black bears, leopard cats, rhinos, and other endangered animals.

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Onions offer wealth of nutrition and health benefits, especially when eaten raw

The humble onion is one of the most common vegetables. But in terms of nutrition, it’s a superstar, full of vitamins C and B, and high in antioxidants. Doctors say it can help reduce inflammation, lower blood sugar, and even prevent dementia. But did you know that eating onions raw is the best way to make the most of their nutritional value? Cooking with a high temperature destroys lots of the goodness. We spoke to some experts to get the lowdown.

An onion is chopped swiftly and bathed in ice water to remove the slime.

Chen Huang-jen
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Its mucus membrane drops off, so it tastes better and has higher nutritional value.

The water is drained, and quick-boiled seafood is added along with a delicious sauce. A simple and nutritious onion-based dish is served. This little vegetable is not to be overlooked nutritionally. It’s full of vitamins C and B and potassium ions.

Ou Nai-chia
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Onions contain excellent antioxidants, which can inhibit free radicals. So it’s useful for everything from preventing cancer to fighting germs, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood lipids, preventing heart disease, and controlling blood sugar levels.

Huang Po-yao
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The anthocyanidins they contain, and the quercetins and phytochemicals, are so good for you, because they have excellent antioxidant properties. It’s not just preventing dementia, actually it’s extremely effective for all kinds of degenerative conditions, including degeneration of the cardiovascular system and the digestive tract, and various movement functions.

Onions have a distinctive taste, however they’re prepared. But doctors say they’re even better for you if you can stomach them raw.

Huang Po-yao
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The piquant flavor is a stimulant for our brain, and it can make our cranial nerves maintain a lively state.

Ou Nai-chia
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We don’t want to cook our onions with too high a heat, like frying or stir-frying on a hot flame. We want to reduce that, so that we can get a higher proportion of the flavonoids.

High temperatures destroy the nutritional value of onions. But it’s also easy to eat too many raw onions and give yourself diarrhea, so if you’re enjoying an onion salad, just take a little at first, until you get used to it.

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The path of the storm will become clearer next week.

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As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, the storm was located at 14.5 degrees north latitude and 142.8 degrees east longitude, moving west at a speed of 24 kilometers per hour. When it reaches the east coast of Luzon Island, in the seas southeast of Taiwan, it may start to turn north. From next Monday to Wednesday, the impact on Taiwan is likely to be the most severe.

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The southeast side
As it moves toward the southeast side of Taiwan, it could start to turn north. As it approaches, in the period from next Monday to next Wednesday, the typhoon’s peripheral effects will be felt mainly along the North Coast, including Keelung; the East Coast; the Hengchun Peninsula; and the greater Taipei area.

Most of this weekend won’t be affected by the typhoon, forecasters say. But starting Sunday afternoon, the approach of the storm’s periphery will drive in northeasterly winds, bringing rain to windward parts of Taiwan. The CWB says it may issue a sea warning next week.

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After it enters the outer East Sea and moves northeast, we may issue a sea warning. For now it appears that a typhoon warning won’t be a concern until after next Monday.

The CWB says it will continue tracking the storm, and that it’s still unclear when and how Mawar will make its northward turn.

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