Originally established as art, many Shanghai pavilions are being flowered with giant, colorful figures that were presented in a new waterfront park, created for Shanghai's 2010 World Expo. These colorful sculptures were initially an art installation, but after a number being torn down, local residents have found an alternative usage for these space-like figurines. Leisure activities such as games, picnics, music and karaoke are some of the main functions that the wind-powered structures are powering. Designed by Shanghai-based Taranta Creations, the additions to the park add an urban feel and provide an alternative source of power. The figurines are colorful and come various shapes including a short tube, a skittle-look-a-like and boxes. The expo's theme was ‘better city, better life' which was clearly displayed when the off-grid powered art pieces arrived to the park. The expo hoped to draw future development and included the structures in the design plans for the Bailianjing Park, a newly designed green space along the Huangpu River. The pieces original purpose was to be artistic in nature, and due to the appealing look of the structures they have served as eye-candy and attract many residents to the park. Tarant Creations describes the work as Contemporist: The objective of our design was to create sculptures that added more than only visually quality to the park. We wanted to create an installation that enables and facilitates this typical park life. Inspired by the diversity of Chinese recreational cultures, each sculpture is designated for a specific function to suit for multiple purposes. One sculpture will be equipped with microphones and a screen, so it can be used for singing karaoke. Another will contain trays to store chess and card games. In one of the pavilions you can place bottles, for keeping your drinks cold during the hot summers. Or you can dance on the tunes produced by the “jukebox” sculpture. The pieces are wind-powered and the turbines provide the needed electricity for each pavilion to function. The pods light up the park at night time creating a social, attention-drawing atmosphere. The structures rest upon stilts due to potential flooding along the river. It is even said that the rainbow-colored forms also recall the tradition Chinese fengkafei tea pavilions, albeit in a modernized version that's sustained by the wind, proposing that even ultra-cutting edge urban fun can be sustainably rooted in traditional ways of leisure. BM
