The 12th Taipei Biennial 2020 “You And I Don’t Live On the Same Planet “

COLLECTIVE collaborated with French Philosopher Bruno Latour, curators Martin Guinard and Eva Lin designing the exhibition space “New Diplomatic Encounters”.

In its 12th edition, the Taipei Biennial cohort showcases 57 participants from 27 countries. Taipei Biennial takes place at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, and looks to question the current geopolitical tensions and climate crisis by examining our differences and influences on a planetary perspective. The biennial proposes a fictional “planetarium’ within the museum where artist, activists and scientists will explore the tension between the gravitational pulls of different ‘planets’.

“New Diplomatic Encounters”, curated by Eva Lin with Bruno Latour and Martin Guinard, is imagined as a space where ‘diplomacy’ happens, a procedure which usually occurs after a conflict took place. The space accommodates a wide range of activities such as lectures, discussions, debates, and seminars; with an aim to bring together people who disagree to engage in conversations. The key feature of a diplomatic encounter is to have no arbiter, referee, or judge; and the design would mimic what would be needed in the real world and subconsciously prepare the visitors for the tasks that lie ahead. 

COLLECTIVE created 3 key formats of encounter that takes place during diplomacy: theatre of negotiations (sub-encounters: plenary sessions, contact groups, informal lobbying), compass workshop (group or 1:1 workshop) and lecture. Various formats and spatial arrangement of national assemblies from countries were studied and informs the design process of the negotiation theatre.

The ribbon design is a result of intensive research on ‘Spaces for Negotiations’, which accommodates all types of encounters during diplomacy, incorporating the essences of assembly formats from the House of Commons in the UK (facing each other confrontationally); UN General Assembly (directionally front facing); Taiwan Legislative Yuan and House of Representative Chambers in USA (concentrically facing the middle). The winding ribbon form and varying heights breaks down the hierarchy between a speaker and the audience, creating an egalitarian space for discussions. The space doubles up as a study area or leisure space for the public and visitors at the Biennial when no events are planned in the space.

LOCATION: Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

AREA: 420 m2

CLIENT: Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM)

ARCHITECT: COLLECTIVE

CURATORS: Bruno Latour, Martin Guinard, Eva Lin

PHOTOGRAPHY: YHLAA / TFAM