Vienna-based design collective Numen/For Use has recently unveiled its first exhibition in Taiwan, introducing captivating immersive installations Taichung audiences can explore. Moreover, the group presents two major works exclusively at CMP Inspiration in Taichung, inviting visitors to experience art in a whole new way.
First, the centerpiece—a 6-meter-tall inflatable structure named “Net Taichung”—surrounds visitors in a soft, aerial maze. Its design echoes the museum’s entrance lines and resembles gentle hills that invite movement and discovery. Therefore, visitors can climb, crawl, and weave through this poetic environment, actively shaping their spatial experience.
In addition to this, “String Taichung” creates a walkable social sculpture on the museum’s basement floor. This installation features taut ropes stretched under a slanted, grid-like ceiling. As a result, it forms a three-dimensional space that contrasts a feeling of vast openness with an intriguing emptiness.
Christoph Katzler, the co-founder of Numen/For Use and exhibition curator, emphasized how both pieces merge to create a continuous sensory journey. He explained that these installations are not separate works but a unified experience designed to blend reality with illusion.
Furthermore, Katzler hopes to spark childlike wonder in visitors of all ages. He envisions guests engaging physically with the art, which turns the human body into a vital part of the environment rather than a mere observer. Consequently, this approach encourages hands-on participation and challenges traditional art boundaries.
This exhibition also marks the largest spatial installation the collective has ever created. However, Katzler noted the challenge of working within CMP Inspiration’s precise indoor space, requiring innovative design and construction.
Visitors can experience these immersive installations Taichung residents and tourists alike until November 2. Moreover, the exhibit breaks down age barriers by offering a shared sensory space where everyone can engage actively.
By inviting physical interaction, the installation transforms passive viewing into dynamic participation. Therefore, the show redefines how people connect with art and space.
Ultimately, this exciting debut positions Numen/For Use as a bold new presence in Taiwan’s contemporary art scene, promising a memorable summer of exploration and imagination.
