Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
“h e scenography combines traditions of Western narratives with motives
taken from the Chinese Feng shui heritage. With a two-part structure, the
exhibition focuses on the ambivalent character of cities: On the one hand,
they destruct the environment, on the other, they are also places for creating
value, prosperity and technological innovations.”
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Nonetheless, this “ambivalence” was a source, not of tension, but of the
essential “Taoist” philosophy. Here, according to Triad, “If the balance of the
elements is preserved, this dynamic will progress in harmony. However, if
the balance gets lost, it can also unleash destructive forces. Both aspects are
refl ected in the two-part structure of the exhibition as well as in the overall
architecture of the pavilion.”
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h us, in Triad's words, the architecture of the
“experience” ascended through a “Road of Crisis,” whereas the “Road of
Solutions” suggested what will “solve” the crisis—technology. h e problems
sections—the Road of Crisis—was split into fi ve sections that built on and
adapted “natural elements” essential to Chinese philosophy: water—fi re—
metal—wood—earth. h us, according to the designers, the “Road of Crisis”
visualized “water shortage, water pollution, the massive burning of fossil
fuels as well as the possible consequences in terms of climate change, deple-
tion of our resources of oil, steel or copper, the extinction of species, and, last
but not least, the production of non-perishable waste.”
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To visualize the cri-
sis, fi ve gigantic ticking metronomes represented that “time is running out.”
Although German-designed, the ecological information was presented in
terms most understandable for Chinese audiences. For example, the “water
crisis” display was a large water tank that is covered in the diff erent national
statistics on “per capita” consumption (in this case, per capita consumption
in China is 89 liters per day versus 295 liters per day in the United States).
h e other “chapters” provided little visual surprise. h e section on
energy juxtaposed pictures of crowded urban streets fi lled with cars
alongside melting ice caps, recalling Arup's contrast between the crowded
Shanghai streets and the ecological calm of Dongtan. The room on
