“Giant Unearthed - a Taiwan Whale's Tale” exhibition

The exhibition centers on a massive cetacean fossil from Hengchun, southern Taiwan. Using geological evolution as a starting point, it traces the island’s formation and Taiwan’s unique ecosystems and fossil heritage. In addition to fossils and specimens, the exhibition features a fossil preparation lab and interactive installations, letting visitors experience the discovery of ancient life.

Lighting design emphasizes “deep-sea imagery” and “the feeling of time standing still”. Low ambient lighting creates a calm atmosphere, guiding visitors into the geological strata and ocean depths. Narrow beam angle lights cast shadows to enhance the three-dimensional form of fossils, while contrasts of light and dark guide movement and gaze, creating a sense of traveling through time.

The laboratory area is illuminated with white light to convey scientific clarity and structural detail, enabling visitors to better understand the processes of research and restoration. The main exhibit—the complete whale skeleton—is presented through the quiet imagery of whale fall. Low-intensity deep and pale blue ambient light envelops the space, while focused accent lighting traces the contours of the bones, narrating the long process of decay and transformation on the ocean floor and creating a scene in which time seems suspended.

Throughout the exhibition, glare and light spill are carefully controlled to protect fossils and specimens while preserving the spatial depth and sense of mystery. Lighting does more than illuminate objects; it guides visitors through the whale’s life story and, within this stillness, gently reminds us of the importance of marine conservation and harmonious coexistence with nature.