In Taoyuan, diversity is an everyday occurrence. It could be the incense burnt in front of the temple courtyard, the fusion of flavors from various ethnic groups sharing at a single table, and the textures of fabrics given new life upon the tailor's table. Therefore, the key theme of the "Multiculture Pavilion" at the 2026 Taiwan Design Expo is "Convergent City, Cultural Symbiosis." Visitors are invited to enter not only three separate exhibition halls, but a cultural city in the making.
Rather than categorizing Taoyuan by ethnic groups, this exhibition returns to the three entry points closest to daily life—religion, cuisine, and clothing—allowing the life experiences of Indigenous peoples, Southern Hokkien (Southern Fujian), Hakka, Military Dependents' Village, Eastern Hokkien, and New Immigrants to have a neutral rendezvous along a single narrative thread. In Warehouse 1, "The Divine Among Us," we trace the progression of Taoyuan's religious beliefs, exploring how artifacts and symbols evolve across generations. Moving to Warehouse 2, we choose cuisine—the most direct sensory language when getting to know a city—and employ interactive technology to allow visitors to bring home a personal taste memory and connection with the land. In Warehouse 3, we utilize fabrics and fashion garments, turning the human body into a vehicle for cultural flow and a medium for translating ideas, echoing Taoyuan's deep legacy as a key hub of Taiwan's textile industry.
The entire exhibition zone adopts a phygital approach, combining physical artifacts, sound and light installations, and interactive technology to construct an immersive journey, leading the audience from understanding the city to feeling the culture, and ultimately witnessing innovation. It stands as a collective effort of curators, culture researchers, designers, and local communities following careful field study and community interviews, telling a cultural story that truly belongs to Taoyuan.
As various cultures coexist, exchange, collide, and collaborate within the same city, a newly shared culture quietly takes shape. Taoyuan's future is built upon this very convergence. It is becoming a cultural city that embraces differences, inspires ongoing creativity, and possesses ceaseless growth and renewal.