Artist Cheng Tsung Feng has unveiled an innovative outdoor installation that reimagines the nesting behaviors of Taiwan's native wild boars through architectural design. Located at Danongdafu Forest Park in Guangfu Township, Hualien, Taiwan, the artwork titled "Nesting Plan VII: Formosan Wild Boar" transforms animal instincts into human-scale spatial experience using locally sourced materials and geometric principles.
The installation represents the latest work in Feng's ongoing "Nest Plan" series, which systematically investigates how animals construct their habitats and translates these natural building practices into contemporary art installations. Through careful observation and study, the artist examines the construction behaviors of various species and reinterprets them using human craftsmanship and traditional building materials. This particular project focuses specifically on the nest-building patterns of the Formosan wild boar, a species native to Taiwan's mountainous regions.
Feng's research into wild boar behavior revealed two distinct nesting patterns that became central to the installation's design concept. The first involves the systematic piling of dry grass, leaves, and small branches to create a protective enclosure that shields the animals from weather and predators. The second behavioral pattern centers on the boars' habit of positioning themselves inside their nests while facing the entrance, maintaining a posture of constant alertness to monitor their external environment for potential threats or opportunities.
These natural behaviors have been translated into a sophisticated structural system composed of interlocking pentagonal and hexagonal frames that overlap from front to back. The geometric framework creates a semi-spherical enclosure that visually echoes the curved form of a wild boar's body at rest. This mathematical approach to organic forms demonstrates how natural intelligence can inform architectural design, bridging the gap between animal instinct and human engineering.
The installation's construction utilizes two primary materials sourced from the local environment: Japanese cedar wood and Makino bamboo. The wooden framework provides the structural foundation, while bamboo branches wrapped in white tape create a layered exterior surface that references the texture and appearance of wild grasses typically used in actual boar nests. This combination of rigid geometric structure beneath a loose, fibrous exterior gives the artwork both architectural precision and organic fluidity.
The interior space features a circular arrangement of benches that define a shared central gathering area for visitors. This design choice transforms the installation from a purely visual art object into a functional space that provides both shade and seating opportunities. Visitors can sit inside the structure and experience a sense of concealment and heightened awareness similar to what wild boars might feel in their natural nests, creating an empathetic connection between human and animal spatial experiences.
Beyond its artistic merits, the installation serves multiple practical functions within the forest park setting. It operates as both a small gathering point for outdoor activities and a quiet resting place where visitors can pause during their exploration of the natural environment. The structure encourages people to slow down and observe their surroundings with greater attention, much like the alert posture adopted by wild boars in their nests.
Through "Nesting Plan VII," Cheng Tsung Feng continues his broader exploration of how natural behaviors and instincts can inform contemporary spatial design and architecture. The project positions itself as an ongoing study in coexistence, examining how human-built environments can learn from and harmonize with animal habitats rather than simply displacing them. This approach suggests new possibilities for sustainable design that respects and incorporates the wisdom found in natural construction practices.
