15 Apr Remnants of a Kinetic Civilization: The Mechanical Archaeology of Liou Shiuan Shi

Liou Shiuan Shi (b. 1986, Taiwan) grounds his practice in a solid background in mechanical engineering and a long-standing engagement with the history of technology. Through the collection and recomposition of antique fighter aircraft, early steam locomotives, and components from European and American military machinery, he develops a form of “mechanical archaeology” that operates between art and engineering. These core elements—once integral to the peak of industrial civilization—carry historical memories of power, speed, and warfare. Under Liou’s translation, they are transformed from functional objects into contemporary installations imbued with symbolic meaning.

Centered on Remnants of a Kinetic Civilization, this exhibition examines how technology shapes human understanding of the world, and what kinds of material and spiritual legacies remain once these technologies recede from the historical stage. Liou’s practice goes beyond restoration or display; through processes of disassembly, reconstruction, and reassembly, he forges new structural relationships among components from different eras and functions. In doing so, his works point simultaneously to the past and the present, prompting ongoing reflection on the trajectory of civilization and material culture.

Recurring elements such as gears, transmission systems, and signaling devices not only reference historical engineering logic, but also metaphorically evoke mechanisms of information transmission, energy flow, and the operation of time. Within these continuously moving or cyclical structures, viewers are able to perceive a sense of deferred historical temporality.

Through this process of transformation, Liou reactivates the “remnants” of industrial civilization from fragments of history, allowing them to resonate as enduring presences. His work is not only a reflection on technology and material culture, but also a profound inquiry into how humanity understands the course of its own civilization.

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“Remnants of a Kinetic Civilization: The Mechanical Archaeology of Liou Shiuan Shi ”
Period｜2026.05.02-06.27
Opening reception｜2026.05.02 15:00
Venue｜1F., No. 222, Shidong Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei
Tel｜+886-2-28310558