Ghost Island: Curating an Exhibition on Taiwanese Yokai Literature

Challenge

Taiwan's yokai literature lives mostly in text, abstract and hard to visualize directly. The exhibition had to serve two very different audiences at once, general visitors who needed to be drawn in visually, and literature researchers who needed a complete textual thread to follow.

Goal

NMTL wanted this exhibition to translate the fantastical imagination of yokai literature into an immersive spatial experience, letting visitors connect with the texts and imagery of Taiwanese yokai literature by walking through the exhibition rather than only reading wall text.

Approach

1. Combed through the yokai literature texts for key imagery and character traits, using them as the foundation for the key visual and exhibition narrative.
2. Used layered information design to serve both general visitors and researchers, so each audience could find the path suited to their depth of interest.
3. Used spatial visual design to translate the fantastical imagery from the texts into an immersive atmosphere visitors could physically walk through.

Outcome

The key visual and spatial narrative design for "Ghost Island: An Exploration of Taiwanese Yokai Literature" were completed, turning the textual imagery of Taiwan's yokai literature into a full exhibition NMTL could actually stage, with a complete circulation and spatial plan visitors could walk through.