FLOATING GEMS

Floating Gems is an outdoor light installation composed of woven fabric and metal, inspired by the process of crystal formation. Crystals emerge through the convergence of mineral matter, temperature, pressure, time, and space—conditions that inform both the material structure and conceptual framework of the work. Suspended above the ground, the illuminated forms appear to levitate, refracting light and fragmenting the surrounding landscape.

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The installation serves as a metaphor for Kinmen, an island shaped by geological forces and geopolitical tension at the border between Taiwan and China. Drawing from border studies and migration theory, the work reflects on spaces formed under pressure—zones of waiting, transition, and transformation. The crystalline structures evoke both fragility and resilience, acknowledging the experiences of those who inhabit, pass through, or risk their lives crossing this contested territory in search of safety and belonging.

All the fabric is repurposed material donated by Yee Chain International Co.

This installation and its construction methods are original artistic expressions developed by Lua Rivera as part of the Rivera Rhizomatic Construction Method.