Aesthetics is a key element of Montessori education. Engaging with objects of beauty from an early age can help children transcend everyday experiences, leaving an impact on how they imagine their future lives. This echoes Y2 Montessori Casa (Y2MC)’s philosophy of “live to learn, learn to live.” Y2 podcast “Chat2Heal” invited Fancy Yeh, co-founder of the design firm WHYIXD and the creator behind the art installation inside Y2MC to share the creative ideas in his first project dedicated to young children and how he chose to present the Montessori philosophy of integrating art and aesthetics into children’s lives and learning environment.
Seeing through the Eyes of a Child, the Artistic Team’s First Epiphany
“Chat2Heal” podcast co-host and chief executive of Y2MC Diane Teng offers her perspective: “A preschool should have its own unique character and atmosphere with the expectation that a child will experience it all in everything they see as soon as they walk in, and this will enrich their daily lives.” She elaborates on her observations of many preschools and how some have paintings in the entryway and others play music, but what exactly should be conveyed to children in Y2MC at its location in Hsinchu’s biomedical park? Fancy provided his response.
As one of Taiwan’s renowned interdisciplinary installation art teams, WHYIXD has grown from a small startup of just three people to a vibrant collective of artists, architects, designers, and engineers who create stunning visual experiences.
Fancy shared, “In every project, the most important elements are the space itself and the audience within it.” Compared to his previous works designing large-scale artworks and concert visuals, creating a soft installation art for Y2MC pushed him to step outside his past experiences and rethink what art for children should look like.
Creating an installation art for Y2MC pushed Fancy to step outside his past experiences and rethink what art for children should look like.
Exploring the Natural World through a Tick-Tock Aquakeeper: Dream Clock and Geometry Playground
"Tick-Tock Aquakeeper: Dream Clock" draws inspiration from mountain springs, where water flows through a complex mechanical system. Every hour, it triggers an energy transformation—from hydraulic power to electricity, and finally to the launch of a rocket.
At the beginning stages, the design team spent a lot of time observing the Montessori classroom. “On the main wall of the entryway, we wanted to install some kind of spirited installation, something abstract but connected to real life; and so, we took the idea of a clock as our theme,” shared Fancy. This led to the creation of the "Tick-Tock Aquakeeper: Dream Clock" on the first floor—an interactive water clock specially designed for small children.
It transforms the abstract concept of time into a playful visual experience. To reflect the tech-savvy atmosphere of the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park, the clock also incorporates elements of logic and reasoning.
Through a series of intricate mechanical structures, children can observe the flow of water, changes in color, and physically experience the passage of time.
Diane noted that the Dream Clock is located where children wait for their parents at pickup time. “For example, if it’s 1 PM, the clock lits one square; by 2 PM, two squares are lit. Over time, many children start to link the number of lit squares on the wall with when their parents arrive.” Gradually, when the clock reaches the fifth square, they know—it's time to go home.
As you head up to the second-floor administrative area, you’ll immediately notice Geometry Playground: Fishes and Ripples suspended in the atrium above. Inspired by the geometric elements found in Montessori materials, this artwork weaves together basic shapes—squares, circles, triangles—into imaginative forms evoking schools of fish, droplets of water, and gentle ripples. Viewed from below, it resembles a lively dance of fish in motion.
View of “Geometry Playground: Fishes and Ripples” from the second floor
As children continue up the stairs to the third-floor Casa classrooms, the artwork that appeared wodimensional from the second floor transforms into a three-dimensional piece: "Geometry Playground: Mountains and Stars." Still rooted in geometric elements, this installation takes on a sculptural form, depicting majestic mountains and a brilliant starry sky. As children ascend the stairs and view the piece from different angles, they can also notice the changing phases of the moon, allowing them to experience the wonder and beauty of nature every day.
Fancy hopes that through these three art installations, children can naturally and subtly absorb the concepts of time, geometry, space, the natural world, and beauty in their daily activities and to inspire journeys filled with exploration and imagination.
View of “Geometry Playground: Mountain and Stars from the third floor
Art and Education: Both Begin with Firsthand Experience
When talking about the connection between art and life, Fancy shared that many of life's profound feelings are rooted in firsthand experiences. "It's like when a child falls down for the first time it hurts, but no amount of warning from parents can replace the actual experience. Only by falling themselves can they truly learn." For him, artistic creation works very much the same way: Only by physically being present, experiencing the environment, the light, and the shadows firsthand, can imagination truly be sparked.
As a father, Fancy also maintains an open mindset when raising his children. He encourages parents to allow their kids to engage in activities like overseas exchange programs and working holidays to step out of their comfort zones and break through the familiarity of life.
"I once participated in the Avignon Arts Festival in France and lived there for several months," he recalled. "Every day, walking out of my residence, I would pass by a 400-year-old column.” He noted how closely intertwined art preservation and daily life is in France. In Taiwan, you might have to visit a museum to see something that old, but in Avignon, historical relics and aesthetic experiences are seamlessly woven into everyday surroundings, making them easily accessible and felt.
Fancy encourages parents to allow their kids to engage in activities like overseas exchange programs and working holidays to step out of their comfort zones and break through the familiarity of life. (Photo by Bingqian Li: https://www.pexels.com/zh-tw/photo/30037018/)
Breaking Free from Limits to Shine Brightly
Fancy Yeh, co-founder of the design firm WHYIXD.
In today's world, education philosophies have become increasingly diverse, and Fancy believes that children now have many opportunities to develop their unique talents.
Reflecting on his own schooling experience, he shared, "Back then, we were expected to give up everything for exams.
Academic performance was the only recognized standard. If you didn't achieve good grades, you weren't even considered a qualified student. Looking back, the learning environment felt incredibly restrictive."
He believes that if one's surroundings do not offer suitable development opportunities, people can choose to either explore inwardly and create or look outwardly to seek new possibilities.
Everyone has a unique place in the world—the key is to listen to one's own needs and have the courage to search for the right place. Perhaps such a work position doesn't exist yet in Taiwan, or perhaps the opportunity has not yet appeared, but through action and creation, anything can be realized.
From devoting himself to artistic creation to embracing art as a way of life, Fancy has deeply cultivated his sense of aesthetics and applied his innovative vision to design three unique installations for Y2MC. Through these works, he not only infuses the environment with beauty but also enables children to interact with their surroundings through their senses, enriching their daily experiences and their lives.
Text by Vivian Chan
Images provided by the Y2 Montessori Casa and Fancy Yeh