Over the past several years, the global food and beverage service industry has suffered a significant downturn due to the pandemic. In the midst of this recovery period, theLOOP—Asia's renowned entertainment and F&B group—officially launched its brand-new entertainment club, ONCOR Private Entertainment Suite. Marking a hopeful rebirth, ONCOR aims to revitalize and elevate Taiwan's hospitality industry to new heights. To commemorate this spirit of resurgence, ONCOR specially invited renowned multidisciplinary artist Demos Chiang (蔣友柏) to create a monumental sculpture, Phoenix Dance, symbolizing the mythological phoenix rising from the ashes. This artwork, installed on the mirrored wall in the reception lobby, is the only permanent large-scale piece of its kind by the artist in the world.
ONCOR brings together an array of experiences—private club, fine dining, karaoke, parties, and business meetings—that promote the once-exclusive idea of a members-only club. It invites lifestyle enthusiasts to revel in a new tier of premium service. One of its foundational philosophies is the artful blending of daily life and美, (pronounced "may," the Mandarin word for beauty, with a long "e" sound). This ONCOR/Demos Chiang collaboration is a blessing and tribute to the service sector in our post-pandemic world.
The piece originates from Chiang's 2022 Phoenix Dance: Mountains and Creatures Series. In mythology, the phoenix represents rebirth through fire — an unyielding spirit of perseverance, fearlessness, and self-transcendence. Chiang translated this imagery into sculpture, using 3D techniques to merge poetry and painting, making spiritual space tangible: “As the phoenix arrives, it hovers in a vacuum, caught in the powerful instant before soaring. In this post-pandemic era, we must strive to break through, sustain passion, and most importantly—hold on to hope.”
Moreover, various works from this series will be included in Demos Chiang's solo exhibition “Magizoology” at Whitestone Gallery (Ginza Gallery), a prestigious international gallery, from January 13 to February 4, 2023. These pieces showcase the artist's interpretation of mythical entities as depicted in both Eastern and Western lore and legend, realizing their forms and spirits in a way that suggests a primordial universe of harmony and equality. Whitestone Gallery is a well-known organization with a commitment to freedom and innovation in the arts, representing globally acclaimed artists like Nara Yoshitomo, Kusama Yayoi, and KAWS. Phoenix Dance, the artwork in question, will remain on display at ONCOR for those unable to visit the Tokyo gallery.
Starting in Taiwan, ONCOR plans to expand to cities like New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Tokyo, and Singapore. With the ambition to become the "Tesla of the entertainment and audiovisual industry," ONCOR is committed to constant innovation and international collaboration through art, making artistic experiences part of everyday life. Demos Chiang and ONCOR's founder—David Hsia, who is also the CEO of theLOOP—share mutual admiration and values. Reflecting on the collaboration, Chiang said: “If I have the chance to leave a mark—like a punctuation mark—in this visionary transformation of the industry, why not seize it?”  
Phoenix Dance, 2022
Material: 316 Stainless Steel
Dimension:
W 140 cm x D 67 cm x H 157 cm / The only large-scale version of the sculpture is displayed in the ONCOR lobby.
W 53.5 cm x D 27.5 cm x H 60 cm / There are a total of five small-scale versions of the sculpture
We are here looking for a second chance to correct what we think is wrong. But it is these wrongs that lead us to know what is right and why second chances are precious.
Demos Chiang, 2022
