Chile Pavilion to reflect people's life through wells

Constructors will dig several wells in the Chile Pavilion to reflect on water surface realtime images of Chilian people's life through state-of-the-art technologies, Hernan Somerville, commissioner general for Chile's Expo exhibition, said during an inspection to the preparation of the Chile Pavilion.

Similar wells will be launched simultaneously in Chile to showcase its participation in the World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

The concept stems from the notion that by digging an imaginary well from China and through the earth's core one can reach Chile when the well-turned tunnel is put through. It is not only a creative artistic concept but also a metaphor that however far apart people can become friends and closely related collaborators, like what China and Chile have achieved, Somerville said.

Chile has upgraded its initial plan of renting a pavilion to have a self-built one, which is the first case among South American participants. The total floor area of the Chile Pavilion will be 3,000 square meters, in which 2,500 square meters will be for exhibition. Chilian government's investment for the construction and exhibition of the pavilion is expected to hit US$7 million.

In view of the adjustment of Chile's participation policy in the context of a world-scale financial crisis, Somerville deemed the upgrade a significant investment of strategic importance rather than increased expenses.

Chile is expecting the 200th anniversary of its independence in 2010. The World Expo 2010 is the best platform to showcase to the globe its development and achievements since independence, especially in the areas of poverty relief, traditional culture conservation, creative thinking and solutions to urbanisation challenges, Somerville said.

Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Today, China is Chile's largest trade partner. Chile is to highlight its identity of a "reliable collaborator" in the World Expo 2010, Somerville said.

The design of the Chile Pavilion will resemble an undulating crystal palace. It also conveys an abstract image of ships on the sea. The steel and glass structure is to be covered with nets made with steel wires and topped with a large roof garden, which will screen the sunlight and contribute to energy conservation, said Wang Haili, deputy general manager of Shanghai Art-Designing Corp, official service provider of the Chile Pavilion.