在台灣高雄駁二藝術特區裡，入口像個主題展廳，是以書包圍著彷如靈堂的設置，在兩道布幔後，是驟然而來的黑暗。漆黑中只有一本本發亮的書。數分鐘後不安感開始消散，像獨自夜行起初會恐懼，適應後其餘感官卻更靈敏，發現原來也沒那樣黑。
「無關他人，關於你自己。不為別人眼中的形象，不為社會認可的光環，那些軟弱、害羞、迷惘、禁忌，都可以在這裡找到共鳴。」無關實驗書店的入口處寫著寥寥幾句。
Located in Pier2 Art Center in Kaohsiung, the foyer of is itself decorated like a special exhibition. It features a setup that resembles a funeral hall that is only built with books. Behind this installation hangs two curtains that lead visitors to almost complete darkness. In this dark room sits many brightly illuminated books. This experience reminds me of hiking at night where the uncertainties and fear that you feel at the beginning of the journey dissipate after only a few minutes. Afterward, all your senses would get stronger, you would then realize it is not as dark as you thought.
“All you need to care is not about others but yourself, not for the images from eyes or the status identified by society. Your weakness, shyness, perplexity or taboo will strike a chord with ones here,” written at the entrance of Wuguan Books, this text seems to be setting the right mood for visitors as they enter the bookshop.
創辦人暨空間設計師朱志康說，這間書店其實源自我們的兒時記憶。「當把棉被蓋起來，就是一個人的世界。在那種情況下看書會很專注，但所有感官也是張開的。」讓書本成為主角，也讓你成為自己。「我們強調的不是黑暗，而是空間的消失。當把空間去掉、把書店的印象通通去掉，其實才是最有趣的 —— 這種時候，你心裡面的東西才會出來。」
店裡藏書近三百本，部份是古本與經典，當中不乏幽默選項如金城武寫真集。部份選書定期更新，大多不是坊間暢銷書籍。環繞生命探索、萬物法則等主題，涵蓋心理、慾望、性別、身體、血腥、獵奇、負能量等各種生活痛癢或大眾過敏的話題。還有由於時代變遷標準變異而重見天日的昔日禁書類別。
困縛，無論是自身還是社會給予的，在這裡都不用在乎。在漆黑裡安心，在一盞燈面前打開安放，不看別處，只有你和自己。日常好累，忙著說話忙著傾聽，偶然需要如此隔絕，安靜緩慢，走出去後好像世界又會不一樣。
The founder/space designer Chu Chih-kang said the concept of the bookshop was inspired by a piece of childhood memory shared by many, “When pulling a blanket over your head, all of a sudden, this space becomes a world of solitude. It is the perfect environment to read with a focused mind, you can also feel how strong all your senses have become.” In this place, books are all that matter, you can be your true self. “Darkness is not what we are trying to emphasize. What we would like to eliminate is the conception of physical space. The experience can be more intriguing if we could disregard the actual space or the preconception of a bookshop. This can let you release the thoughts of your mind.”
The bookshop is home to a collection of almost 300 books with some antique books and classics. Visitors can also find some surprising choices of books like the photo collection of the Japanese celebrity Takeshi Kaneshiro. Some of the books selected by the bookshop are changed periodically, rarely can visitors find any top sellers. The great variety of the themes of the book selection includes psychology, desire, sexuality, body politics, horror, exotic, negativity… In Wuguan Books, you can find all sorts of books surrounding random and controversial topics. There are even books that were once censored in the past eras.
Entering the bookshop, visitors would abandon the restrictions imposed by society or themselves. These kinds of rules do not apply in this space. Sitting in front of an illuminated box surrounded by darkness, one can feel the true essence of serenity. It is a moment to enjoy being with yourself without considering the outside world. People spend a great deal of energy to talk and to listen, sometimes it is just essential to be detached from the noise. Allow the peaceful slowness to cleanse your mind, you would be able to view the outside world from a completely different angle.
