Located in the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology’s First Campus (Yanchao), Initially Bud is a public artwork created by artist Lee Yi-syun to offer good wishes and blessings to students.
The artwork introduces buds as a metaphor for university students receiving education. Much like buds pushing through soil, the students leave their ivory towers behind to rise above expectations and restrictions as they grow. A similar image echoes the 3D artwork on a wall, creating a sense of spatial extension and visual change to signify an extension from basic school education to lifelong education, under the goal of encouraging students to continue acquiring new knowledge.
大學是培育各界產業人才的搖籃，莘莘學子在此知識沃土中被澆灌予專業的教育，作好進入社會接受重重挑戰的準備，以期有朝一日茁壯成長為中堅份子。座落於高雄科技大學第一校區(燕巢)的公共藝術作品《初芽》，正是藝術家李億勳獻給學生的祝福及期許。
本作品以「萌芽」比喻大學這一階段的求學過程，每顆種子經過師長的教誨啟發後破土而出，跳脫窠臼與限制，跨出象牙塔，向上攀爬滋長。
立於廣場上的立體作品呼應著牆面上的平面圖像，帶來空間延伸與視覺變化，亦象徵著學校基礎教育將延伸至終身教育，鼓勵學子持續保持汲取新知的學習精神。
作品名稱：初芽Initially bud
作者：李億勳Yi-Hsun Lee
創作年份：2010
材質尺寸：磁磚、不鏽鋼 / 立體作品25 ×300×80c、平面壁畫250×360cm
設置地點：國立高雄科技大學第一校區(燕巢)