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Transcript of 2010 Discover Tapiei 76
Taipei Spring OutingsEnjoying Spring Flower GloriesA Spring Snow of Falling Cherry BlossomsYang Ming Shan Flower Festival
Fall in Love with Calla Lily at Zhuzihu
Searching for the Tastes ofSpring in Vegetarian CuisineHappy SpringtimeStrawberry-Picking Outings in Taipei
Taipei Spring OutingsEnjoying Spring Flower GloriesA Spring Snow of Falling Cherry BlossomsYang Ming Shan Flower Festival
Fall in Love with Calla Lily at Zhuzihu
Searching for the Tastes ofSpring in Vegetarian CuisineHappy SpringtimeStrawberry-Picking Outings in Taipei
DT MAR. / APR.BIMONTHLY 2010
|發|現|臺|北|76
MA
R./APR.2010
76
38 Discover Taipei
LIVING IN TAIPEI
In the 1950s the T ianmu area became a major
residential enclave for US military personnel stationed
in Taiwan. In the years to follow the Taipei American
School, Taipei Japanese School, and many foreign
embassies were set up in this district, and Tianmu
emerged as the city of Taipei's garden of foreign
cultures. This unique historical background has made
this neighborhood an exotic locale of appealing
international cosmopolitanism, and a destination well
worth exploring at length for both the local traveler and
for sojourners from lands far away.
Your recommended launch point for a day-trip
through Tianmu is MRT Zhishan Station, from which
you can catch a shuttle bus to Dayeh Takashimaya
Dept. Store (大葉高島屋), which is located near Tianmu
Baseball Stadium (天母棒球場). This dept. store is here—
this is in fact the only Dayeh Takashimaya branch in
Taiwan—because of the many high-level Japanese
executives that live in the area, sent to Taiwan by their
companies, and targets their everyday needs. These
needs varies—you'll find wagashi (traditional Japanese
Visiting Taipei's Melting Pot
A Short Trip through Tianmu
confectionaries), a Kinokuniya bookstore (紀伊國書店),
top-flight Japanese cuisine, and even English-style tea
shops, American-style restaurants, Thai food, and Hong
Kong dim sum. We recommend you eat brunch here,
then browse the different floors with their globe-girdling
range of merchandise, during which you are sure to
reap a happy harvest. A special treat is the large-scale
aquarium on the basement level, where crowds gather
on weekend days in the afternoons and evenings to
watch the colorful feeding shows.
Start
Dayeh Takashimaya
Dept. Store (brunch)
Holo Classic Glove Puppet Promotion Center (learn about traditional Taiwan folk arts)
Tasters (buy cheesecake or have afternoon tea)
Browse Tianmu Market (treasure-hunting)
Liuligongfang Taipei
International Gallery
(admire objects d'art)
Tianmu's international-
flavor Restaurants
(dinner)
Thai-style massage
(wind down from the
day)
39Discover Taipei
Leaving the dept. store, walk along Shidong Rd. and then
turn onto Tianmu E. Rd.; you'll soon arrive at“Holo Classic Glove
Puppet Promotion Center”(河洛坊古典布袋戲偶推廣中心). Glove
puppetry is a favorite old Taiwan folk art, heavily focused on the
performance of age-old folk legends passed down generation
after generation. This is one of the best ways for you to get to
know this land's culture and people. The center displays and sells
the intricately costumed puppets and promotes the art form. Here
you can take your time exploring the beauty of the puppets and
other paraphernalia as well as the exotic aesthetics and superb
technique of the performance, then leave with a rich haul of one-
of-a-kind gifts and keepsakes under your arm that capture the
timeless essence of the Taiwan cultural soul.
Walking along Sec. 6 of Zhongshan N. Rd., you'll pass by
a number of furniture stores that each has its own distinctive
character. The origin of the stores in the area goes back to the
stationing of US military personnel in Taiwan starting in the 1950s.
As it happens, many Shanghai master
workers in furniture had moved
to nearby Shi l in, and the two
influences came together in the
creation of furniture items of unusual
personality. Today the stores along
this section, known as T ianmu's
“furniture street”(家具街), carry
a mix of classy brand-name items
from around the globe and antique
furnishings. Although this venue does
not thrive today as it did in yesteryear,
you'll still find truly exquisite antique
works on display here.
1. Tianmu offers a mix of cultural elements from many lands. Pictured is here the Taipei American School.
2. At Taiwan's only Dayeh Takashimaya outlet, friends from Japan find all their daily needs satisfied.
3. One of the big unusual draws at Dayeh Takashimaya is the large aquarium and feeding shows on the basement level.
4. Holo Classic Glove Puppet Promotion Center is focused on display and sale of traditional puppets and promotion of old-style folk arts.
5. On Tianmu's“furniture street,”Sec. 6 of Zhongshan N. Rd., you see furniture and decorations from around the globe.
40 Discover Taipei
LIVING IN TAIPEI
Tasters (吃吃看), on Zhongshan N. Rd., has long been
in place and long been a Tianmu icon. Its pedigree runs
back over 30 years. The restaurant's founder, a talented
woman named Ye Feng-zhu (葉鳳珠), spent many
years perfecting her cheesecake, renowned for the
thick and creamy pleasure it brings, drawing countless
Westerners resident in Tianmu and many a local culinary
sophisticate from around the city as well. The Tasters
facade is simple and traditional in style, and the pastry
offerings within touch on the pastry-worldviews of the
Taiwanese, Americans, and Japanese. This is in turn a
prime example of the rich world of food and drink that
awaits the intrepid explorer in Tianmu. Pick up a light
meal of cheesecake, cream puffs, brownies, and other
sweet treasures, then head out for a cultivated happy
meal at a nearby park sprinkled with crisp, fresh air and
wholesome views.
Next up on our tour is a round of treasure-hunting at
Tianmu Market (天母生活市集), located at the expansive
traffic circle where Tianmu W. Rd. and Sec. 7 of Zhongshan
N. Rd. meet. Staged by the T ianmu Marketplace
Development Association (天母商圈發展協會), the
market is held each Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday.
Choc-a-bloc with unusual and attractive merchandise
and a great many neat doohickeys and thingamabobs,
you're also entertained with live performances. Go
day or go night—whichever you like, there's always
lots to marvel at. Tianmu is also blessed with many arts
and culture spaces, and beside Tianmu Elementary
School (天母國小) you'll find many photo galleries and
art galleries. Liuligongfang Taipei International Gallery
(琉璃工房天母國際藝廊) is among the most important.
Featuring dynamic black marble and a dazzling display
of colored glass, this gallery is a keynote location in the
world of Asia colored-glass art. While admiring the many
wonderful works at these galleries, knowledgeable staffs
are always at hand and happy to guide you through
the particular field of art you are looking at.
One of Tianmu's most pleasing attractions is that
great places to eat are always at hand, wherever you
find yourself, day through night. This neighborhood has
long been the location of choice to set up residence for
foreigners coming to live in Taiwan, with the result that
it is densely populated with restaurants and eateries
sporting distinctive styles and themes. All along Tianmu
East/West Rd. and along Sec. 6 and 7 of Zhongshan N.
Rd. you have your pick of American, Mexican, Italian,
Please refer to the map provided on p.66.
41Discover Taipei
Information
Tasters 吃吃看Add: 770, Sec. 6, Zhongshan N. Rd.
(beside Taipei American School)(中山北路6段770號,美國學校旁)
Tel: (02) 2871-4678Transportation: Bus No. 220, 220 (express), 220 (shuttle), 279, 612, 612 (shuttle), or 902, or Zhongshan Main Line buses, to Ln. Shidong 1st. (士東1巷) stop.
Tianmu Market 天母生活市集Add: Park area at intersection of Tianmu W. Rd., Tianmu E. Rd., and Sec. 7, Zhongshan N. Rd. (天母西路、天母東路、中山北路7段交叉口公園)Website: weekendtianmu.blogspot.comHours: Fri 16:00~22:00Sat 09:00~15:00, evening16:00~22:00Sun 15:00~21:00Transportation:Danshui Line to MRT Shipai Station, then transfer to Red 12 or Red 15 bus, disembark at Tianmu Square (天母廣場) or Sanyu Temple (三玉宮) stop.
Dayeh Takashimaya 大葉高島屋Add: 55, Sec. 2, Zhongcheng Rd.
(忠誠路2段55號)Tel: (02) 2831-2345Website: www.dayeh-takashimaya.com.twTransportation: Take Danshui Line to MRT Zhishan Station, then take free Dayeh Takashimaya shuttle bus to store from directly in front of station.
Holo Classic Glove Puppet Promotion Center 河洛坊古典布袋戲偶推廣中心Add: 82, Lane 8, Tianmu E. Rd.
(天母東路8巷82號)Tel: (02) 2873-1167Website: www.uppacific.com.twHours: 10:00~21:00 (closed every even-numbered Sun, open rest of year)Transportation: Take Danshui Line to MRT Zhishan Station, then take free Dayeh Takashimaya shuttle bus to dept. store, afterwards walking about 10 minutes.
French, German, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and a great
many other national styles, with your pick of culinary standards and
confectionaries from each. High standards are at all times strictly
maintained. So take your pick and sit down to a dinner you richly
deserve after a day of dedicated cultural exploration.
Though your dinner is over, happily, your touring is not. Tianmu has
the greenest space of any neighbourhood in Taipei, and it is now time
to work off those dinner-accumulated calories with some relaxing
strolling along its tree-lined streets or one of its parks. Or perhaps what
you need is a health-enhancing session at one of the local licensed
massage centers. Opt for the ancient Thai style of tuina (推拿), or
acupressure, to recuperate from today's busy sightseeing session
and ready yourself for tomorrow's. This, you'll agree once it's done, is
perhaps the best way to cap off a lovely day of Tianmu touring.
6. Tasters is heady with cheesy aroma, in the blueberry cake, cheesecake, and cheese cookies, luring many happy foreign friends through the doorway.
7. Liuligongfang Taipei International Gallery has brilliantly resplendent works, and is among the most important of Tianmu's international galleries.
8. A favorite activity of foreigners resident in Tianmu is digging for treasure at Tianmu Market on weekends.
9. The Tianmu enclave is known for its dense concentration of quality international eateries.
10. Walking is free and easy in Tianmu's streets and parks, the city's greenest district.
11. After a day of hard play, rest your weary bones with a session at a healthy Tianmu massage center.
Liuligongfang Taipei International Gallery琉璃工房天母國際藝廊Add: 7, Tianyu St. (天玉街7號)Tel: (02) 2873-0258Website: www.liuli.comHours:10:30-20:30 (closed Chinese New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year's Day, and day after New Year's Day)Transportation: Take Danshui Line to MRT Shipai Station, then transfer to bus No. 224, 601, or Red 15 to Tianmu Elementary School stop. Walk toward Tianmu N. Rd., beside elementary school.
42 Discover Taipei
LIVING IN TAIPEI
Happy Springtime Strawberry-Picking Outings in TaipeiEach year the season for strawberry picking opens in Nov. and ends the next year in April or May. In the Taipei
area the farms and orchards along Bishan Rd. (碧山路) and Dahu St. (大湖街) in Neihu get especially busy,
drawing large numbers of folk excited to be getting outside for fresh air in a pretty pastoral setting. Few if any of these
operations levy admission fees, but sampling in the field is verboten. After you've submitted your plucked treasure for
valuation by weight, however, you can eat your own to your heart's content.
Among Taipei's tourist strawberry farms the trend is toward diversification of operations. In addition to the clean
and relaxed strawberry-picking fields, they also offer foods and drinks, jams, and educational sessions on potted
plants and children's games. Beyond the fun picking the visitor has the bonus of great views in a splendid natural
environment, with unlimited springtime fun in the sun.
LIVING IN TAIPEI
43Discover Taipei
Bishan Strawberry Orchards, Each with Its Own Character
Along Bishan Rd. you have your choice of seven
strawberry operations. Each will give you a quick
lesson on the ins and outs of proper berry-picking; for
example, one basic rule is that the redder the berry the
sweeter the taste. It's not uncommon for visitors to pick a
strawberry field clean over a two-day weekend. Once a
berry has formed it takes one to two weeks to mature, so
it's always best to call ahead and check on conditions,
to avoid a wasted trip and going home empty-handed.
Along Lane 72, Sec. 3, Neihu Rd., as you turn and
walk toward Bishan Rd., after turning right you'll see“Wild
Flower and Fruit Organic Farm”(野草花果有機農場). The
strawberry plants here are not in the ground, but rather
potted and put up on racks.“By doing this you avoid
the pathogens, insects, and other problems presented
by cultivation in the earth at ground-surface level,”
says the operator. Placing the plants up on racks also
makes berry-picking easier; visiting tourists need bend
down and squat no more. The number of strawberry
plants is limited, but walk on past the berry sheds along
the footpaths and you come to a rich haul of romaine
lettuce, white Chinese radish, and leaf mustard, all lined
in neat rows by a hillside with a waving sea of lupins and
yellow cosmos flowers, a tableau of sight and fragrance
on which spring is literally floating in the air.
Next we arrive at“Donglin Leisure Farm”(東林休閒
農園), hidden away somewhat down a slope. The main
type of strawberry grown here is called Taoyuan No.
3 (桃園3號), which is comparatively small, slightly
pointed, and the flesh quite juicy and sweet. The
owner, Xie Ming-yi (謝明宜), loves a challenge,
and through grafting has created a berry with
a thinner skin and even greater sweetness.
Xie also cultivates red and yellow cherry
tomatoes, and you can sample his home-
made “Wildflower Nectar”(野百花蜜) as well,
a deliciously fragrant creation that always leaves
a good taste—literally and figuratively—in people's
mouths.
A Harvest of Strawberry Meals, Strawberry Jams, Strawberry Picking
“Berry Garden Tourism and Leisure Farm”(莓圃)
and“Baishihu Tourism Farm”(白石湖) are neighbours,
each offering a vast expanse of strawberry sheds. Berry
Garden offers a café area where you can dine, and
each weekend when the tourists arrive in waves they
best like the beef stewed in strawberry wine, strawberry
yogurt drink, and strawberry milk offered. As to why this
operation has thrived so, husband and wife Dror Milgrom
and Meny Gante, from Israel, know exactly why. They
are now regulars here, bringing the whole family, and
on this, their fourth visit, Dror explains:“Here you can
pick some berries, relax and have a cool drink, and it's a
perfect outdoor place to bring the kids to sit back and
wile away the better part of a day.”That's why.
1-2. The tourist-oriented strawberry farms of Neihu provide visitors with a clean, comfortable berry-picking experience.
3. When strawberries have ripened, whole families, local and foreign, flock to the area for picking fun.
4-5. The farms here also have other fruit and veggie choices besides strawberries, including cherry tomatoes.
44 Discover Taipei
LIVING IN TAIPEI
At most strawberry orchards you
can't sample the produce until you've
bought it. At Baishihu next door, the
owner takes imperfect strawberries that
have been picked and offers them to visitors
to sample free. The farm also grows passion
fruit, pitaya, brightly colored flowers and
plants, and pesticide-free vegetables. You'll
see many customers dropping in to buy their
vegetables and have a chat with the owner,
making this a comfy rest stop on their daily
rounds.
At“Bishan Tourism Strawberry Farm”(碧山觀光草莓園)
another type of strawberry is grown, called“Perfume,”
small in size but with thick, dense flesh and featuring an
unusually strong bouquet of fragrance. And each year
starting in May after the second Sunday you can come
here to pick big, luscious honey peaches. The owner
says she started cultivating strawberries 27 years ago,
and always has an inspection carried out by the local
farmers' association before opening for the picking
season. She also puts plastic down on pathways and
weeds every day to ensure the most comfortable and
welcoming environment for the public.
At nearby“Pastoral Beauty Tourism and Recreation
Farm”(田園美色) is a terrific landscape-viewing café
from which you see far-off Dahu Park (大湖公園) and
the sky-scraping Taipei 101 tower. Ease into a seat for a
flavor-bursting cup of coffee brewed fresh for you by the
owner, accompanied by a soothing round of strawberry
ice-cream, and you'll think you've found a little bit of
heaven. The owner of Neihu Recreational Farm (內湖
休閒農場), meanwhile, runs an on-site restaurant. So in
addition to your refreshing berry-picking, you can enjoy
the farm's delicious home-grown mountain produce and
home-raised range chicken—meals with a freshness and
flavor not possible down in the bustling metropolis below.
There's even more good news, for the farm produces its
own range of jams and wines, from strawberry, passion
fruit, mulberry, and other sweet things, giving you the
sweetest of treats to bring back home along with your
basket of sweet memories.
Dahu Street's Strawberry Fields, Pressed Up Close against Wild Nature
Another path to fun berry-picking that you can take
is along Dahu St. From Sec. 5 of Chenggong Rd. take
Dahushanzhuang St., then head straight up Dahu St.,
the entrance of which you'll find at an angle across
from Dahu Elementary School (大湖國小).“Sungchu
Tourist Farm”(菘筑) is spread out over a flat expanse,
unlike the terraced operations commonly seen. You'll
see a patchwork of flower gardens, vegetable gardens,
and fruit orchards before, all laid out in neat, regulated
order and creating a vivid tableau of quilt-like natural
pastoral beauty.“The visual artistry of the layout attracts
a steady stream of tour groups from Singapore and
Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and elsewhere,”says Lu Lan-
ting (呂蘭婷), the second-generation owner. She offers
45Discover Taipei
Neihu Recreational Farm 內湖休閒農場Add: 49, Bishan Rd. (碧山路49號)Tel: (02) 2795-5861, 0938-536-669Hours: 12:00~17:00, weekdays by appointment.
Transportation to Bishan Rd. strawberry orchards:MRT Taipei City Hall Station or MRT Neihu Station, transfer to bus No. Small 2 or Small 2 shuttle, get off at Tourist Strawberry Farm stop.
Sungchu Tourist Farm 菘筑觀光農園Add: 137, Dahu St. (大湖街137號)Tel: (02) 2790-9427, 0928-278-965 Hours: Dec-May next year 09:00~17:00 Transportation: MRT Kunyang Station or MRT Neihu Station, transfer to Bus No. Small 3, get off at Sungchu gate, walk 50 meters.
Refresh Farm 清香農場Add: 206, Dahu St. (大湖街206號)Tel: (02) 2790-3466, 0928-539-948Hours: Holidays 08:30~17:00, non-holidays by appointment.Transportation: MRT Kunyang Station or MRT Neihu Station, transfer to bus No. Small 3 and travel toward Cuibo New Village (翠柏新村), get off at Daqiutian Earth God Temple (大邱田土地公廟), then walk 50 meters.
Wild Flower and Fruit Organic Farm 野草花果有機農場Add: 38, Bishan Rd. (碧山路38號)Tel: (02) 2790-2706, 0935-668-339Hours: Holidays 10:00~17:00, weekdays by appointment.
Donglin Leisure Farm 東林休閒農園Add: 43-10, Bishan Rd. (碧山路43之10號)Tel: (02) 2790-7252, 0953-934-999Hours: 09:00~17:00, can schedule free pick-up service.
Berry Garden Tourism and Leisure Farm莓圃觀光休閒農園Add: 38-2, Bishan Rd. (碧山路38-2號)Tel: (02) 2790-2492, 0937-458-986Hours: Late-Nov to May next year 10:00~18:00
Baishihu Tourism Farm 白石湖觀光農園Add: 40, Bishan Rd. (碧山路40號)Tel: (02) 2790-2785, 0927-115-119Hours: 09:00~17:00, weekdays by appointment.
Bishan Tourism Strawberry Farm 碧山觀光草莓園Add: 47-12, Bishan Rd. (碧山路47-12號)Tel: (02) 2793-1382Hours: 09:00~17:00, weekdays by appointment.
Pastoral Beauty Tourism and Recreation Farm田園美色觀光休閒農園
Add: 47-15, Bishan Rd. (碧山路47-15號)Tel: (02) 2791-5669, 0937-080-392Hours: 08:00~17:00, weekdays by appointment.
Information
a diversity of other attractions as well, including a restaurant, plus clever
promotions such as a wide array of strawberry-theme adornments and
decorative items and a schedule of DIY classes on wood toys, strawberry
rice cakes, tomato plants, and other topics, all of which have been
enthusiastically received.
At Refresh Farm (清香農場), which measures about three hectares,
in addition to strawberries there are three types of mushroom grown
on cultivation logs, a popular draw that fascinates visitors. Folks love
to come here for a rest and to have a bowl of the hearty and healthy
mushroom and chicken soup. The vistas here are broad and the colorful
fruit trees many. You can pick juicy ponkans (椪柑), a type of tangerine
sometimes called the Chinese honey orange, and also take your
pick of produce such as sweet potatoes, pomelos, Chinese radish—
and strawberries, of course. DIY classes are also held on strawberry
daifukumochi (a Japanese confection consisting of a small round mochi
stuffed with sweet filling) and strawberry jams.
Strawberry Tips: When picking strawberries be sure
to keep the stalks, and handle
gently to avoid bruising. When back
home, remember to take off the
box lid and to place the berries,
still in the box, in the refrigerator to
extend their life (about one week).
Rinse thoroughly only before eating,
to prevent spoilage.
6. At Neihu Recreational Farm you enjoy self-cultivated mountain produce as well as succulent range chicken raised on-site. 7. The local strawberry ice-cream is made using the freshest strawberries just plucked. 8. Beyond picking the berries, you can also take home a pretty potted strawberry-plant bonsai as a souvenir. 9. Sungchu Tourist Farm sells all sorts of strawberry-related articles, a big hit with tourists. 10. Spinoff products such as Refresh Farm's strawberry mochi and jams add to the fun of a local berry farm visit. 11. The freshly made mushroom and chicken soup at Refresh Farm is its signature-dish treasure.
Discover the Charms ofMt. Shamao Trails
Liu Ke-xiang
Poet, novelist, and nature observer.
Has over 40 published works,
including poetry, essays, novels,
and nature-travel guides.
Has been granted numerous
awards, including the GIO's Golden
Tripod Award (金鼎獎), Wu San-lien
Award (吳三連獎) for literature, and
Wu Lu-qin Award for Essay Writing
(吳魯芹散文獎).
Liu Ke-xiang (劉克襄) is a well-known local travel writer who is on an
intimate basis with the trails of the Taipei region. Known affectionately
as“birdman”(鳥人), he has long been devoted to nature observation
and protection endeavors, and has been a trail-blazer in the literary
world, opening up an entirely new field of vision in nature writing. In his
eyes, the Tianmu area is a wonderful place not only because of the
cultural variety that is available because of the presence of so many
expatriate residents, but because its many trails form an enchanting link
between the world of the city and the world of nature. In this feature Liu
specially introduces three favorite hiking trails below Mt. Shamao (紗帽
山), all providing relaxing round-trip excursions for mind and body while
providing exposure to both the historical and natural sides of Taipei.
Liu says the Tianmu Trail (天母古道), which starts at the north end of
Zhongshan N. Rd. on Sec. 7, is unquestionably the most popular nature
trail nowadays with the people of Shilin District. The Cuifeng (Emerald
Peak) Trail (翠峰步道), which branches off at about the half-way point,
is an excellent option though less well known. This links up with the
Banling (Half Ridge) Trail (半嶺步道), which sees even fewer people. The
three pathways meander along either side of the twisting Huang Creek
(Sulfur Creek; 磺溪), together creating a large O-shaped system filled
with attractions that will pique the interest of those who have a taste for
things historical.
Based on his many years of research, Liu is sure that the first trail to
have taken form was Banling Trail. In the days before Yangde Blvd. (仰
德大道) came into existence, this was a primary mountain route for Han
Chinese to hike up to Zhuzihu or Bamboo Lake (竹子湖). Today, as you
move up along the stone steps you are still regaled with timeless rural
46 Discover Taipei
LIVING IN TAIPEI
Transportation:Take public bus No. 220, 224, 267, 535, 601, or 685, Zhongshan trunk-line buses, or the Red 19 to the Tianmu stop, then walk five minutes toward Tianmu Police Station.
Information
scenery. The waterway meanders by, smoke slowly
curls up in the distance, fields are terraced in neat
pattern, and small hamlets are scattered about. In the
early period of Japanese rule (1895-1945) the famous
Sinologist Nakamura Okei came to live in Taipei, and
took this path the first time he went up Yangmingshan
(then called Caoshan or Grass Mountain) and Zhuzihu.
Along the path, he was startled by the yama sakura, or
mountain cherry blossoms.
Liu has also discovered that the daughter of the early
Dadaocheng (大稻埕) tea merchant Li Chun-sheng (李
春生), the poet Li Ru-yue (李如月), frequently headed
up Caoshan to revel in the mountain scenery, singing
its praises in poetic form. In the year after Taiwan's
Restoration in 1945, while heading back down the
mountain, she composed the poem“Ode Written on
the Caoshan Trail”(草山途中即景), which was received
enthusiastically. Stand on the Banling Trail today, looking
downhill off into the distance, and you'll see much the
same view she so enjoyed way back when:
Peak upon peak in autumn bloom bedazzle the eye,
and after traveling far the sun is in the west; Winding up
and down through Mt. Shamao fields, the Huang Creek
waters follow up and down by trail's side.
Tianmu Water Pipe Trail (天母水管路) is commonly
called the Tianmu Trail. It appeared comparatively late,
in 1928, built as part of a system to bring water down
from the hills. The trail zigzags down the mountainside
following the right bank of the Huang Creek, partitioning
the mountain valley it has carved, says Liu. A water pipe
lies under the pathway, the rushing resource providing
electricity generation, drinking water, and irrigation
water. After moving up the trail's section of stone steps
you will find a level area on the mountainside; at the
end of this section is a concealed water source not
normally open to the public.
The water is speedily carried down the mountainside
via the water pipe to Sanjiaopu Power Station (三角埔發
電廠). Visit the Tianmu Trail and you'll see a thick black
water pipe to the side of the stone steps.
The Cuifeng Trail is the connecting mountain path
between the other two trails, concealed within lush,
verdant primeval forest. Along the way, near the
Huang Creek headwaters walkers are surprised by the
majesty of the Cuifeng Waterfall (翠峰瀑布) as it seems
to burst suddenly into view, a fascinating scene both
unexpected and creating the most powerful scene
along the hidden trail.
As Liu Ke-xiang points out, these three trails coil
around on the south side of Mt. Shamao and on both
sides of Huang Creek, forming an attractive walkway
system on Tianmu's north side for healthy exercise. Mt.
Shamao is the defining landmark for the triumvirate,
used by many a hardy type to tackle the peak on foot.
Mt. Shamao is perhaps the smallest mountain in the
Yangmingshan region, but it is also one defined by the
most unusual shape and by noticeable elegance and
beauty, and is uniquely capped with a collection of
ancient tombs and springs. The overall effect has been
the inspiration for the most legends and stories among
the area's peaks.
In summing up the Mt. Shamao hiking experience,
Liu summarizes what he's heard from many visitors: You
can climb Mt. Datun (大屯山) and Mt. Qixing (七星山),
but if you haven't climbed Mt. Shamao (紗帽山) it is as
though you've “dressed yourself up in your finest suit but
forgotten your necklace.”This is what its neighbour, Mt.
Shamao, means to Tianmu.
47Discover Taipei
The Tianmu Trail, which links up with Cuifeng Trail and Banling Trail, is the favorite nature trail of Shilin and Tianmu residents.
48 Discover Taipei
LIVING IN TAIPEI
Foreigners' Reflections on TaipeiMarÿke, from the Netherlands, is working as a
translator in Taipei. She takes her beloved dog out for
walks almost every day in Tianmu Park (天母公園) and
along the Huang (Sulfur) Creek (磺溪), enjoying the
splendid scenery while getting some good exercise.
She likes Tianmu for its abundance of pathways and
green space, with lots of space for pets to move about.
It is something of a paradise for an active pet, with
numerous neighborhood parks where her dog can run
and play with heartily.
Though she has been here just a year and is nowhere
near fluent in Chinese, she likes Taipei very much.“The
transportation system is very convenient,”she says.“No
matter where you want to go, you can get there in a
jiffy.”She is especially fond of the city's endless parade
of tasty foods, and has been able to savor treats from
all around the world just in the Tianmu locality where she
lives.
She remembers the very first time she came across an
issue of Discover Taipei, finding the printing quality and
articles of high quality, with useful information aplenty.
At first she was not sure where she could find other
issues, but soon discovered all new issues were available
at the“International Community Service Exchange
Foundation”(國際社區服務交流基金會), which she visits
regularly.“I was very pleased,”she says,“because
I knew this would be a good source for deeper
understanding of Taipei and for information on things to
do and see outside my community in Tianmu.
Marÿke Stÿne
Vocation: Freelance translator
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Time in Taiwan: 1 year
Scott & Kim Tease
Vocation: Scott is a senior executive with IBM
Country of Origin: USA
Time in Taiwan: 1 year
“The people of Taiwan are really hospitable, often
making us forget that we are from a foreign land.”
So say Scott and Kim, couple who live in Neihu. They
love to roam the city when they have free time, and
love heading out on bicycles for healthy excursions
rambling around Dahu Park (大湖公園) and the line
of riverside parks along Keelung River. There are also
frequent outings to attractions nearby their home such
as Miramar Entertainment Park (美麗華百樂園) and the
Neihu Flower Market (內湖花市). They have found the
people of Taipei extremely friendly toward foreigners,
and even when language obstacles make verbal
communication difficult they do everything they can
to help overseas guests, deeply moving Scott and
Kim on many occasions. Kim also remarks that she
finds the quality of service in Taipei very high and very
consistent, and they are always treated with polite
courtesy and always return with great satisfaction.
“Shopping in Taipei is a very pleasant experience,”
says Kim.“Moving about is easy, the transport
unobstructed, and it seems that whatever type of
product you are looking for you can find it here.” They
especially like the great selection of artistic handicraft
items, and have found the creative bazaar in Tianmu
Market (天母生活市集) a wonderful place for one-of-
a-kind treasure-hunting. Tianmu is also a fine area for
exploring the cuisines of the world; Indian cuisine is one
of their favorite, and they have found many quality
dining spots to satisfy their cravings.
49Discover Taipei
Emmanuel Fritzen & Margareta Ahlers
Vocation: Emmanuel / Principal, German Section, Taipei European School
Margareta / Teacher, German Section, Taipei European School
Country of Origin: Germany
Time in Taiwan: Emmanuel 3 years / Margareta 1 year
Emmanuel is the principal of Taipei European School,
and has lived in Tianmu for three years. He speaks
Chinese fluently, and has a great passion for outdoors,
frequently heading into the hills on his bicycle. He loves
to gather with like-minded friends on days off to hit such
favorite spots as Mt. Qixing (七星山) and the Tianmu Trail
(天母古道). Emmanuel is strongly drawn to the beauty
of Taipei's mountain scenery, and adds that he also
finds the transportation system here very convenient,
making mountain climbing and hiking in the hills a great
recreational activity that is easy to pursue.
Margareta, a teacher at Taipei European School,
frequently hits the mountain paths and trails with
Emmanuel. She states that she finds Taipei a very clean
city, and finds the convenience and efficiency of the
city's MRT system something she has unfortunately never
experienced back home in Germany.“I talk about
Taiwan every chance I get with my German friends,”
she says,“recommending that they come here for some
sightseeing.”In truth, she states, most Germans feel that
Taiwan is too far away, and acquire only limited travel
information on the island.“I try to let them know,”she
says, “that Taipei City brims with creativity and energy
and is filled with interesting spots to visit and great food-
exploration opportunities, making a visit here well worth
the effort.”
Ed has traveled to 22 countries so far, and has been
living in Taipei for the past five years. One reason is the
fact his girlfriend is a Taiwanese, and the other is that
he loves extreme sports such as skateboarding and
off-road rallies, finding many friends of similar hobby
in Taipei.“There aren't really any formal locations for
these sports,”he says.“you look for appropriate open
spaces wherever you can.”Ed gathers with friends
for friendly competition in such locations as the plaza
before Zhongshan Hall (中山堂) or in the open space
before the KunMing Branch of Taipei City Hospital (臺北
市立聯合醫院昆明院區) in Ximending. He follows his off-
road passion along the coast and in the mountains,
and likes Taipei because you can get to these pristine
spots very quickly, without hassle.
Ed l ives near Shida (師大), or National Taiwan
Normal University, meaning that great snacking and
nightmarket-rambling are right at his doorstep. He
doesn't get up to T ianmu on a frequent basis for
leisurely exploration, but does make targeted forays in
search of Indian and Mexican food.“Tianmu is quite
suitable for expatriates to live,”he opines,“with more
spacious residences and roads than the Shida area.
The stores and shops are extremely varied, and the ㄏㄏ
creative bazaar in Tianmu Market is especially fun, filled
with small booths stocked with inventive items. I like to
amble through in search of unusual things, and highly
recommend it to sightseers.”
Ed Mayhew & Ashley
Vocation: Bushiban (cram school) teacher
Country of Origin: USA
Time in Taiwan: 5 years
Taiwan's biggest, longest-running extravaganza for the
celebration of traditional music is set to hit the stage once
again. The first notes of the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival (臺
北市傳統藝術季) will launch in mid-March, and to celebrate
the 30th anniversary of the Taipei Municipal Chinese
Classical Orchestra (TCO; 臺北市立國樂團), a rich feast of
30-plus performances will be laid before you, encompassing
music, theater, and dance. The emphasis will be on boldly
challenging and crossing boundaries, stimulating cross-
fertilization of the best in culture from East and West.
The internationally acclaimed cellist Julian Lloyd Webber,
known for his sterling contemporary innovation, has been
invited to perform on March 20. His warm and melodious
cello will croon Chinese and Western love classics. Repertory
will include Music of the Night, the theme song from the
famous musical play Phantom of the Opera. Webber will
also team with Yu Hongmei (于紅梅), master of the erhu (二
胡; Chinese violin), for an interpretation of“My Heart Will
Go On,”the theme song from the movie Titanic, and other
scores. The love talk of erhu and cello in a love duet will
assuredly bring a tingle of romantic electricity to the air on
this spring evening.
East Meets West
Music at the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival
On March 27“Hua Mulan”(花木蘭),“The Great
Wall Capriccio”(長城隨想曲),“Marching on the
Bright Road”(光明行), and other classics wil l
be per formed by an exciting ensemble that
includes Gong Yi (龔一), that master of ancient
qin instruments who has himself been declared a
national treasure, and empress of the erhu Min Hui-
fen (閔惠芬). These and other supreme artists will take
the stage in rotation to bedazzle you, presenting
their unique interpretations and encapsulating the
memories of history into poetic performances. At
the same time calligraphy maestro Wu Zhen-qi (吳
震啟) will take the stage to present the aesthetic
conception in poetry, wielding his talented brush
in symphonic harmony with the cadences of the
music.
Th i s presentat ion wi l l be fo l lowed by an
intriguing experimental gathering bringing together
pantomime and the TCO, on April 24. Sparks will
fly, and you must be there to witness the artistic
energies released. As part of the Butterfly Lovers (梁
祝) series, this world-premiere presentation will see
50 Discover Taipei
ARTS
the great pantomime master Philippe Bizot's gentle and mysterious yet
sometimes satirical body performance paired with the young erhu player
Yang Xue (楊雪) in a rendition of“Butterfly Lovers Concerto for Erhu”(梁祝
二胡協奏曲), challenging your conceptions of what music is.
In continuation of the popular Silk Road (絲路) series of 2009, this year
with the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival the Silk Road musical crescendo
reaches its highest point with“Farewell My Concubine”(霸王別姬) on
May 29. Well-known international composer Chung Yiu-kwong (鍾耀光)
is known for mixing elements of various cultures; here he makes use of his
Western classical-music training to meld Western orchestral music with
the Eastern emotional turns and musical essence of the original Beijing
opera. Traditional musical structures are challenged, and the huqin (胡
琴; a traditional two-stringed bowed instrument) and cello are married.
Celebrated Finnish cello impresario Anssi Karttunen interprets the imposing
grandeur of the concubine's imperial overlord, and huqin soloist Jiang
Ke-mei (姜克美) portrays the gentle concubine, her demeanor as soft and
tender as sweet flowing water. You'll find their depiction of the unfolding
fate of these two star-crossed lovers powerfully moving.
On that same evening, two world premieres will add to the spectacle.
Sheng (笙; a mouth-blown free reed instrument) master Wu Wei (吳巍),
who has pursued his studies in Germany, will wield his elite skills presenting
film-score composer Enjott Schneider's Earth and Fire, a symphonic poem
created especially for Wu, and the Tuvan throat-singing group Huun Huur
Tu from Tyva Republic will regale the audience with Tuvan Impression
folk songs among Chinese orchestral notes. The effects of this bold
experimentation, you'll agree once you've seen—and heard—will be
magical.
This year the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival aims not only to knock down
cultural fences. Fondly addressing the great international love affair with
qin (琴) or plucked instruments, it will challenge boundaries and then
cross those new boundaries. Even pantomime is taking the stage with the
TCO, elements of different cultures being fused together and unveiling
something for us that is traditional yet new and original in spirit. You'll
experience firsthand the beauty born of intimate relations between the
quintessence of Taiwan tradition and of world art.
Information
2010 Taipei Traditional Arts Festival Time: Until June 6
Venue:Zhongshan Hall (98, Yanping S. Rd.)
中山堂(延平南路98號)
Tel: (02) 2383-2170
Website: www.tco.taipei.gov.tw
1. Internationally acclaimed cellist Julian Lloyd Webber
2. Yu Hongmei, master of the erhu
3. Celebrated pantomime master Philippe Bizot
4. Young erhu player Yang Xue5. The Tuvan throat-singing group Huun
Huur Tu
51Discover Taipei
53Discover Taipei
He's photographed the sultry but troubled socialite
Paris Hilton being apprehended by police. He's
spoofed Lady Gaga walking out of a pink room wearing
a see-through balloon. He's shot reigning pop empress
Madonna in the pose of a goddess, resting atop a
giant hand. The“he”is David LaChapelle, famed
photographer and video, commercial, and film director,
who works in the fields of advertising, fashion, and fine
art photography. He has been declared the“Fellini of
photography”and as one of the top ten photographers
in the world, and is famed for his surrealistic and
sometimes grotesque and shocking aesthetics.
In April this year MOCA Taipei will be the first Asian
stop on David LaChapelle's Solo Exhibition world tour. His
works are Dali-esque in nature, a mixture of surrealism
and humor, with the grotesque and the aesthetically
pleasing placed in opposition. His colors are bold,
confident, and highly original. His style is not like that of
any other artist you've experienced, and his work has
become iconic in many realms, notably photography,
fashion, and even the contemporary arts.
Portraits of a Sensual World
LaChapelle was born in 1963. He grew up in the
greater New York area, and in his youth began exploring
the hedonistic drug subculture of the middle and lower
class. His first photo was of his mother, clad in bikini and
drink in hand. In 1978 he moved into the aesthetic world
of the East Village, New York, befriending such artistic
luminaries as Andy Warhol. He offered his picture of
nude men for Warhol's appraisal, and recognition of his
talent came immediately, as did employment offers,
launching him on his professional career.
His portrait images interpret the extravagance,
sexua l i t y , d rugs , money , g reed, b rands , and
excessiveconsumption of Hollywood. The gaudy
colors of each image are strikingly bold, oozing visual
sensuality. Exploring the empty, vacuous materialism
supported by a manipulative media, LaChapelle deftly
reveals the truth behind the surface reality, unveiling
the affectations and pretences behind the veneer of
beauty. His wit and sarcasm is presented in the form of
withering metaphor, creating a modus operandi that
makes a LaChapelle creation instantly recognizable.
1. “Collapse in a Garden”2. “The House at the End of the World”3. David LaChapelle
54 Discover Taipei
ARTS
A Flamboyant“Save the World”Creative Style
To become such a voyeur of the world of such unique perspective,
and a creator of such iconoclasm, LaChapelle says he constantly
reminds himself that“you have to listen to your own voice and
evade mundane visions.”After he had been chosen as one of the
Top Ten Most Important People in Photography, he turned around
and shocked the luminaries of the world of fashion by buying a quiet
piece of land on Hawaii's Maui Island and escaping to a hideaway of
pristine simplicity. In 2005 he found his thirst for the shoot and for artistic
creativity had not yet been slaked, picking up the camera once more,
this time concentrating on underprivileged groups, war, environmental
protection, and the human spirit as his subjects.
One photo shows a crass material woman standing before her shrine
to mammon, her home, which has been destroyed by global warming.
Another uses a famous model of African descent to demonstrate the
exploitation of African gold. Another has a model being crushed under
the weight of a surrealistically super-sized hamburger. In a series of other
images a glacier disintegrates. With these and other interpretations of
our current reality LaChapelle presents us with the warped perspectives
of today's social realities and our addiction to crass materialism. The
viewer is witness to his religious devotion throughout, his strong religious
beliefs intertwined with his passionate Earth-guardian concepts, his
ideas and themes presented as a gift to his fellow inhabitants of this
precious globe we live on. Dramatic tension and a surrealistic ambiance
brim starkly from his images, and he strives to awaken us so we can save
ourselves. LaChapelle wonders how we can destroy Earth, our home
with such indifference, and tries to shake viewers out of their slumber by
showing how we are bringing about the end of our own world.
4. “Death By Hamburger”
5. “Archangel Michael—And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer”
6. “Alexander McQueen & Isabella Blow—
Burning Down the House”
7. “Cathedral”
55Discover Taipei
Starting in 2008, LaChapelle has been bringing his solo
exhibition and giving lectures at the world's great museums of
art. The response has been electric at all the venues he has
visited. On Dec. 4 last year he gave a large-scale warm-up
speech in Taipei, with over 3,000 people signing up to attend
in the two short weeks beforehand. During his speech he
warm-heartedly shared the experiences of his 25 years of high-
level creativity with his rapt audience of local admirers, along
with his vanguard works of contemporary art.
At his press conference he excitedly reported that he
was thrilled with the mix of art and heritage that he had
found at the MOCA Taipei facility, a uniquely powerful blend
he would not soon forget. He said his creative juices were
surging with his exposure to the unique atmosphere of the
heritage architecture in which MOCA Taipei is housed, by the
fine installation artworks of the city's MRT system, and by the
flourishing vitality of the city as a whole. The experience had
caused him to contact his team back in the US, letting them
know he was heading back for a completely new round of
creativity for his upcoming Taipei show, intent on exploring
the essence and model of the city of Taipei in relation to the
breadth of his 25 years of Hollywood shooting. The results will
be on show from April 8 through May 30 at his solo exhibit, the
first stop in Asia on David LaChapelle's grand world tour, an
event of eye-opening perspective not to be missed!
Information
David LaChapelle Solo Exhibition World Tour / Asia Premier ShowingTime: From April 8 to May 30
Add: 39, Chang'an W. Rd. (MOCA Taipei)(臺北當代藝術館,長安西路39號)
Tel: (02) 2552-3721
Hours: Tues-Sat 10:00~18:00 (ticket office closes at 17:30; closed Mon)
Website: www.mocataipei.org.tw
David LaChapelle website:www.lachapellestudio.com
Transportation: MRT Danshui Line to MRT Zhongshan Station; walk about 5 minutes along Taipei Easy Mall, then take Chang'an W. Rd. Exit 3 or 4 and walk another 5 minutes. For the bus, take No. 216, 217, 218, 220, 224, 247, 260, 287, or 310 to the Zhongshan Market(中山市場)stop.
56 Discover Taipei
ARTS
A New Taipei Art Gallery Landmark
Neihu, a Name for New Art Perspectives
Bounded on the west by Section 1 of Neihu Rd. and in the east by Ruiguang Rd. and Minquan E.
Rd., is Neihu Science Park (內湖科技園區). Called “Taipei's Silicon Valley”(臺北矽谷), this is home
to the most important cluster of high-tech enterprises in the north of the country. A grand curtain
of modern architectural gems has been raised up here in recent years, sporting a sleek high-tech
image. The park's roads are wide and spacious, lined with all the necessary facilities for convenient
work and living, attracting a lot of entrepreneurs and high-tech workers. This new center of gravity
has also been attracting the entrepreneurs of the city's great cluster of art galleries centered on the
Ren'ai Traffic Circle, Dunhua S. Rd. commercial area, and Apollo Building (阿波羅大廈), who have
been setting up shops around the science park, pouring tremendous cultural vibrancy into this
thriving young district and at the same time spawning a new landmark in Taipei's artistic universe.
57Discover Taipei
1-2. Fish Art Center is a multi-function relaxation, exhibit, library, information, and education facility, acting much like a boutique fine-arts museum.
3. Galerie Elegance gives ladies of means an aesthetic space to get away from the hectic buzz.
4. Galerie Elegance has regular showings of contemporary oil paintings, engravings, sculpture, and other works by local and overseas talent.
Boutique Art Galleries Surrounded with the Aroma of Coffee – Fish Art Center and Galerie Elegance
Featur ing a very di f ferent ambiance f rom the
surrounding sleek commercial buildings, Fish Art Center
(秋刀魚藝術中心) is characterized by waves of coffee
fragrance wafting through and a warm, embracing
elegance. The cold distance that often characterizes art
spaces is not found here. Beyond regular monthly showings
of paintings and sculptures done in numerous mediums by
contemporary Chinese artists, there are also many books,
albums, and magazines on art subjects on hand for visitors
to peruse. Experienced staffs also welcome questions from
visitors on all art-related matters. Fish Art Center is thus a
multi-function exhibit, library, information, relaxation, and
education venue, serving the public much like a boutique
fine-arts museum.
Also offering the fragrance of coffee is Galerie
Elegance (愛力根畫廊), which moved to the emerging
Ruiguang Rd. area this year. You'll be regaled with the
sensory stimulation of slow-moving coffee aromas here
as well. The bright exhibit space has regular showings of
contemporary oil paintings, engravings, sculpture, and
other forms of art by local and overseas talent—joint
exhibits with varying themes. With beautiful framed works
before you and large French windows looking out over
the sleek new science park, you'll appreciate this oasis
of aesthetic contemplation amidst the frenetic swirl of
modern living outside.
Goethe Art Center – Using Paintings to Create Friendships
The Goethe Art Center (哥德藝術中心) has a rich
history going back 20 years. In Oct. of last year its Ming
Art Gallery (旻谷畫廊) and the Kingsley Art Auction (金仕
發拍賣公司) moved their locations and replanted their
flags here, creating an unusual art space that is nearly
14,300 sq. ft. and is run cooperatively, with vertical and
horizontal integration of facilities. Goethe Art Center
concentrates on the senior masters of Taiwan art;
among the respected artists it represents are Zhang Yi-
xiong (張義雄), Liao De-zheng (廖德政), and Ye Huo-
cheng (葉火城). It has always faithfully followed the
concept of“using paintings to create friendships”
(以畫交友), and beyond serving as a bridge to bring
artists and collectors together, the center hopes to in
future create retrospectives of the works of this senior
generation and to facilitate academic work.
William Contemporary Art Space – Bold Exhibit Style
William Contemporary Art Space (威廉當代藝術空間)
has also made the decision to put down roots in this new
cluster of art galleries. To facilitate the showing of large-
scale contemporary works, it has moved into a two-story
Neihu building with an art space that is five meters high
and 3600 sq. ft. The large picture windows allow natural
light to stream into the airy space, creating the perfect
setting for the display of the aesthetics and unique
characteristics of William's selected pieces, for which
it has a distinctive reputation. You'll find on display the
genius of such ethnic-Chinese masters as John Way (魏
樂唐) and Tsai Yun-cheng (蔡雲程), Taiwan contemporary
artists such as J.C.Kuo (郭振昌), Peng Kuang-chun (彭
光均) and Chen Ying-wei (陳英偉), and such young
contemporary artists from China as Du Xi (杜溪) and
Chen Xin (陳欣). These talents bring forth creations of
surpassing beauty and unmatched distinction, and
William Contempt Art Space has backed each for a
long period of time.
Tina Keng Gallery – Managing Our Perspectives on Contemporary Art
The Tina Keng Gallery (大未來耿畫廊) migrated into
the area in Oct. last year. The interior is laid out in the
recognizably sleek and stylish styling of New York's trendy
SOHO district, in a space that measures 12,500 sq. ft.
and rises up seven meters. The familiar“rules”of the
accepted size of works of art are methodically broken
here; whether we are speaking of sculptures, installation
art, and even large-scale works, this facility enables
a full visual appreciation of their aesthetic range and
quality. Consideration is now being given to crossing the
boundaries of the accepted notion of what a gallery is
with the staging of fashion exhibits, performance arts,
academic symposiums, and other happenings. The
gallery is focused on the contemporary arts, committed
to planting roots and expanding into the international
contemporary arts scene, building on a solid base of
managerial experience with a superior corps of senior
58 Discover Taipei
arts managers and professional team in support. The
founder, Geng Gui-ying (耿桂英), hopes to maintain
a schedule of two large-scale exhibitions each year
in the future, bringing in professional talent to plan
themed events, encouraging interchange between art
museums and art associations, and strongly supporting
the idea that the buying of Asian contemporary art
is not just a fashion statement. The hope is that the
gallery can be a key player in defining the frames of
reference for the current generation and making Asian
art a valued complement in art collections.
A welcoming environment for interchange that are
cultured and free in spirit is key for artists to give full
expression to their creative spirits, and is an important
window for the public to experience current art trend
firsthand. Taipei's new landmark garden of art galleries
is ready and waiting for the lovers of art—whether
committed or budding. Neihu is your new destination
for new perspectives on the world of art.
Information
Fish Art Center 秋刀魚藝術中心Add: 1F, 137, Jihu Rd.(基湖路137號1樓)
Tel: (02) 2532-3800Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-20:30, Sun 13:00-20:00 (closed Sat)Website: www.fishart.com.tw
Galerie Elegance 愛力根畫廊Add: 408, Ruiguang Rd.(瑞光路408號)
Tel: (02) 2658-8388Hours: Mon-Sat 11:00-19:00 (closed Sun)
Goethe Art Center 哥德藝術中心Add: 293, Sec. 2, Tiding Blvd.(堤頂大道2段293號)
Tel: (02) 2658-6600Hours: Tues-Sun 10:00-19:00 (closed Mon)Website: www.kingsleyauction.com
Ming Art Gallery 旻谷畫廊Add: 295, Sec. 2, Tiding Blvd.(堤頂大道2段295號)
Tel: (02) 2658-8787Hours: Tues-Sun 10:00-19:00 (closed Mon) Website:www.mingart.com
William Contemporary Art Space 威廉當代藝術空間Add: 356, Sec. 2, Tiding Blvd.(堤頂大道2段356號)
Tel: (02) 8502-5570Hours: Mon-Sat 12:00-20:00 (closed Sun)Website: www.williamartspace.com
Tina Keng Gallery 大未來耿畫廊Add: 1F, 15, Lane 548, Ruiguang Rd.(瑞光路548巷15號1樓)
Tel: (02) 2659-0798Hours: Tues-Fri 10:00-19:00,
Sat-Sun 11:00-19:00 (closed Mon)Website: www.tinakenggallery.com
5. Ming Art Gallery concentrates on Chinese contemporary oil painters and sculptors, with local Taiwan native-soil painters also featured.
6. William Contemporary Art Space is known for its bold style, and has an art space five meters high and 3600 sq. ft. to facilitate the showing of large-scale contemporary works.
7. The exterior of Goethe Art Center is suitably solemn, august, and imposing.
8. The Tina Keng Gallery interior is the ultimate in sleek streamlined simplicity, 12,500 sq. ft. and 7 meters high, eliminating limits on artwork size and line of vision obstacles
59Discover Taipei
In an era of universal passion for 3D
visuals, and in an era with a passion for
green friendliness,“paper”has decided
to leave the staid confines of the library
and contribute itself to the aesthetics
of our everyday lives. The SuHo Memorial
Paper Culture Foundation (樹火紀念紙文化基金
會) is staging the Love Paper Love Life Exhibition
(紙的幸福設計) exhibit to show off the wonderful possibilities
of paper, inviting 10 artists and designers and an inventive
paper-product brand to make creative use of paper with
product, space, installation, and architectural models. You
are to be taken away from the old 2D era of paper and into
a new mode of living!
With Love Paper Love Life Exhibition the SuHo Memorial
Paper Museum (樹火紀念紙博物館) is taking 20 years of
knowledge and experience relating to friendly relations
with people, nature, materials, the environment, and our
Mother Earth and condensing them, introducing you to
the aesthetics of paper in your life. A simple material you
most likely take for granted, paper is rich in possibilities and
can bring great beauty to everyday living. Flat paper can
be magically transformed into the wonderful source of
cascading light. Driftwood and fiber paper can be used to
create ornate and auspicious pineapple-shaped hanging
lanterns. These are both eco-friendly and stay“fresh”
throughout the year. Even disposable paper cups and plates
can be miraculously transformed into tasteful tableware
suitable for feasting the most honored guests!
The show will feature all types of tableware made using
non-wood pulp fiber, created by such well-known invited
names as the Japanese artist Kobayashi Junko (小林順子),
eight well-known Taiwan artists including Li Meng-shu (李孟書),
and the famed Japanese paper-tableware brand Wasara.
From now until April 22, in addition to the theme exhibits there
will also be a series of activities on the theme of aesthetics in
everyday life, including a book exchange, sharing sessions,
CREATIVE TAIPEI
60 Discover Taipei
Love Paper Love Life Exhibition紙的幸福設計 – 生活美學展
Time: Until Apr. 22
Venue: SuHo Memorial Paper Museum(樹火紀念紙博物館) Hours: Mon-Sat 09:30~16:30 (closed on Sundays)
Add: 68, Sec. 2, Chang'an E. Rd.(長安東路2段68號)
Tel: (02) 2507-5535
Website: www.suhopaper.org.tw
musical performances, and other attractions, along with a
duo of aesthetic-experience DIY sessions,“Paper-Carving
Colored Mirrors”(紙塑彩鏡) on March 20 and“Notes on
Life”(生活筆記) on April 3. You'll be able to do such creative
things as use paper, papier-mâché, and colorings to mold
and create your own mirror, and to hand-craft your own
special little notebook, lantern, vase, and other beauties with
practical everyday uses, re-recognizing the myriad faces of
paper, that miracle material.
Love Paper Love Life Exhibition emphasizes that“Playing
with Paper”(玩紙) is in no way the monopoly of the artist, and
via an called for“Image Submission Request”(影像徵件) to
show that great aesthetic pleasure can be derived from this
simplest and purest of materials in all areas of our everyday
life. Works by the prize-winners will be on display at the SuHo
Memorial Paper Museum from March 13 to April 22.
Let's head into the attractive aesthetic world of paper and
bring the joy and happiness of this wondrous material into our
lives!
Information
1. Ocean Series, by Kobayashi Junko2. Pineapple Fiber Lamp, by Li Meng-shu3. Tree of Books, by biaugust CREATION OFFICE4. Aesthetic Chairs of Living, a 2F space created by Zhang Yong-
sheng (張永生) and Xu Zhi-ping (許志萍)5. Paper Curtain, created using paper and driftwood by Zhang
Yong-sheng6. Works created during the hands-on Paper-Carving Colored Mirrors
aesthetic-experience activity
61Discover Taipei