Department of Cultural Affairs

Nighttime Strolls Through Light and Shadow

Held annually from March to May at the historic Treasure Hill settlement, the Treasure Hill Light Festival invites contemporary artists to create works of chiaroscuro. Drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year, the festival offers a broad perspective on the unique and evolving character of the Treasure Hill Joint Settlement (寶藏巖共生聚落). 

In 2025, the festival is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Treasure Hill Artist Village. To mark this occasion, former resident artists Yi-ting Wang and Chiehsen Chiu return to collaborate with internationally renowned interdisciplinary team hellobastworkshop, along with CHIU Chih-Wei (recipient of the 2025 Kaohsiung Award Grand Prize) and 20 other creative groups from Taiwan and abroad. Centered around the theme “Sô” (meaning to wander or meander) , the festival connects the southern corridor in a mesmerizing chiaroscuro journey through time and space.

Meandering “Sô” (趖) through South Taipei

The 2025 Treasure Hill Light Festival has expanded in scale, with exhibitions stretching across the Treasure Hill Artist Village, Huan Min Village on Toad Hill, and Home Village. In collaboration with the Taiwanese Hakka Culture Foundation (財團法人客家文化基金會) and in support of its “Limˇ Ameˋ” Land Art Festival, three featured works are being specially exhibited at the Artist Village. 

This year’s lineup includes: Every Body Meeting, hellobastworkshop, lololol feat., Shin Hanagata, Chih-Wei Chiu, Yi-ting Wang, Yi-Jin Chiang, Lien-Yin Wu, Hsueh-Han Chou, Margot Guillemot & Chiehsen Chiu, Poki Chang, Ting-jia Zhang, Chih-Hsien Chen, Zhao-Hua Chen, Shu-Yu Lin, Yu-Cheng Lin, Cheng-Yu Lin, Meng Hsin Shih, Tsu-Han Su, Yu-Ning Liang, and a student team from Wanfu Elementary School, making a total of 20 creative groups. 

Using a wide range of media and creative approaches, these artists translate the essence of “Sô” (趖)—symbolizing a slow, gentle pace—into a visual language. Visitors are invited to slow down, follow the path of light and shadow, and re-engage with the surroundings. Like a snake weaving through the southern cityscape, the journey uncovers hidden textures and stories in each charming corner.

Notably, hellobastworkshop—originally from France and now deeply rooted in Taiwan—draws on a cross-disciplinary background in mechanical, industrial, and graphic design to create stunning installation art, from conceptualization to on-site execution. 

Meanwhile, Chih-Wei Chiu presents a much-anticipated new work, riding the momentum of his recent top prize at the 2025 Kaohsiung Awards. Yi-Ting Wang and Chiehsen Chiu also return as former artists-in-residence, offering a contemporary lens on the evolution of the artist village over the past 15 years and infusing the festival with a profound sense of history and resonance.

Art, Music, and Market in a Festive Opening

The Treasure Hill Light Festival officially opened on March 22. The Yoi-hi Market is open from noon to 6 pm, with 29 stalls and three live music performances. Participating groups Every Body Meeting and hellobastworkshop delivered captivating performances. The organizers also arranged two guided art walks, inviting the public to explore Treasure Hill on a spring weekend: browse exhibitions, stroll through the market, and wander among art installations. Visitors roamed Treasure Hill by following the light, experiencing a delightful feast for the senses and the soul.

Where Light Spreads, Traces Remain

From Treasure Hill Artist Village to Huan Min Village and Home Village, beams of light both illuminate the space and reflect the rich cultural roots and artistic rhythms of southern Taipei. The 2025 Treasure Hill Light Festival, themed around the word “Sô” (趖, meaning “to wander or meander”), connects three major exhibition zones. Every step becomes a mini journey of discovery; every ray of light etches a unique imprint on the land. 

You are warmly invited to join this luminous adventure and experience the irresistible charm of the south in the springtime.

Yu-Cheng Lin, Box Structure 3.0 (箱構3.0): Pascal Box / Algorithmic Space II (/演算之所II): Shaped by the Hills (倚山成型), mixed media, 2025 (illustrative image of the work)	Shu-Yu Lin, Luminous Night (皓夜), mixed media, 2025 (illustrative image of the work)
Chih-Wei Chiu, Hey! Gaze upon this place!, mixed media, 2025 (illustrative image of the work)	Every Body Meeting, Vincula, performance, 2024

Images courtesy of Treasure Hill Artist Village

Treasure Hill Artist Village: No. 2, Alley 14, Lane 230, Section 3, Tingzhou Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City