Department of Cultural Affairs

By Psyche Cho
Staff Reporter
Photo courtesy of Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government

Performers from Spanish pyrotechnic troupe Sarxa Teatre, all dressed up and carrying blazing sticks in hand, gave local art-goers an unprecedented fireworks show over the weekend in the Taipei Civic Square, to close out the 2011 Taipei Arts Festival.

The troupe brought forth their most popular show El Foc del Mar (Fire of the Sea) on the evening of September 3.The show is derived from the traditional holiday celebration Las Fallas (Festival of Fire) in the Valencia area of Spain, featuring such delights as prominent artist Joan Miro’s playful creatures and odd geometric constructions.

Donning white outfits, the performers marched around the square, touching off fireworks as they passed. Around 500 fireworks resembling the shape of a spring, a fall and other Chinese characters were fired into the sky, transforming downtown Taipei into a surreal world under the brush of Miro.

The show reached its climax as a giant model of the Spanish idol Fallas was set on fire, signifying that unluckiness and bad signs have been chased away. The action also carried a few other meanings, says troupe director Leandre LI. Escamilla. “One represents rebirth and the other is the symbol of a wonderful yet fleeting life.” 

On Sunday, the dreamy atmosphere was replaced with a wave of powerful and bustling energy as Nit Magica (Magical Night) fell over the excited crowd.

As the magical night descended, a fiery bull rushed out along with the pounding sound of traditional Spanish instrument Dulzaina to dazzle an audience who were busy taking photos. It was a reproduction of the Festival of Fire and bull-fighting traditions in the Middle-Ages Myth.

Planned under the theme of partying, the 2011 Taipei Arts Festival has featured programs that explore the essence of philosophy during the past six weeks.