Department of Cultural Affairs

By Gloria Cho
Staff Writer

A series of events will be held in the Bopiliao Historic Block, including paper-cutting DIY activities, a virtual creation exhibition, and artists' Spring Festival sessions, along with an ongoing lantern exhibition to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival and running until March 31.

Twenty some paper artists from here and abroad have been invited to create a chart recording the changes in weather over a period of 81 days beginning with the winter solstice.  The chart, featuring 9 words totaling 81 strokes, is a Chinese tradition in passing the cold winter as the number 81 signifies the time required for the transition from winter to spring.

Beyond the count-down exhibition in anticipation of the spring season, artist Hung Su-chen has erected an art installation symbolizing reunion at the entrance of the historic block. Festive red color and eight trigrams images are incorporated in the piece to interpret the transition of four seasons and the circle of life.

Inside the block streets, 16 artists and designers have given birth to dozens of unusual lanterns after brainstorming over the transition of time and expectations for the upcoming Snake Year. Highlights include designer Li Yu-sheng's recycled material made lantern; UK paper cutting artist Tim Budden's spring butterfly lantern; a wide-brimmed rain hat made lantern, and an interactive wish-making lantern.  

In the artists' reception room program, artists and poets will show up to give New Year's greetings to visitors through poem chanting, impromptu creation, and virtual exhibition.

Moreover, a paper-cutting event will be held on February 13 and a hand-painted Spring Festival couplets activity will be held on February 15. An unprecedented street parade in the historic block will take place to celebrate the Lantern Festival, which falls on February 24 this year. Programs include story telling under a tree, traditional theatric performances and lantern riddles as well. 

Bopiliao Historic Block, Taipei's only preserved street block from the Qing Dynasty, has been transformed into a giant lighting body with decorations including lanterns and other traditional images for the Spring Festival, presenting a distinguished atmosphere day and night.  For more details on events, please visit http://2013bopiliao.culture.gov.tw..