Jimmy Liao Makes an Appearance in Xinyi District！Taipei Streets Transformed into a Galaxy Fairy Tale World

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Text & Photos /Pingzi

Visiting the streets of Taipei’s Xinyi District always brings something new, and recently, the buzz has been about the eye-catching Jimmy Liao installation art. Sponsored by a well-known real estate company and prepared over the course of a year, it officially opened to the public on November 1, 2014. Featuring characters drawn by Jimmy Liao from his stories, Pingzi shares this exhibition that fans of Jimmy Liao won’t want to miss.

The installation art is themed around the streets of Taipei’s Xinyi District. The exhibition site is located at the intersection of Section 5, Xinyi Road, and Songzhi Road, right across from Taipei 101. The bus number featured is 100, and this location is also the exact address number of the headquarters of Hsin Yeh Real Estate Company—very easy to find. Through the healing illustrations of artist Jimmy Liao, it also offers citizens a brand-new artistic experience, aiming to convey the philosophy of an artful life and people-centered creative ideals through this installation art.

The installation art is themed around the 2010 Jimmy Liao story 【The Moon Forgot】. It features a bus, with a little boy raising his hands as he prepares to return the moon to the sky. By placing characters from the picture book into the setting of a real bus, it becomes a striking piece of street installation art.

Standing outside the bus and waiting in line, you can see this creatively designed Xinyi Station bus stop sign.

The bus license plate number has also been specially changed to the Jimmy Liao installation art bus — “Forget & Remember” No. 100, cleverly incorporating the brand story into a whimsical world.

The little boy holding up the moon stands out prominently at Hsin Yeh Real Estate, creating a strong visual impact with contrast and tension. This also helps promote Hsin Yeh Real Estate’s brand advertising value.

Mirror-finished steel balls arranged nearby allow passersby to view them from different angles, making them a unique photographic element.

The changing reflections on the smiling steel balls become a form of visual reflection.

Pingzi also took a fun selfie using the steel ball reflections, capturing the moment. Looking from the bus stop toward the Xinyi Expressway, the row of smiley steel balls is very eye-catching.

The appearance of the little boy holding the moon on the street has become quite a talking point.

The exterior of the Jimmy Liao bus not only draws constant attention from passersby and photographers, but the interior is also remarkably creative and thoughtfully arranged. Visitors are allowed to go inside to take photos, though only five people are permitted at a time.

Cute power is strong—what was once a bear character from Jimmy Liao’s illustrated books is now a real-life bear driver, adding a dreamy touch. The bus driver is “Bear Big,” greeting everyone with a smile, which is quite amusing. Let Bear Big take Pingzi on a trip.

The coin box on the bus is also specially designed, covered in images of the moon, displaying beauty in numbers.

The area in front of the driver’s seat is decorated with several Jimmy Liao picture books, paint, brushes, and plush toys.

The bus buttons feature the moon from 【The Moon Forgot】.

The bus handles are illustrated with images from 【The Moon Forgot】, forming a complete series.

The top of the bus is adorned with various colorful balls, creating a fairytale-like atmosphere, with neon lights twinkling continuously.

The back seating area and rear space of the bus are designed with a bookshelf filled with Jimmy Liao’s books, bursting with color and the power of knowledge.

Even the floor has been carefully designed, featuring a checkered pattern in yellow and purple.