Tainan’s Quanmei Theater’s “Hand-Painted Movie Posters” – A Nostalgic Craft Shines Internationally

By MOOK Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Chen Guanxin

 

Do you remember the hand-painted movie posters that used to hang above theaters when you were a child? This nostalgic sight has gradually faded from our lives with the advancement of technologies like computer animation. However, Tainan’s “Quanmei Theater,” in addition to maintaining the old-school paper tickets and simple metal chairs typical of traditional cinemas—unlike the digital tickets and comfy seats found in modern multiplexes—most strikingly and memorably evokes childhood memories with its hand-painted movie posters above the entrance. These scenes, filled with a wave of homesickness, have also caught the attention of an Associated Press reporter, bringing this rare vestige of old Tainan to the international media stage.

 

Yan Zhenfa, the creator of these hand-painted movie posters, is the guardian of these old memories. Now 61 years old, Yan is Taiwan’s last remaining hand-painted movie poster artist. His makeshift studio is right on the sidewalk in front of the theater, where he creates the very posters we see. And when it comes to painting these posters, the most important thing, according to Yan, is “to capture and highlight each character’s features, while also paying attention to the details of proportion and scaling.”

 

Quanmei Theater’s owner, Wu Juncheng, stated that not following the digital wave is well worth it. Paying Yan Zhenfa NT$20,000 a month to paint 2–3 posters per week is not only worthwhile, but the oil-painted posters also convey a unique atmosphere. Moreover, because Yan’s painting skills are truly exceptional, Wu finds it hard to let go.

 

To keep this craft alive, Quanmei Theater has also launched a hand-painted poster cultural and creative workshop, personally taught by Yan Zhenfa, who shares his over 40 years of experience and skill in creating thousands of movie posters with the participants.

 

 

●  Read more:

Explore all of Tainan’s “Head Chef” filming locations – guide map now available for download

http://goo.gl/Qb4Gga