The Yellow Duck visits Xinzhuang at the Taoyuan Land Art Festival

Written/Compiled and Reported by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network

 

The "Taoyuan Land Art Festival," to be held from October 26 to November 10, will unfold across five major themed zones: Houhu Pond, Xinzhuang Pond, Guoling No. 58 Pond, the Water Lane in Xinzhuang Old Street, and the Fanjiang Ancestral House. The most eye-catching international highlight of this event is not only the invited artworks such as Yayoi Kusama’s "Dot Obsession" from Japan and Choi Jeonghwa’s "Lotus" from South Korea, but also the recently sensational Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s "Yellow Duck," which will be displayed at Houhu Pond.

During the 16-day event, themes include an international highlight art exhibition, artist-in-residence collaborative creations, creative cultural activities, and local featured cultural and creative markets. Among the invited artworks, the widely anticipated Yellow Duck will be showcased at Houhu Pond. As the second largest pond in Taoyuan County, Houhu Pond is adjacent to farmland, offering a natural and rustic charm. In the fields, there is also the "Straw Weaving Living Circle," a large straw installation co-created by contemporary artist Kang Yazhu, lotus weaving artisan Wang Yuxiang from Lianhe Garden, and community teachers and students.

 

Yayoi Kusama’s "Dot Obsession" will be exhibited at Xinzhuang Pond, which is close to the core area of Xinzhuang Township. Nearby water lanes guide visitors into the streets of Xinzhuang, allowing them to explore local culture amidst the alleys. Meanwhile, Choi Jeonghwa’s "Lotus" will be displayed at Guoling No. 58 Pond. The "Lotus" series, renowned for its appearances in major international art exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale, resonates with the agricultural features of Taoyuan County and is placed at Guoling No. 58 Pond beside Highway 66, serving as the entrance symbol of the Land Art Festival.

In the artist-in-residence collaborative creation segment, five domestic artists have been residing in Xinzhuang since August, interacting with local residents and co-creating works that reflect the characteristics of farmland irrigation channels and straw weaving crafts. These pieces will become a common sight throughout the festival grounds. For example, in the Water Lane area of Xinzhuang Old Street, visitors walking along the irrigation channel by the pond will encounter "Living Green Sculpture: Furniture Planting," created by artist Zhou Lingzhi and residents using discarded furniture. Additionally, illustrator Pan Yu (YP) plans the "Water Circles: Water Lane Mirror-Seeking Project," enriching the space with lively and vibrant creations that will become the most distinctive visual feature of the water lane. Professor Chen Liyu from Chung Yuan Christian University presents "When Xinzhuang Meets the Pond," a participatory work expressing local perspectives on "Xinzhuang" and "ponds," documenting through imagery the changes and expectations in the Taoyuan landscape as seen by participants. The Fanjiang Ancestral House zone, the birthplace of Xinzhuang’s history, boasts rich cultural and historical character. In a touching corner of the old community, Professor Chu Ruiji and students from Ming Chuan University’s Department of Architecture incorporate creativity into architecture, revitalizing the old spaces with their "Xinzhuang ‘Home’ Project."

 

Creative cultural activities are planned in the Yellow Duck-themed area at Houhu Pond, integrating with the annual Square Arts Festival. Renowned domestic and international art troupes will be invited to perform various genres including dance, music, and drama, while also incorporating themes such as natural ecology, environment, and land. The local featured cultural and creative market will be set up in the Yellow Duck-themed area at Houhu Pond, near the market street of Xinzhuang Pond, and beside Guoling No. 58 Pond, focusing on promoting Taoyuan County’s agricultural specialties and cultural creative industries, along with food stalls offering snacks and meals for visitors.

 

 

●  Extended Reading:

Yellow Duck Taiwan Tour Schedule – Arrives in Keelung on December 21

http://goo.gl/VdMKJ4