Take a peek inside a whale’s belly！ The Paper Windmill Animal and Insect Exhibition Kicks Off for Children’s Day

Written/Compiled and Reported by MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin

 

The “Taichung Children’s Art Festival,” organized by the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, has entered its 7th year. This year’s event, themed “Creativity, Classics, and Artful Play,” runs from today until April 14. The program includes the Children’s Art Train, the Children’s Art Grand Garden, a major performance by the Paper Windmill Theater Troupe, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts’ “Artistic Vision,” “Taichung, My Home,” and the nationwide premiere of the “Paper Windmill Taiwan Animal and Insect Creative Exhibition.” A massive 70-meter-long, 12-meter-high “Whale Theme Pavilion” has been set up to let all children step inside the belly of a giant whale, offering an immersive deep-sea-like spatial experience.

In addition to the traditional venues “Wenxin Forest Park and Yuanman Outdoor Theater,” this year also adopts a “Children’s Art Train” touring model, inviting high-quality local arts and cultural groups in Taichung, including the Little Frog Theater Troupe, Daka Theater Troupe, Stubborn Stone Theater Troupe, Childlike Theater Troupe, and Extreme Physical Dance Troupe, to perform at the Fengyuan Huludun Cultural Center, Taiping Tun District Arts and Culture Center, and Qingshui Harbor Arts Center, respectively. During the Children’s Day holiday, these arts and cultural groups, along with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra and Only Puppet Children’s Theater Troupe, will move to Wenxin Forest Park to jointly present the “Children’s Art Grand Garden.” In addition to performances, interactive booths will be set up for public participation, covering three major fields—music, dance, and drama—offering children a brand-new artistic experience.

 

The main venue, Yuanman Outdoor Theater, will host three different performances by the Paper Windmill Theater Troupe over three consecutive evenings from April 4 to 6, starting at 19:30. These include popular classic children’s plays such as “The Chicken City Story,” “Wu Song Fights the Tiger,” and “Paper Windmill’s Fantasia,” allowing children to enjoy a feast of performances during the Children’s Day holiday.

“Artistic Vision” at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts features carefully selected masterpieces from its collection, including “Red-Clothed Youth” by Shiy De-jinn, “Water Buffalo Group” by Huang Tu-shui, and “Hope” by Hong Rui-lin… Combined with fun games, the activities bring children closer to fine art. Additionally, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the museum has launched a special project featuring five major Taiwanese paintings—“Day of Sacrifice” by Liao Chi-chun, “White Doves Bringing Auspiciousness” by Wu Long-rong, “Eighteen Constellations” by Li Chun-hsien, “Encouragement” by Wu Hao, and “Double Happiness of Prosperity” by Chan Chuan-yu—to create large-scale 3D puzzles. Fun games paired with actor-led introductions and performances help children better understand the historical context of the artworks.

 

Nine major departments under the Taichung City Government have adopted the concept of “Taichung, My Home” to set up installation artworks, guiding children through the city’s “construction, culture, and future.” Examples include the National Taichung Opera House, Taiwan Tower, Rainbow Art Park, Taichung Park, Houli Horse Ranch, Gaomei Wetlands, Mazu Pilgrimage, confectionery culture, the BRT rapid transit system, Cross Axis Park, and the eco-friendly city—all vividly showcasing the diverse facets of Taichung while encouraging children to care more about the land they grew up in. After the Taichung Children’s Art Festival concludes, all exhibits will be relocated to the City Government Hall, giving the public more opportunities to learn about Taichung.

 

The “Paper Windmill Taiwan Animal and Insect Creative Exhibition,” curated by the Paper Windmill Cultural and Educational Foundation, will launch its tour in Taichung. To offer children a more unique imaginative perspective, the exhibition creatively presents insects in various scales. Aside from the “Paper Windmill Taiwan Animal and Insect Creative Exhibition,” which requires a ticket for entry, all other activities are free. For detailed event information, visit: www.paperwindmill.com.tw/2013tcchildart/index.html.

 

 

● Read More: Arts and Cultural Groups Take the Stage—The Taichung Children’s Art Train Kicks Off on March 17

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