Take a stroll with an 800-centimeter-tall biomorphic creature at Taipei Confucius Temple!

Text by Wei Ruyu, compiled and reported

At 2:30 p.m. on November 25, Dutch artist Theo Jansen, hailed as the “modern-day Da Vinci,” will lead his “biomorphic creatures” (Animaris)—developed over 20 years of ongoing research—for their first-ever street parade in the world at Taipei Confucius Temple. Members of the public interested in participating in this “Dreams in Motion – Taipei Confucius Temple Centennial Celebration” event can collect four points by playing on-site games that day to redeem a limited-edition souvenir, including a Confucius schoolbag, a topsy-turvy Confucius doll, or a good-luck amulet.

Theo Jansen is an internationally renowned artist, scientist, and craftsman. His design of “biomorphic creatures” is truly one of a kind in the world, combining mathematical principles with art, aesthetics, and modern craftsmanship. He keeps his creatures “grazed” at a seaside pasture in The Hague, Netherlands. After being unveiled for the first time at the globally renowned tech forum PopTech in 2005, his creations instantly became the subject of extensive media coverage worldwide, and the seaside pasture has since become a must-visit spot for tourists.

This is Theo Jansen’s first visit to Taiwan, and the historic urban area of Taipei Confucius Temple will be the site where he sets two global records for his biomorphic creatures. One is that Taipei will name the only surviving giant biomorphic creature, Animaris Siamesia, becoming the first biomorphic creature with a Chinese name. The second is that this massive creature will be released into the streets of the historic district of Taipei Confucius Temple, marking the first time a biomorphic creature has ever been set free on a city street. At that time, the eight-meter-long biomorphic creature will stroll alongside the public.

During the event from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., sections of Kulun Street, Jiuzhou Street, and Dalong Street near Chengde Road will be closed to traffic. Motorists are asked to follow diversion signs or drive at reduced speeds. Buses traveling westbound on Kulun Street will also skip the Kulun Street stop. Please pay attention to bus stop announcements. It is recommended to use public transport. For more details about the event, visit the Taipei Tourism website at www.taipeitravel.net or call the Taipei Citizen Hotline at 1999.