Archery and fencing at the Shilin Official Residence? Vibrant green sculptures of Taipei 2017 Universiade sports debut

▲Six sports-themed green sculptures have appeared at the Shilin Official Residence, gearing up for the arrival of the Universiade. (Photo / Sourced fromTaipei Tourism Network’s official Facebook page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

What? You can actually see people practicing archery at the Shilin Official Residence? Recently,six green sculptures shaped like sports from the 2017 Taipei Universiade—golf, basketball, soccer, weightlifting, fencing, and archery—have appeared, vivid and cleverly designed, extremely attention-grabbing, allowing the public to get a sneak peek of the Universiade spirit in advance.

Huang Liyuan, director of the park department, said that these green sculptures were designed by park staff using their creativity during routine park maintenance work, and made from eco-friendly waste materials. For example, the barbells for weightlifting were crafted from discarded tires.

▲Each green sculpture requires manual adjustments to the iron frames to achieve the most natural sports forms.

Creating these green sculptures is no easy task. He Qihua, director of the park’s gardening management office, pointed out that park staff had to manually bend the iron rods and weld the frames under high temperatures—tasks that machines cannot replace. Only manual labor could create these dynamic shapes that showcase the strength and beauty of each sport. After the models were completed, plants were embedded, and red foliage was used to form the vivid “2017 Taipei” lettering on the sculptures. He Qihua said,each green sculpture required 2,000 potted plants, and each one is the result of the dedicated efforts and hard work of park staff.

Creating the green sculptures not only takes a lot of thought, but also requires significant ongoing care. They need to be watered both in the morning and afternoon, and trimmed, fertilized, and sprayed monthly to keep these green sprites full of vitality and beauty. This summer, as Taipei’s temperatures have repeatedly hit record highs and heavy rains have occurred, the park department specially installed shelters to ensure the green sculptures remain lively despite scorching sun and downpours. In the future, they are planned to be set up successively atRen’ai Circle, the intersection of Dunhua and Nanjing Roads, and the intersection of Dunhua and Bade Roads. By the end of the year, dynamic little green figures will also appear at Yangmingshan Park and the Flower Expo exhibition area, and next year, their presence will further expand to other locations, filling various spots across Taipei with these little green figures.

Shilin Official Residence
Address: No. 60, Fulin Road, Shilin District, Taipei City