The Taipei Lantern Festival may be over, but exciting works like Little Chi Chicken will continue to be exhibited as they search for new homes

By MOOK Scenic Spots Home / Compiled Report

Chien Yu-yan, Director of the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism, stated that planning for the continuation of lantern festival exhibits began quite early. Not only were the artists’ opinions consulted, but considerations were also given to how the works harmonize with their surrounding spaces. Additionally, coordination with future maintenance entities and related funding had to be arranged. Currently, some pieces have been confirmed for continued display — for example, “Our Time,” located at the intersection of Section 1, Zhonghua Road, and Changsha Street, exhibited at the site of the former Koaen Temple ruins. With its historical connection to the local area, this “egg yolk zone” piece is now planned to stay in its current location.

The main lantern, “Little Chi Chicken,” is also a product of Ximending’s trendy culture. Chien Yu-yan hopes it can find a permanent place in the West District as well. However, issues related to the disassembly of its base and mechanical-electrical components currently require reorganization and planning. After being dismantled on-site, Little Chi Chicken will first undergo maintenance, and once a suitable location is found, it will be given a new home in the West District.

This year’s heartwarming red egg zone piece, “Home,” is truly going back “home.” The Taipei City Government has decided to gift this artwork to its place of origin — the Tugou Rural Art Museum in Houpi District, Tainan City. Originally created by artist Yang Shih-yi on the temple square of Tugou Village, the “Home” structure was then transported to Taipei on a large flatbed truck for display at the Taipei Lantern Festival. Chien Yu-yan noted that returning the piece to Tainan, where it was originally created, represents an exchange of goodwill between cities and forges a connection between the two. We are all “one family” — a sentiment that perfectly matches the spirit of the artwork.