The XinYing Art Park Officially Opens: Unfoolish’s Childhood Fantasy Symphony

Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department

 
Situated beside the branch canal of the Jia-Nan Irrigation System in XinYing District, Tainan City, the art exhibition at “XinYing Art Park” adopts the theme of “Childhood Fantasy Symphony,” connecting public art installations with nearby school campuses. The event features renowned Taiwanese trend artist Unfoolish, known for his character figurine creations, who developed a large-scale sculpture based on his signature anime aesthetic style—combining the classic image of a mouse with school desks and chairs. The opening ceremony was presided over by Tainan Mayor Lai Qingde on April 2.

The “XinYing Art Exhibition and Environmental Art Installation Project” combines “long-term public art” (permanent installations) with “participatory public art creation” (phased projects such as Childhood Fantasy Symphony), one of the key development features of XinYing Art Park. This time, with the special theme of “Childhood Fantasy Symphony,” the project links public art with nearby campuses and invites artist Unfoolish, famed for his figurine works in Taiwan’s trend scene, to use his signature anime aesthetic style to develop a large sculpture combining the classic image of a mouse with school desks and chairs. This intervention into the local space aims to use accessible artistic expressions to enhance interaction and dialogue between public art and people's daily lives.

The cultural core of the park—XinYing Cultural Center—has invested over NT$123 million this year to renovate its performance spaces. The completely revamped performance hall and outdoor areas were completed and opened on March 27, coinciding with the launch of the “2016 Tainan Arts Festival.” In addition, the area south of the main irrigation canal is currently under discussion between the district office, local residents, and the Jia-Nan Irrigation Association, with plans to first build a community-oriented walking path using land owned by the irrigation association.

Art Creation at “XinYing Art Park” – A Parallel of Artist Creations and Public Participation: The western section of XinYing Art Park stretches from the cultural center through XinYing High School and NanXin Junior High School, ending at Fuxing Road. Utilizing the characteristics of outdoor art—such as building walls, sunlight, wind, and shade—a variety of artworks have been developed. These include “Sounds of Southern Joy” painted on the walls of the XinYing Cultural Center, as well as murals of Formosan sika deer that once roamed the Jia-Nan Plain. In 2014, the “XinYing Art Season – Art Born from the Irrigation Canal” emphasized the culture of the Jia-Nan Irrigation System and repurposed original steel structures, featuring works like the “Bamboo Dragonfly Dream” atop a large steel tower, and “Sound Canal,” which simulates natural sounds like frog croaks and grass-cutting near the canal, highlighting the fun and approachability of art.

2016 Public Art Exhibition Theme – “Childhood Fantasy Symphony”: Shared Memories vs. the Irrigation Canal Life Memories of Local Students: Well-known cross-disciplinary artist Unfoolish, prominent in Taiwan’s trend circle, designed 19 mice that interact with the existing steel corridors and climbing walls in XinYing Art Park: the mouse figurines happily stroll along the rainbow-colored steel corridor, climb on the climbing wall, or hide, sit, or jump around the large steel columns, next to campuses, and at the entrance to park paths. They act like humorous and cheerful guides, leading visitors through the park and providing a delightful sight for locals who walk through the area every day. Among the most eye-catching pieces is the six-meter-tall red chair with the mouse, realizing the artist’s vision of “offering an extraordinary visual experience, encouraging viewers to break free from conventional perceptions and reconsider the relationship between objects and themselves.”