New Mei Street Murals in Tainan Capture the Soul of the Locality

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

In recent years, painted villages have become a trend in Taiwan. In addition to the uniquely distinctive Rainbow Village in Taichung and the Paper-cutting Art Village in Yunlin, there are also numerous cartoon-themed painted villages that have sprung up all over Taiwan, attracting many tourists to visit as a pilgrimage. This not only brings in tourist crowds but also adds vibrancy to small villages. However, as this trend has grown stronger, there have been increasing doubts and opposition toward cartoon-themed painted villages, with critics saying that many of these murals simply copy and replicate content. Isn’t there a cultural soul unique to Taiwan?

Now, new painted murals have emerged on Tainan’s New Mei Street, with intricate details that incorporate local emotions and allow viewers to observe the daily lives of residents. Although the completed murals may not match the scale or quantity typically seen in painted villages, the high-quality works filled with a strong sense of place still deeply move many netizens who come across them.

The mural in Lane 125 of New Mei Street was completed in December 2014. It was painted by artist Héxī Xǔ, who often collaborates with the pet product design company “PAPA.” The client was the owner of the hardware store directly in front, and the building where the mural is painted was once a hotel and is now used as a warehouse for the hardware store. It is located right in front of the historic Grand Matsu Temple. When the client said, “Just paint whatever you want,” Héxī Xǔ responded, “Then why not paint something related to you, memories of New Mei Street?” As a result, the mural is filled with the client’s impressions of New Mei Street, featuring an abundance of food including tofu pudding, dried squid, pig’s blood sausage, stinky tofu, black tea (New Mei Street was formerly known as Rice Street, a bustling commercial street), and more. It has quietly become a mural that promotes Tainan’s cuisine.