Written/Compiled and Reported by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin
Paper panda craze sweeps the nation！ 1,600 paper pandas officially made their debut in Taipei City Hall Plaza last Friday. According to organizer statistics, by 6:00 PM on the first day of the exhibition, visitor numbers had already exceeded 270,000. Among the 20 pandas that are “on duty” daily in the photo experience area, due to overwhelming public enthusiasm, around 40 paper pandas have been “chipped” or damaged over the two days since the launch. However, the organizers have assigned specialists to carefully inspect the damage after these paper pandas finish their shifts and repair them one by one.
The much-anticipated 1,600 paper pandas exhibition officially opened last Friday. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Communications Bureau)
The organizer, the Tourism and Communications Bureau, stated that because the paper pandas are very fragile, to reduce damage, the pandas in the main exhibition area are not open for public touching. However, considering those who wish to take photos with the pandas, in addition to displaying 1,600 pandas in the main area, 20 paper pandas are also arranged daily in the “photo experience area” for close-up photos. Nonetheless, the organizers still urge everyone that paper pandas break easily, so please handle them with care when taking them and follow the guidance of on-site staff when taking photos with them.
1,600 paper pandas exhibition and Taipei 101 in a group photo. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Communications Bureau)
Zheng Feiwen, Creative Director of Rain International Design, pointed out that the materials used for the paper pandas in this exhibition are mainly recycled paper such as newspapers, coated with waterproof paint, and each one is handmade. The damaged pandas include both sitting and lying postures. For the sitting pandas, the damaged areas are mostly the face, nose, and ears, while the lying pandas tend to have injuries on their four legs and buttocks. Zheng Feiwen demonstrated the three-step process of repairing a paper panda on-site: first, use sandpaper to smooth out the uneven damaged areas; then apply a special mixture of “panda hyaluronic acid” filler and starch paste to mend the wounds; after smoothing again, apply eco-friendly waterproof paint—like giving the pandas a bit of Botox—to restore the shine to the chipped and damaged pandas.
Visitor numbers exceeded 270,000 on the first day of the exhibition. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Communications Bureau)
Yu Shuhui, Secretary-General of the Tourism and Communications Bureau, stated that after previous appeals, visitors have become more careful when taking photos in the experience area, and the extent of panda damage on the second day was less than on the first day. However, she still reminds the public that since the paper pandas are quite fragile, please handle them with care when taking photos. In addition, to cope with weather conditions, a three-tier rain protection measure has been specially adopted: if there is light rain, paper pandas will be given bamboo hats; if there is a shower, they will be fitted with transparent rain covers; but if there is heavy rain, some pandas will be placed in 3D display cases for public viewing, while others will be temporarily stored away.
Damaged paper pandas are being treated. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Communications Bureau)
The “1600 Pandas World Tour – Taipei” public art exhibition is making its first appearance in Asia, using 1,600 paper sculptures of pandas created by French artist Paulo Grangeon to remind people of the plight of endangered animals. The exhibition is divided into two phases: from February 28 to March 9 at Taipei City Hall Plaza, and from March 14 to March 30 at the National Theater and Concert Hall Arts Square. It is open to the public free of charge from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily.
Excited members of the public take photos with the large plush toys. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Communications Bureau)
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