By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Li Xinyi
The 2013 Taipei Lantern Festival kicked off yesterday (the 21st) and will run until March 3. For the first time this year, the event has moved to the Yuanshan and Fine Arts Park areas of the Taipei Expo Park. To enrich the 2013 Taipei Lantern Festival performances, the Taipei Exhibition & Convention Foundation and the Impressions Gallery jointly curated the “Hong Yi Solo Exhibition – Animal Party” at the Pop-up Pavilion and outdoor garden of the Taipei Expo Park. In addition, the Taipei Expo Park has launched a free shuttle bus service for the lantern festival, operating daily from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. during the festival period. The bus stops include Yuanshan MRT Station, Fine Arts Park, and the Lin An-Tai Historical House, among others. Passengers can not only enjoy the lantern displays, visit exhibition halls, and explore the shopping area, but also receive surprise gift bags for free and participate in a stamp-collecting activity.
The Taipei Lantern Festival officially lit up at the Taipei Expo Park yesterday. (Photo provided by Taipei City Exhibition & Convention Development Foundation)
The “Hong Yi Solo Exhibition – Animal Party,” displayed at the Pop-up Pavilion and outdoor garden of the Yuanshan area in Taipei Expo Park, features works by renowned domestic sculptor Hong Yi. Using the hopeful and beautiful concept of Noah's Ark, he created an animal ark inside the pavilion, crafting a joyful paradise that shares happiness and spreads love. This year, the “Hong Yi Solo Exhibition – Animal Party” has also been invited to exhibit at the “Hakone Open-Air Museum” in Japan. Following the 1995 exhibition of Mr. Ju Ming’s sculptures at the same venue, this marks the second time in 18 years that a Taiwanese master sculptor has returned to the stage of the Japan Hakone Open-Air Museum. It is an important milestone for Taiwanese contemporary art entering the international art scene over the past decade, symbolizing Taiwan’s art moving toward globalization.
The “Hong Yi Solo Exhibition – Animal Party” is on display at the Taipei Expo Park during the lantern festival. (Photo provided by Taipei City Exhibition & Convention Development Foundation)
To celebrate the Lantern Festival, various street performers including those in performing arts, visual arts, and creative crafts are invited to showcase their talents at the Taipei Expo Park during the lantern festival period. These include 3D silhouettes, chibi-style portraits, balloon art, and dough figurines, among others. Performers gather in the park to entertain visitors. Exhibition halls in the Xinyi area, including the Taipei Robot Museum, the Future Museum, and the Angel Life Museum, have extended their operating hours until 8:00 p.m. to coincide with the lantern festival (closed on Mondays). From now until February 28, the Angel Life Museum is also offering a special lantern festival promotion: a group of four visitors need only purchase three tickets, and ticket holders can also choose one of three great gifts.
● Read more: Lantern festivals, bee-bee cannon fire, and Han Dan parades — Taiwan celebrates the Lantern Festival in style
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