Six Camphor Blossom Artworks in Miaoli – Childhood Hakka Memories Hanging from the Trees

▲ "The Best of Times," painted with charcoal and water-based paints.

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Miaoli

Every year between April and May is the peak season for viewing camphor blossoms in Miaoli’s Hakka villages. Compared to previous years’ “May Snow” spectacles, this year’s camphor blossom season in Miaoli ended early due to fluctuating temperatures and heavy rain. However, at the Hakka Cultural Park, Sanwan Elementary School, and Wenshui Old Street, there are still six camphor blossom-themed installations, allowing visitors to enjoy an alternative "artistic take on the blossoms."

▲ Old photographs hung on camphor trees, connecting memories of Hakka rural life.

In the public’s mind, camphor blossoms are often seen as small blooms on branches or as a beautiful white carpet on the ground. But in the eyes of artists, the way the blossoms fall from the branches, twirl in the wind, or evoke a fleeting sense of time, has inspired even more creative ideas.

▲ Metal camphor blossoms swaying in the wind above the water.

Therefore, in the 2016 Hakka Camphor Blossom Festival, landscape art was used for the first time, organized jointly by 14 counties and cities across Taiwan. In the crescent-shaped pond of the Hakka Cultural Park, stainless steel camphor blossoms sway in the breeze; in Hakka Friendly Park, wheel-patterned camphor blossoms made with oiled paper and bamboo strips appear as if layers of blooming, spinning light and shadow. On the wooden platform next to Sanwan Elementary School and on the lamp posts along Wenshui Old Street, one can also see various artworks created by local artists using different materials to represent camphor blossoms.

▲ Wheel-patterned camphor blossoms hanging in mid-air, conveying a sense of spinning motion.

In addition to camphor blossom-themed creations, Japanese artist Maruyama Junko and Duwak 'Duoyao, of Amis and Kavalan heritage, have respectively drawn on memories of Hakka rural life and the soft yet resilient spirit of Hakka women to create works such as "Memory of the Camphor Tree" and "The House of Resilience." Standing under the camphor tree adorned with screen-printed photos, Maruyama Junko seems to lead visitors into a corridor of memories, connecting their recollections and imaginations. Some onlookers have commented, “It’s more meaningful than just looking at camphor blossoms.”

▲ "The House of Resilience," woven from bamboo, symbolizes the gentle yet strong spirit of Hakka women.

Fan Xuejing, head of the Cultural Education Department at the Council for Hakka Affairs, said that due to the weather impact, Miaoli’s usual three-week camphor blossom season was shortened to just two weeks this year. However, events for the Hakka Camphor Blossom Festival will still be held at the Hakka Cultural Park in Miaoli on May 14 and 15, and the artworks are expected to remain on display until May 22. Additionally, for those hoping to catch the tail end of the camphor blossom season this weekend, Fan suggests prioritizing visits to mountainous areas in Yilan and Keelung.

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Information on the Art Installations
▫️ Wheel-patterned Camphor Blossoms: Artist: Chen Shuyen. Location: Hakka Friendly Park, Hakka Cultural Park
▫️ Soaring Camphor Blossoms: Artist: Zhou Lingzhi. Location: Crescent Pond, Hakka Cultural Park
▫️ The House of Resilience: Artist: Duwak 'Duoyao. Location: Hakka Friendly Park, Hakka Cultural Park
▫️ The Best of Times: Artist: Hsu Chiao-yen. Location: Wooden Platform next to Sanwan Elementary School, Miaoli
▫️ Dancing Camphor Blossoms: Artist: Hsieh Hsiao-te. Location: Lamp Posts on Wenshui Old Street, Miaoli
▫️ Memory of the Camphor Tree: Artist: Maruyama Junko. Location: Wenshui Visitor Center, Shei-Pa National Park