Waste Turned into Wonder: “Starry Grassland” Made of 4 Million PET Bottles Opens on the 26th

▲ The Van Gogh masterpiece “Starry Grassland,” made from 4 million PET bottles, looks spectacular from afar. (Photo / Sourced from theStarry GrasslandFacebook page, the same below)

By Li Zi-yi, Staff Reporter / Compiled Report

Waste PET bottles can become stunning scenery too. On the 26th, the trial opening of the “Starry Grassland” landscape art piece, created by using 4 million PET bottles to recreate Van Gogh’s famous painting, will debut at Keelung’s Yongheng Cultural and Creative Park. Entry is free on the opening day. Spanning nearly 13,000 square meters, the Starry Grassland offers a breathtaking view both day and night.

The Starry Grassland was created by Professor Wang Chen-wei from National Changhua University of Education, who previously designed the “Shaking Memories” paper church in Puli. It gives new life to 4 million discarded PET bottles. These bottles, laid end to end, would stretch 920,000 meters and weigh a total of 100,000 kilograms.

Professor Wang Chen-wei said that other recyclable materials such as metal or tin cans were also considered, but PET bottles were ultimately chosen due to their lightness and suitability for the site. The team behind the project wasn’t made up of volunteers or students as many might assume, but rather local mothers and aunties.

The landscape is based on Van Gogh’s famous painting “Starry Night,” where blue dominates much of the original artwork. However, during the bottle collection phase, the team found most donated bottles were green or clear, leading to two weeks of debate and struggle over color choices. That’s when Professor Wang realized he wasn’t simply replicating a masterpiece—he was creating art. So he decided to follow his heart and infuse the landscape with a unique color scheme of its own. Even after solving the color issue, the team faced challenges such as a shortage of bottles and price hikes from recycling companies. Thanks to their commitment to raising public awareness about environmental protection and recycling, the artwork officially debuted on the 26th.

On the trial opening day, the event will feature live music performances, handicrafts, and a charity market, where visitors can create warm and healing DIY gifts to give to underprivileged children in need. Come admire the starry sky and contribute to charity—let every little heart in Taiwan feel the warmth of love this winter.

%夹强詹菰?找菇悦溃?估锏愕菩愀?浅?寺?＜/strong>