Community murals depict enduring vitality — Kaohsiung’s Qianzhen district rises from the ashes after the gas explosion

▲ A painting created by one of the artists, Lai Hui-yi, carries a touch of childlike charm, but its warm tones are comforting to the soul. (Photo / Screenshot fromthe “River of Life – Color River in Kaohsiung” Facebook page, the same below)

By the Tourism Center / Comprehensive report

More than a year has passed since the Kaohsiung gas explosion, and post-disaster reconstruction efforts have largely been completed. Yet, the public still vividly recalls that terrifying night. Now, a group of people has painted images of hope for life’s renewal along various spots in the affected areas, aiming to comfort the hearts of Qianzhen residents and help them move beyond the shadow of the tragedy.

▲ A drifting cat symbolizes the search for a partner with a similar frequency, bringing more love into life.

““River of Life – Color River in Kaohsiung”team is a group of creators who used rivers as their theme to paint collectively in the disaster-stricken areas of the Kaohsiung gas explosion. The artists come from all walks of life, but they gathered together with a shared goal. “The river represents Kaohsiung’s Love River, the Qianzhen River, and also the fiery river during the explosion. We have risen from the ashes, using colors for healing, allowing beautiful rivers to connect us, to connect time and memory, and to connect life.” This is the original intention behind their paintings. Each artwork conveys blessings for life, helping the injured hearts of the public heal more quickly.

▲ Rivers are used to connect different paintings, expressing the recurrence of life in every state.

Rivers symbolize the enduring vitality of life. The paintings on the walls stretch from one surface to another, with each image connected—life reappears in different forms. Sorrow is part of life, but it will always be overcome. Facing life anew makes people stronger. It is hoped that through these paintings, more motivation will be given to the public to move forward into the future, bringing joy back to their hearts.

▲ The murals are mainly distributed within the red circled area. (Photo / Screenshot fromthe Kaohsiung Tourism Network Facebook page)