Until May 30, the Taipei Railway Station stop of the city's mass rapid transit system is acting as more than merely a transit point for bustling commuters, but is also serving as a meeting point for young local artists.
This year's graduating students from the Department of Fine Arts of the National Taiwan Normal University (師範大學, NTNU), along with children from areas hard hit by the 921 earthquake, are adding an abundance of colorful elements to the concrete maze by jointly displaying their works of art at the Water Scene Gallery (水景藝廊) adjacent to the station.
Hundreds of passersby took part in an assortment of art activities, including body painting and making their own postcards during the exhibition's opening ceremony.
The exhibit is co-sponsored by NTNU, Taipei Red Cross Organization (
"Students at NTNU are dedicated to producing fine art, and having done this, we look for recognition and feedback from the public. We understand that it is only through mutual interaction between artists and the audience that a fine art space can be made public. This is why an off-campus exhibition like this provides art students with such a good opportunity, not just to display, but to listen to other voices and initiate a discussion on issues that our art raises," said chairman Yuan Chin-ta (袁金塔).
In addition to dozens of works created by the art students, other highlights of the exhibition included 65 paintings drawn by elementary and kindergarten children from quake-hit areas in central Taiwan.
"Rebuilding the quake-afflicted areas is a long term task. The reconstruction of collapsed buildings is a relatively easy project, in contrast to the spiritual rehabilitation of victims, in particular of children" said Red Cross consultant Chen Hsiu-ling (陳秀玲).
"The psychological damage the earthquake inflicted upon the children is immeasurable. We would like to assist these children in getting over the trauma and fear they experienced by painting. It [the creation of art] provides the children an effective emotional outlet," said Chen.
According to Chen, although a total of eight topics were suggested to the children, more than half of their works were quake-related, and 30 percent incorporated scenes of the future.
"The exhibition is not only a demonstration of student's artistic talents, but it also provides the college students with the perfect chance to show their concern and love for society by caring for other people," said NTNU president Chien Mao-fa (
At the end of the opening ceremony, visitors were encouraged to participate in the various activities designed to make the event an "art movement for the people."
Children were encouraged to draw postcards with the theme "the transportation of the future" and the art students offered body painting to guests free of charge.
"As prospective teachers, they [the art students] are loving and caring. I will rest assured to have them as instructors of my daughter," said one mother.
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