Balloon displays, traditional Taiwanese music performances, handicrafts and street theater enlivened Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall yesterday as 365 groups of street artists sought street performance permits for Taipei City.
The annual Taipei City street artist performance review assesses prospective street artists. Those who pass the review receive a permit to perform at one of more than 100 locations around the city.
More than 600 street artists have received certification from the city’s Cultural Affairs Department since the system was introduced in 2005, the department said.
Balloon artist Chen Yi-wei (陳奕偉), a winner at international balloon shows, attracted a large crowd while making a 60cm dragon doll out of balloons. Chen said he wanted to promote balloon art in Taiwan after obtaining a permit.
“Most people see balloons as something cheap. I want to show them that a balloon is also an instrument, like a paint brush, that can be used to make great art,” he said.
At another corner, 26-year-old Wesley Phillip Michels-Ratliff from California displayed handmade necklaces. A five-year veteran of street art in California, he lauded the Taipei City Government for introducing a permit system to encourage street art.
Michels-Ratliff was one of four foreign street artists who participated in yesterday’s review.
Five foreigners have obtained permits from the city government so far.
Another foreign street artist, Amanda Roveda from Canada, brought her bagpipe to the review. After playing at weddings in Canada for three years, Roveda said she hoped to share the music with people in Taipei while teaching English here.
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