Two Taiwanese independence supporters plan to hand-paint a 30.5m long mural on the wall of a company in Corvallis, Oregon, in an effort to increase awareness in the US that Taiwan is an independent country.
According to Taiwanese painter Chao Tsung-song (趙宗宋), the idea of a mural dedicated to Taiwanese independence was originally proposed by David Lin (林銘新), a Taiwanese businessman who owns Corvallis Micro Technology.
“I met Lin during the run-up to the presidential election this year, and he mentioned wanting to decorate the wall of his company with a mural promoting Taiwanese independence so more US citizens would support us,” Chao said.
Photo: Chang Ling-chu, Taipei Times
As Corvallis Micro Technology is located off Interstate No. 5 (I-5), Lin hoped the strategic location of the mural would help by informing Americans driving past that Taiwan is an independent country, Chao said.
Despite Chao’s interest in the project, he found it difficult to persuade other Taiwanese painters to take part in the endeavor.
It was at that point that Chao turned to a relative, Lucy Yueh-chien Lu (盧月鉛), who emigrated to Canada more than a decade ago. She agreed to take part and the two of them started preparations to paint the mural.
However, the subject matter of the work meant that painters looking to develop a career in China were “unable” to take part, Lu said.
In addition, because the mural was being painted on the outside of a building, which meant that the artists had to use mechanical lifts to reach higher levels, elderly artists were excluded from the project, she said.
“Currently Chao and I are the only artists working on the project,” Lu said, adding that they plan to finish the mural at the end of next month, before the autumn rainy season sets in. They are also hoping to elicit the aid of locals in the coloring of the work.
The mural is to be divided into two parts, one featuring Taipei 101, the Divine Tree (神木) on Ali-shan (阿里山), Jade Mountain and Taiwan’s indigenous flora and fauna.
Tibetan independence will be the subject of the other part of the mural.
Tibet is an issue of interest to many Westerners and by focusing on Tibetan independence the mural is more likely to attract the attention of US citizens and thereby better promote Taiwanese independence, Lu said.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS