A robot that accompanied rock band Mayday on their world tour earlier this year has been put to new use as part of a beautification project at Wanhua’s Park No. 406. The robot and other decorations, such as balloon birds, fairies and multicolored driftwood have transformed the dilapidated and gloomy historical site into a vibrant park.
The exhibit’s most eye-catching feature is a six-story-high Transformers-style robot. The robot, known as “Transformer DNA,” is no ordinary robot. It accompanied Mayday on their world tour, but when the tour was over it wasn’t turned into scrap. Instead it stands in this park which was almost completely forgotten about, symbolizing dreams and hope.
Wanhua’s Park No. 406 is located at the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Changsha Street on the site of the old Nishi-Hongan Temple, but years of neglect have left the site dilapidated and lighting in the area is poor. Locals don’t go near the place, saying it’s “a ruin by day, and haunted by night.”
PHOTO: CHIU SHAO-WEN 照片:自由時報記者邱紹雯
Park No. 406 is scheduled for renovation next year, but in the meantime it will play host to a “Majestic Art Supply” exhibition. The exhibitions are run by the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs and Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art, and are aimed at connecting the public with the city’s historical buildings.
According to authorities, the Majestic Art Supply exhibitions will run until the end of February. On public holidays, there are plans to hold a flea market, small music shows, and handicraft activities to engage the public and turn the haunted house into a family park.
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY TAIJING WU)
今年陪同五月天樂團進行世界巡迴演唱會的一個機器人,最近重新利用,進駐「萬華406號廣場」美化環境;機器人與其他裝飾品,如氣球鳥、藝術精靈、七彩漂流木,將殘破、陰森的古蹟園區變成繽紛樂園。
展區中最引人注目的就是身高有六層樓高的「變形金剛」,這個名為「變形DNA」的機器人來頭不小,曾在今年陪同五月天樂團進行世界巡迴演唱會,隨著演唱會結束,它沒有成為破銅爛鐵。現在它站立在幾乎被遺忘的公園,代表夢想與希望。
「萬華406號廣場」位於台北市中華路一段與長沙街交叉口,為市定古蹟「西本願寺」的遺址。但多年來欠缺整體規劃、殘破不堪,加上夜間照明不足,被當地居民形容,「白天像廢墟,晚上像鬼屋」,沒人敢靠近。
「萬華406號廣場」預計明年才會重新整建,在此之前,北市文化局與當代藝術館策劃「氣象萬千Art Supply」公共藝術展,提前注入藝術活水,拉近古蹟與民眾的距離。
當局表示,「氣象萬千Art Supply」藝術展將展至明年二月底
,假日也將規劃創意市集、小型音樂表演、手繪創作活動,與民眾互動,讓「鬼屋」也能成為親子樂園。
(自由時報記者邱紹雯)
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