The Taichung City Government has come under criticism from local designers for using a Paul Frank monkey design for the Central Taiwan Lantern Festival, with critics saying it is stifling local creative industry development.
The Lunar Year of the Monkey begins on Monday. The city government said Taichung’s Lantern Festival events are to be held in Taichung Park, the Cingshuei District (清水) Port Area Arts Center and Huludun Park in Fengyuan District (豐原) from Feb. 17 to Feb. 29.
Taiwanese designer Chen Chih-hao (陳致豪) criticized the city’s use of the Paul Frank monkey logo for the motif and said the decision reflected only one thing — the city government does not intend to support and develop the local creative industry.
Photo: Chang Ching-ya, Taipei Times
He also said that the government might be advertising for the brand with its choice.
Chen said that although the city’s use of the logo would enhance the festival’s tourist value, it has not given a thought to local industries and had used a possibly cheaper method by asking for authorization to make use of an already well-known logo.
Chen is the creator of the “Taiwan Passport Sticker” and the flag featuring a whale and the words, “I am Taiwanese; I stand for Taiwan’s independence.”
Chen said he has been a part of Taichung’s design industry for 25 years and has seen many talented companies and designers.
However, Chen said that to his knowledge, the Taichung City Government has been awarding design briefs to out-of-town corporations and companies, despite proposals from local designers.
Chen said that decisions were mostly predetermined by governmental officials who favored certain designers.
He said he was against the idea of spending large amounts of money to host a Lantern Festival, adding that the government should attempt to find local designers that are more in tune with the local flavor.
Such designs might then survive the festival and become known as a local icon or mascot, Chen said.
Chen pointed to Japan’s mascot and character designing industry and said a large part of its vitality is derived from local festivals, adding that some characters have become internationally recognized.
Chen said the Japanese model showed what creativity wields, adding that the Taichung City Government has shown its true colors by purchasing rights to use a branded logo.
No immediate response was available from the city government.
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