The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit system’s new Xinzhuang Line is more than just convenient daily transportation, it is a fascinating foray into the eclectic world of Taiwan public art.
“This route has the highest density of artwork of all the MRT lines,” Yin Qian-ni, an official with the Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems, told Taiwan Today.
The 8.2-kilometer extension from Daqiaotou Station in Taipei to Fu Jen University Station in New Taipei City began operations Jan. 5. Commuters can now save half the time it takes to travel by bus from FJU to Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station in downtown Taipei.
On opening day, the Taipei City Government invited art enthusiasts to discover the treasures to be found along the line.
According to Yin, in the second phase of construction of the MRT network, more emphasis has been put on public art. A trip on the Xinzhuang Line, with its seven stops at Taipei Bridge, Cailiao, Sanchong, Xianse Temple, Touqianzhuang, Xinzhuang and Fu Jen University stations, is all the richer as a result.
Beginning in the Sanchong Station, Yin and three artists led a group of around 50 people on an in-depth metro art tour. Each received a limited-edition public art treasure map, which they could get stamped at each station as a souvenir.
“Echoes of Ages,” in the Sanchong stop, a 60-meter-long mosaic wall made of ceramic tiles, depicts cultural and historic features located nearby, and represents harmony between the old and the new.
The work of Cero Design of Puerto Rico, the mosaic brings together images of a century-old temple, a huge Taoist deity and a contemporary twin high-rise soon to be built in the area. Two giant dragons, made of black, green, red and yellow tiles from Puerto Rico and Yingge—the hub of Taiwan’s ceramic industry—creep along the wall as guardians of ancient culture and traditions.
“I was mesmerized by the artwork,” said Cai Guo-an, 72, who grew up in Sanchong.
“It really surprised me that this place has turned into a modern area with a brand-new MRT station finished with such an artistic touch.”
Located in a former industrial district in Sanchong, the Xianse Temple Station is designed to remind local people of their glorious past.
Three gigantic phonograph speaker-shaped seating areas hanging upside down on the station platform reflect both the coldness of the steel industry that once flourished there and the warmth of the musical notes the viewer imagines flowing through them.
Walking into the concourse, passengers are greeted by an artwork in the form of a metal wall, created by Wang Mei-jen, an associate professor at Tainan National University of the Arts’ Graduate Institute of Applied Arts.
This piece, “Gazing at the Metal City,” is decorated with round plates of various sizes presenting the different characteristics of the city over time.
“Each plate, handmade through various techniques such as annealing, chipping and soldering, tells a story of Sanchong’s past,” Wang said.
“My father used to make screws at home, and I turn metalsmithing into artwork.”
According to Wang, a plate showing the Xianse Temple plate is a symbol of religion, while old photos of factories etched on copper plates represent the past, and glistening paintings of electronic gadgets illustrate the future of high-tech industry. The small, mirror-like dishes are designed to reflect images of passersby, as history is made by humans, she added.
Wang said visitors are welcome to appreciate her work up close to see the authentic, pristine details as clearly as possible.
Chen Zheng-hua, 55, who joined the tour with his wife, said they came to experience the differences between MRT lines in New Taipei City and Taipei.
“I find the Xinzhuang Line very special, and all the art makes the ride really fun,” he said, adding that his favorite was “Weaving Dreams” at Xinzhuang Station.
The work of Huang Wen-ching, a glass artist and founder of Genus Loci Studio, the piece draws its inspiration from the history of Xinzhuang, a district long renowned for its textile industry.
Huang said it also brings together elements of traditional Taiwanese woven rattan and bamboo handicrafts.
The stained glass panels were hand-chiseled to give them a unique roughness before they were juxtaposed in a diagonal configuration inside metal frames, indicating that history and tradition are intertwined with the changing times, Huang explained.
The glass panels are illuminated by 1,800 optical fibers installed behind them, to create the impression of a green jungle where travelers can relax for a moment and enjoy the woven visual feast.
“The piece comes alive because of the optical fiber lighting. I hope every passerby can stop for a bit longer to take a good look and appreciate its subtlety,” Huang said.
Describing “Weaving Dreams” as the crown jewel of the Xinzhuang Line, Yin said Huang’s then unfinished work at the Taipei Bridge Station is another masterpiece.
The work, titled “Floating Light and Catching Shadows,” features various mediums such as inlaid marble, etched Stanley glass and optical fiber lighting, to represent the Danshui River running beneath the Taipei Bridge, Huang said.
The 9.6-meter marble mosaic wall is a symbol of vitality and softness, qualities that extend into the distance and future, he added.
The tour came to an end with a viewing of the line’s last art treasure at Fu Jen University Station.
Lin Wen-chang, dean of the Catholic university’s College of Arts, joined the group to introduce his work “Truth, Kindness, Beauty and Holiness,” a mosaic wall display measuring 9 by 2.1 meters.
The mosaic features seven white doves flying across a rainbow above a land of flourishing flowers, with the doves and blue sky representing purity and heaven, Lin said. An olive branch symbolizes never-ending life.
Created from 200,000 1-centimeter-square porcelain tiles, the mosaic is the largest in Taiwan employing such small tiles, Lin said, adding that it is also the only artwork on the entire Xinzhuang Line that was commissioned directly by the Taipei City Government instead of through international competition.
“I hope the work brings a peaceful and comfortable feeling to the public,” Lin said. (THN)
Write to Rachel Chan at rachelchan@mail.gio.gov.tw