Since its launch in July, the initiative has completed three rounds of stair painting. It aims to transform 100 stairways within five years, said Chiu, an industrial design student at National Taipei University of Technology.
“The project was inspired by a colorful stairway I saw while visiting Istanbul in Turkey last year. I wanted to introduce this beauty to Taiwan and show people how art can be relevant to their lives.”
Happy Stair’s first project, a butterfly-themed painting, was carried out in mid-July by Chiu and 11 partners, including her former high school classmate Lu Chi at Fusing Elementary School in New Taipei City. The three-day project helped enhance the school’s curriculum focus of ecological education, Chiu said.
The second project by Happy Stair was one month later at Chiu’s alma mater National Taichung Industrial High School. A group of 30, who are either current students or alumni, spent 30 days painting five staircases at the central Taiwan educational institution. One of the stairwells, located at the school’s stadium, reflects the purpose of the facility after it was adorned with images of sports like basketball.
Happy Stair enacted its third and most recent project this month at Kenting’s Eluanbi in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan. An image of surfers was painted by Chiu and Lu on the staircase of a residential building.
“Art should never be limited to galleries or schools in the cities,” Chiu said. “We want to involve all members of the public and make Taiwan an even more beautiful place.” (DF-JSM)
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