Have you seen this innate personality mini-game shared all over Instagram and other social media platforms recently? It is part of the promotional effort of the Taiwan government to promote the Taipei Design Expo 2023 to international audiences.

A while ago @arcgspy from the @hivephilippines community requested I to write a blog about the Taipei Design Expo if I ever had a chance to visit the event. Fortunately, I live near the area just a few train stations away, and enjoy visiting museums here in Taiwan. So, why not take the whole Hive community to this expo? Let's go!

In this blog, I am going to share the displays I saw during my visit to the Expo. I will also provide my own opinions and narratives about the themes and messages that the displays convey.

Taiwan Design Expo 2023

The "Taiwan Design Expo" started in 2003 and has become a top yearly design show in Taiwan. It's run by TDRI and teams up with different city governments each year. They focus on things like local lifestyle, culture, and special industries. They use design thinking to show what the present and future of local design and industries can be. They do this with interesting displays and activities, looking at both local and global design and industry topics.

For more detailed information about the annual expo, visit their website here

How to go to the New Taipei City Art Museum

The New Taipei City Art Museum never runs out of exhibitions. Therefore, you could always visit if you come to Taiwan!

To go there from Taipei Main Station, you can just simply ride the TRA (Taiwan Railway) going to Yingge. You can check the timetable here. Make sure to set the departure station as 1000-Taipei and the arrival station as 1070-Yingge.

Yingge District, New Taipei City

Yingge District, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is known as the "Pottery Town" due to its prolific ceramics industry. It houses numerous studios, shops, and museums, showcasing a wide range of pottery styles. Set against the scenic backdrop of the Dahan and Yingge Rivers, it's a must-visit for pottery enthusiasts.

Upon arrival at the Yingge Station, trust me you can't possibly get lost here. You will see signs that will lead you to the entrance of the museum. The entrance is in front of the rear side of the station. There is just a not-so-narrow street that was provided as a shortcut to the museum. Once you've seen it across the station, just go through it and you've arrived at the destination.

What to expect in the Taipei Design Expo?

The 2023 Taiwan Design Expo in New Taipei City promises a deep exploration of the theme "○ Up," encapsulating the essence of connection, surrounding, and invitation. With a human-centered approach, the expo will focus on the recurring symbol of "○," representing the circular cityscape and interconnected elements of New Taipei City. Through exhibitions, discussions, and creative showcases, visitors can expect to witness the dynamic fusion of design thinking with local dynamics, revealing the city's inclusiveness and forward-thinking spirit. This expo will offer a unique opportunity to experience the transformative power of collaborative design in shaping the future of New Taipei City.

Life in Circle: A Showcase of Taiwanese Youth Culture

Taiwan's youth culture is a vibrant and dynamic force that reflects the country's rich history and contemporary influences. It embodies a unique blend of tradition and modernity, innovation and preservation.

Taiwan's millennials grapple with a challenging reality, contending with soaring living expenses, stagnant incomes, and heightened job market competition. Even with university degrees in hand, they often find themselves financially strained, struggling to surpass the economic status of their parents' generation. In contrast to the prosperous job market of the 1980s, today's youth confront single-digit economic growth, sluggish wage increments, and the additional burdens of inflation and escalating housing costs.

As someone like me, a foreigner coexisting in this society, I have firsthand experience with this situation of financial hardship. I've met locals my age who moved to Taipei City in pursuit of higher salaries and more impressive job titles. However, in reality, it often turns out to be a constant pursuit of greatness that one can never truly attain. Some call this the Stuck Generation in Taiwan. It's like, after obtaining all the degrees in life, eventually, you'll encounter a barrier that will either stop you or slow you down in life.

This CNA Insider video narrates the real-life experiences of Taiwanese youth in recent times. This is a good watch!

Life in Circle: Low Key Living

This display is part of the Life in Circle theme of the expo and related to today's youth culture as discussed above. In my opinion, this lifestyle is what makes the Taiwanese youth's life meaningful and vibrant. In spite of being stuck in life, the youth finds a way to lay low and focus more on their passion.

In contrast, I must honestly commend Taiwanese people for their work ethic. I've found that most, if not all, individuals in the working class here are as dedicated to their work as can be seen in the working culture of Japan. It is again, in spite of being stuck in life.

Yet, if you observe them outside the workplace, you'll find they find meaning in life by cherishing the little things - be it nature, family, friends, or their own crafts.

Yingge Ceramics

Yingge, known as the "Pottery Town" of Taiwan, boasts a rich ceramics culture. This district in New Taipei City is renowned for its centuries-old tradition of producing exquisite pottery and ceramics. Visitors can explore numerous studios, shops, and museums, experiencing firsthand the craftsmanship and creativity that define Yingge's vibrant ceramics community.

This display shows how a ceramics artists' workshop looks. This is also part of the Low-key living theme of the expo. If you are somebody like me who lived long enough in Taiwan, you'll find many low-key independent artists who enjoy this kind of lifestyle.

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Modern Day Design

First and foremost, I must mention that the New Taipei City Art Museum is a work of art in its own right, featuring a modern and innovative design.

This part of the expo exhibits the modern design practice in Taiwan that is inspired by their satellite called Formosat.

Electric Bus	Ceramics made of recycled materials
Reimagined luggage made of recycled materials	3D printed chess pieces out of recycled materials

Electric Bus

Ceramics made of recycled materials

Reimagined luggage made of recycled materials

3D printed chess pieces out of recycled materials

This one is a chair made of again, recycled materials. And what interests me the most is that it made me remember the Tamago Chair from the Netflix Series Beef.

History

Of course, history is always displayed in museums. In this part of the expo, they showcased the diverse ethnic groups that arrived in Taiwan and became part of and contributed to their culture.

Ethnic groups

Old sewing machine

I honestly don't understand the descriptions in this exhibit as my current Chinese level is still low. But what I know is that there is a certain ethnicity that migrated to Taiwan in the past and until now exists in some areas of Taiwan. One of them is the Burmese immigrants from Myanmar.

In fact, there is a place in Taiwan known as "Little Burma," where a vibrant community of Burmese immigrants has settled. They contribute significantly to Taiwan's diversity and economy, despite facing language barriers. This enclave serves as a hub for cultural exchange and plays an essential role in Taiwan's workforce.

Luggage with old literature

Xiao Long Bao

Migration History

Outdoor Exhibits

The final exhibit I visited at the expo featured outdoor displays mounted on small trucks.

I don't really know how to interpret this display. There is a naked mannequin without a limb but has the hands of an adult. A big smile and a large painting of a brain.

Meanwhile, this truck shows the chronology of commercial vehicle development that I think particularly in Taiwan.

The tea on a closer look

Here is a display of fresh tea. It smells really good!

Taiwan is famous for its delicious teas. They make different kinds, like Tieguanyin and Dong Ding. People here take tea-making seriously, using special methods and paying close attention to details.

At first glance, I thought this was a display of an ombré printed cloth. But upon closer inspection, it revealed a surface-level depiction of the ocean with an island in the distance. The gentle movement of the cloth hanging in the air creates the illusion of waves.

And that's all for today's blog about the Taipei Design Expo 2023. I hope y'all like this museum tour blog! 😁

-krios

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See my other photo blogs here:

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