28 November 2011
Street Art
Much more than graffiti, in Taiwan the city walls are daubed with so much artistic flavour, you can’t walk down a street without seeing thought-provoking and contemporary art murals. We wanted to pick out the hottest spots for Taiwan street art, as well as some of the biggest painters that ply their trade on the streets.
THE ARTISTS…
COLASA
The stencil master, no one can hold a spray can like this man. His often black and white drawings may appear sinister at first but they show how beauty can shine through even without colour. One of the most prolific street artists in all of Taiwan, you can’t walk the alleys of Taipei without stumbling upon a Colasa classic…or a pristine imitation by one of his followers.
BBROTHER
A very political artist, BBrother’s street art is instantly recognisable with his pencil sketch-like style, created using, amongst other things, school-issue crayons. He regularly pushes the boundaries of street art, engaging his passing audience with often disturbing or unsettling images.
SPOOZ
Bigger is better for Spooz, whose preference for big urban canvases, such as tunnels, allows him scope for a truly stunning piece of art. Not afraid of dropping in some technically difficult graphics and epic landscapes, Spooz’s work stretches through all of Asia.
WHERE YOU’LL FIND THEM…
TAIPEI
Taiwan’s capital and urban centre is always a good place to see street art flourish. Ximending neighbourhood is plastered wall to wall with vibrant and youthful art. You can even head to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum for a huge mural painting by BBrother.
KAOHSIUNG
The downtown area of this city can be a little grimy in places, but from there springs the colour and vibrancy of the street art. Rooftops are prime targets for artists looking for a big canvas to work on and otherwise sticker art is big – you’ll see quirky stickers and messages covering walls in this part of town.
TAICHUNG
The alternative city, along the highways, streets and alleyways of Taichung, you’ll find animation and street art. Much more underground in style, street art here is more colourful, more ridiculous and more random than anywhere else. This is the raw edge of Taiwan’s street art scene.
