Community revamps – the current situation in Taiwan’s mural villages

Following the success of Taichung’s Rainbow Village (彩虹眷村) in 2008, many communities tried to follow suit and revamp the old appearance of their villages through the use of murals. This was particularly so in the south of Taiwan, where many communities took on a whole new look thanks to colorful street art which attracted throngs of tourists.

When it comes to murals, the sky is the limit, and each village has its own distinctive style. Mural artists integrate local characteristics with their own style to produce stunning street art. But perhaps more than just attracting tourists, the murals in villages can preserve local history and build community cohesiveness, helping to promote the local area.

The emergence of murals means that today street art can be seen in communities throughout Taiwan. However, the problem that many such communities face is how to maintain this trend in the long-term. In a rapidly changing society, only by continually embracing innovation and change are we able to continue displaying the unique flavor and style of diverse communities.

以下為中文對照

社區新樣貌　彩繪村現況

在2008年繪製並成功引起話題的彩虹眷村，讓許多社區紛紛效仿，想藉由彩繪村的形式改善村莊老舊樣貌，其中尤以南部地區更為興盛。各社區開始興建各類型的彩繪村，然而興建彩繪村的最大原因是否為吸引觀光人潮，各界看法不同。

彩繪村的圖案不受限，每個彩繪村都有著自己的風格，畫師將創意融入到當地特色中，將牆壁繪製成一面面美麗的作品。彩繪村的功能多元，除了吸引觀光人潮外，更多的是保存在地的故事，以及與社區產生連結進而推廣當地。