Inspired by Taiwan

Just got back from a two week trip to Taiwan, and refusing to let jet-lag get the best of me. On this trip, Scott got to meet the rest of my family and to see where I grew up - literally, we stopped in front of the apartment where we lived when I was about 6. (top floor, on the left)

 

 

(my mom, me, Scott, Po-po (my grandmother), Su-gong (my grandfather's brother),

Sen-po (Su-gong's wife), and their friend whose name I've forgotten;

not pictured are my uncle and aunt, my cousins, and their kids)

I've been inspired by so much we saw there - many things that I remember from when I was a kid, but seeing them in a whole new light now.

 

(at the aboriginal settlement in Wulai)

 

 

(Longshan Temple)

 

(Shilin Night Market) 

 

(view from the top floor of the Sogo department store)

I also had a chance to visit Ri Xing Type Foundry, sadly Taiwan's last remaining type foundry.

 

Of course, no trip is complete without stopping by the bookstore, where I found a book of ancient Chinese myths and short fictions, full of fascinating and curious tales about war heroes, philosophers, ghosts, and gods. With these stories and images from the trip swimming in my head, I'm so motivated to translate some of it into my artwork! 

These photos, and many more, were mostly taken by Scott. Here's the full photo-documentation of our trip: