WEIWU MIMI STREET ART VILLAGE
Kaohsiung’s Lingya District is known for boldly embracing the arts. In addition to the futuristic National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), the district boasts Taiwan’s first street art village, Weiwu Mimi Village. This neighborhood has become a testament to the enchanting power of street art – walking through its alleys is like visiting an outdoor art museum. The area’s popularity has led the Lingya District Office to publish an online guide: Kaohsiung Lingya District Street Art Mural Map.
Since 2016, Lingya District has organized the annual Kaohsiung Street Art Festival. Every year the festival invites artists from around the globe to visit and continue enriching the cement walls and asphalt walkways of the neighborhood. Now featuring murals from 50 artists from 24 countries, the area is close to rivaling New York and Melbourne in the diversity and scale of its street art.
In addition to its aesthetic charm, Weiwu Mimi Village is also the product of a communal vision. The project resulted from a consensus between the District Office and residents to find a way to revitalize and beautify the neighborhood. In this sense, it has also strengthened ties between residents and the local government.
As a social space, Weiwu Mimi Village has given rise to many unique groups who have come here to share similar interests and ideas. Since its inception, it has attracted international visitors to enjoy the art and take photos. Residents, who have taken pride in hosting a permanent public art space, are not bothered by this behavior. In fact, they are more than likely to act as tour guides and introduce works in the vicinity of their homes.
Locals are particularly fond of a gentle-hued mural painted by an animal-loving Taiwanese artist. They feel the work, which uses animals and beautiful organisms to manifest human emotion, instills feelings of exceptional warmth. The older generation of residents feel enormous pride and admiration for the neighborhood’s transformation, and other residents of the area have expressed unanimous approval. As public art, murals inject art into everyday life. They beautify and liven the otherwise ubiquitous cement walls in densely populated urban areas for residents and visitors alike. Planning a visit to Lingya District is a great way to experience the unique warmth of Taiwan’s urban neighborhoods from a local perspective.
