把台北變成西班牙的街頭藝術
過去十年來，台北市的街頭越來越有美感！今年二月開始的「2009台北奔牛節」，將107隻彩繪牛分布在台北十三處最為著名的觀光景點，從台北市立動物園到故宮博物院，從西門町到信義商圈，這些色彩繽紛的公共藝術品不但美化都市、為台北增添藝術氣息，走在路上的行人還以為自己身在美術館裡！
奔牛節今年邁入第十年，而2009年正巧是中國生肖中的牛年，這個國際性的公共藝術活動非常多元，秉持藝術品不分專業或是業餘，人人都可嘗試藝術創作，縮短市井小民與藝術品之間的距離，這也代表只要你的創意夠好，你也是個藝術家。
小檔案/ Profile
2009台北奔牛節/Cowparade Taipei 2009
展出時間/城市 /Exhibition Date/City：台北/Taipei 2-4月/February-April; 台中/Taichung 5-6月/May-June; 高雄/Kaohsiung 7-8月/July-August
官方網站/Official Website http://www.cowparade-taipei.com/cowparade
而台灣的街頭藝術早在數年前，從公共藝術發展到個人創意，由台灣各地興起的創意市集可見風行的程度，校園到社區，藝術節到演唱會，從數百人至上千人參觀的創意市集林立。不過，有些創作藝術家覺得與其這樣四處打游擊戰，老是在人擠人的藝術市集流竄，不如改變策略，找個長期固定的陳設店面，讓消費者可以輕鬆上門挑選創意商品，提供更舒適寬敞的購物空間。目前台灣的創意市集太多，大半有店面或個人工作室的較具規模，作品也有一定水準。透過台灣藝術市集協會的推薦，接下來一一為大家介紹有特色且實用性高的創意品牌。
媽媽的巧思手藝成為獨一無二的時尚精品
妞妞和香香這對姐妹花，以前在擺地攤賣女裝和飾品，當創意市集崛起，她們慫恿原本從事成衣工廠的母親製作手工內衣肩帶﹙190元﹚，以繽紛的色彩顛覆一成不變的傳統肩帶。業績蒸蒸日上的同時，母親開發第二樣創意商品，以輕巧的沙發皮製作肩背包﹙小1,680元/大1,980元﹚，這款手工包一推出就受到熱烈歡迎，連常出現在電視上的名模也來搶購，因為這只肩背包具有名牌包的樣式，價格卻不到名牌包的十分之一，輕盈的材質背在肩上更是零負擔！你可以挑選自己喜歡的顏色訂製肩背包，建議個子高大的女孩子選擇大尺寸，因為這樣背起來更顯得身材的修長！
半年之內，Yellow 手工商品成立兩個據點販售自家創意商品，而原本只是姐妹花和母親經營的創意商品已經拓展到連父親和表哥也一起投入，成為創意家庭事業。最近陸續推出的零錢包、手機套、化粧包和女用背包，也都可以自行挑選花色訂做，永遠不怕撞包！
小檔案/ Profile
Yellow 手工商品/Yellow Family
忠孝東路四段181巷6-3號﹙國際精品館﹚; (02)8773-9468
6-3, Lane 181, ZhongXiao E. Rd Sec.4
營業時間/Hours：2-11 pm
部落格/Blog http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/beautycreatress
六個好朋友一同創作手工藝術的夢想發源地
去年12月初，六個年輕設計師一起開創7=1，他們原本在創意市集都是個體戶，熟識之後有了共同經營實體店面的想法，一是覺得團結力量大，開闢創意市集以外的客源，二來過去擺攤被警察趕也累了。當初設定七人一起開店，因此店名為7=1，因故一人中途退出，但是店名已決定便不再更改，也許將來還會有志同道合的創意達人加入。
採訪當天一走進7=1，只見大囍堂的林詩昌在整理衣服，iamsefs的Eileen 在開放工作台縫製手工包包，而Daladdda的達達就坐在一旁聊天。問他們是否天天都在店裡，林詩昌笑說：「我們大多數時間在店裡，不然就是在前往各地創意市集的路上。」
當年在學校唸劇場服裝，林詩昌以客家花布做純手工T恤﹙花布款590元/雙囍字690元﹚、背心﹙花布款590元/雙囍字690元﹚，不分男女，只分尺寸，他連續兩年在紅樓市集擺攤，已經有穩定的客戶群。他的服裝色系從原先的黑白發展到最近的鮮艷色彩，在包裝上也力求改進，甚至貼心的附上洗滌方式，讓客人放心的買衣服、洗衣服。
當了五年上班族的Eileen，憑著一雙巧手和對顏色的敏銳度，以YKK的拉鍊做五彩繽紛的筆袋、化妝包、零錢包、環保筷包等等，最熱銷的是多功能包，如手機袋有專門放電池和悠遊卡的空間，下次手機沒電，再也不怕找不到電池，悠遊卡隨時拿得到，進出捷運站也不會手忙腳亂。Eileen說：「非常歡迎客人以自己喜歡的顏色做手工包，最好能告訴我包包的用途，這樣我才能設計出多功能的用途和方便使用的包。」
Daladdda的達達進入創意手工商品這一行是個意外，完全是因為林詩昌和Eileen的鼓勵，她說自己拼湊組合的手環和項鍊﹙290-590元﹚像是裝置藝術，常跑學校市集的她發現學生對於她的創意商品接受度很高，因此她無心插柳而推出的象棋手機吊飾﹙150元﹚仍在熱銷中！
其實之前介紹的Yellow 手工商品的第一個實體店面就是在7=1，而這裡還有瘋狂馬力和Lazy 20創意品牌等著你來探索！
小檔案/ Profile
7=1/seven EQUAL one
大安路一段31巷15號；(02)2711-6460
15, Lane 31, DaAn Rd, Sec.1
營業時間/Hours：1-10 pm
部落格/Blog http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/seven_equal_one
躲在搖滾音樂一角的創意空間
原創好物是個設計公司，同時也提供創意商品的通路，種類之多有如百貨公司，大多數商品都是在網站上販售，但是把一部分商品放在店面銷售，而這個商店就在The Wall-這牆音樂藝文展演空間的入口處旁邊，小小的空間囊括十多個創意品牌商品，也寄賣在The Wall演出的樂團T恤，不少粉絲在看完表演後，立即衝進原創好物買T恤，以示自己對心愛樂團的支持！
陳列的品牌中最為知名的是Foufou，是一隻手繪的兔子，有各式各樣的表情；這個品牌在2005年底由一群業餘的年輕人成立，品牌名稱Foufou源自法文，指的是瘋瘋癲癲的人們。因此Foufou的設計帶點黑色幽默，但又不失俏皮可愛的特色，讓消費者在生活無聊時，看到Foufou不禁會心一笑。最新推出的Foufou第二代票夾﹙250元﹚，圖案是個自殘的兔子，張牙裂嘴的表情很逗趣，平時可以當公司識別證夾、悠遊卡夾，出國旅遊還可以當行李吊牌！
Dr. Evil也是一個充滿黑色幽默的圖像創作品牌，顛覆大家心目中形象高尚、善良的童話故事人物，例如白雲公主，就被畫成帶點龐克風的壞心眼公主；大人小孩都愛的知名速食店招牌人物﹙暗示：xxx叔叔﹚畫成壞壞的邪惡叔叔，做成麥當當筆記本﹙100元﹚，每本手工裝訂，小小的一本方便隨身攜帶，可以塗鴉也可以作筆記，內頁用完，記得拆下書皮當酷卡。
不知道是否因為位在The Wall的商店街裡，原創好物的創意品牌都帶著反骨的精神！下次當你來The Wall支持台灣搖滾文化時，記得到原創好物逛逛！
小檔案/ Profile
原創好物/Art4pcom Shop
羅斯福路四段200號B1；(02)2711-0319 #146
200, Roosevelt Rd, Sec.4, B1
營業時間/Hours：5-10 pm﹙週一公休/closed on Mondays﹚
部落格/Blog www.art4p.com
四位專業設計師共創發揚台灣精神的創意品牌
因中華平面設計協會而互相認識的四位設計師各有自己的設計公司，吳松洲、楊佳璋、蔣麗女勻和陳進東把旗下的四個設計公司創意品牌成立一個新品牌MOART-「More」加「Art」加「默」等於「黑犬」，他們認為台灣的創意精神在於「無聲勝有聲」，而具有活力且忠心的台灣黑狗是精神象徵。他們的品牌座右銘是「設計是一種生活態度」。
吳松洲從中正紀念堂得到的靈感，創立蔣堂，專門設計代表台灣的精緻禮品，主攻國外觀光客，如原本外銷日本的富貴碗組﹙3,880元﹚，男女造型的瓷碗藏著富與貴的字在碗底，表示男富女貴，這是非常喜氣也代表中華文化的贈禮。老子曰花茶﹙500元﹚是外銷到歐洲，目前在法國知名老佛爺百貨公司販售的台灣茶葉，包括鐵觀音和金寶烏龍。
楊佳璋於2007年自創D.Yang品牌，以中國水墨呈現非常西方的建築物—目前世界最高建築物—紐約帝國大廈、吉隆坡雙子星塔和台北101大樓，再將畫作印刷在畫布上﹙單購一幅1,600元/4,200合購三幅﹚。氣魄原民和小米娃，兩個代表台灣原住民文化的創意品牌來自蔣麗女勻的設計公司，有代表各自文化的項鍊、筆記本和馬克杯。陳進東的瑜珈小子，將瑜珈的12個基本動作運用在創意商品，詢問度最高的是滑板﹙950元﹚和衝浪板﹙8,500元﹚，以白色和橘色組合的瑜珈小子非常醒目！
MOART今年二月底開幕，固定陳設的四大品牌代表四位專業設計師的創意，品項會陸續增加。而這些優質設計商品不僅是台灣的創意文化，也可以送給外國友人作紀念。旅居台灣的外籍人士下次要返鄉過節時，也可以到此參觀，挑選適合的禮物送給家鄉的友人，讓他們了解屬於你的第二個家的特有文化！
小檔案/ Profile
黑犬/MOART
成都路10號﹙西門紅樓16工坊﹚；(02)2312-1189
10, ChengDu Rd ﹙XiMen Red House Studio #16﹚
營業時間/Hours：2-9:30 pm﹙週一公休/closed on Mondays﹚
支持原創商品，讓台灣的創意文化源源不絕
在台北隨處可見的公共藝術拉近了我們與藝術之間的距離，每逢週末各大創意市集人潮洶湧，顯示這些美化生活的創意設計是平易近人的。以上介紹的創意工作室的背景大不相同，有因媽媽的巧奪天工而開創家庭創意事業，有年輕充滿抱負的年輕人共同築夢，有音樂與設計結合的創意空間，也有專業設計師將台灣文化的創意商品推銷到國際舞台，他們都代表台灣的創意文化。近來流行山寨版商品，這對於創意工作者是一大打擊，希望大家尊重於著作權，刺激台灣的創意文化繼續蓬勃發展，讓更多設計師可以出國比賽、為國爭光，讓世界知道台灣不是只有電子產業！
Street Public Art Turning Taipei into Spain
In the last 10 years the landscapes of Taipei have become more and more beautiful as time goes by. The past February “CowParade Taipei 2009” decorated the city with 107 cows in 13 most popular tourist attractions, from Taipei Zoo to National Palace Museum, Ximending to Xinyi Shopping District. These colorful public art works not only beautified the city of Taipei and provided artistic expression to it but also turned it into a giant art museum!
This year marks the 10th anniversary for CowParade. And 2009 also happens to be the year of Ox in Chinese Zodiac. This international public art festival is very diverse and encourages professional and amateur artists to create artwork. It goes to show that everyone can create artwork and shortens the distance between everyday people and artworks. In other words anyone can be an artist as long as he has creativity.
小檔案/ Profile
2009台北奔牛節/Cowparade Taipei 2009
展出時間/城市 /Exhibition Date/City：台北/Taipei 2-4月/February-April; 台中/Taichung 5-6月/May-June; 高雄/Kaohsiung 7-8月/July-August
官方網站/Official Website http://www.cowparade-taipei.com/cowparade
For several years now Street art in Taiwan has evolved and gone from public art to individual creative art. Street fairs sprang up all over Taiwan, from schools to communities, from art festivals to outdoor concerts. The number of attendees can range from a few hundred people to over 1,000. Going to street fairs has become increasingly popular and a new pastime in Taiwan. However, some street artists are tired of moving from one street fair to another like Nomads and decide to find a permanent location to set up a shop for their creative products. That way the customers will know where to find them and be able to shop in a comfortable and spacious environment. Currently there are too many street fairs in Taiwan. For those creative designers who can afford to open up their own studios or shops their design products are likely to be better quality. Therefore we’ll introduce a series of unique lifestyle brands. Our special thanks to Art and Lifestyle Association of Taiwan for assisting us during our search for innovative designers.
Mom’s Seamstress Skills Create One & Only Chic Fashionable Accessories
Big Yellow and Yellow are sisters. In their younger days they worked as street venders selling women’s clothing and accessories. When street fairs first sprang up they encouraged their mother, a former seamstress who used to work in a garment factory, to sew handmade bra straps﹙NT$190﹚by using colorful fabric to replace the ordinary traditional looking bra straps. While their business boomed they introduced their second product-women’s shoulder bag﹙small NT$1,680/large NT$1,980﹚made of artificial sofa leather. It was an overnight sensation because it possesses the style of the luxurious handbag at a fraction of the price. It’s such a hot item that even celebrity modals try to get their hands on it! The material is also lightweight and you won’t feel it on your shoulder while carrying it. You can choose your favorite color to make a bag. If you’re considered tall buy a large one, it will make you look slander!
Within six months Yellow Family set up two retail locations to promote their products. Originally just the two sisters and their mother were in the business together. Soon enough their cousin and their father also joined the family business. Their newest collection includes coin purse, cell phone case, makeup bag and women’s handbag. For all of the above you can chose your favorite patterns and colors to make a bag. You will never have to worry about running into someone with the same bag!
小檔案/ Profile
Yellow 手工商品/Yellow Family
忠孝東路四段181巷6-3號﹙國際精品館﹚; (02)8773-9468
6-3, Lane 181, ZhongXiao E. Rd Sec.4﹙International boutique mall﹚
營業時間/Hours：2-11 pm
部落格/Blog http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/beautycreatress
Six Good Friends Together Build A Dreamland Of Handmade Artworks
Six young designers met in street fairs and became close friends. They had one common goal-to collaborate in a retail store. The reasons are simple: 1. there is power in numbers and together they can appeal to a broad spectrum of clients; 2. they’re simply tired of being chased by the police. Last December they opened 7=1 and even though one of the seven designers got cold feet and backed out at the last minute. They insist on keeping the name, hoping that someday the 7th designer will come along and join 7=1.
On the day of the interview Mr. Lin Shi-chang who created Da Xi Tang was organizing clothes on the shelf, Eileen who set up iamsefs was sewing handmade bags at the open work station while Dada who’s in charge of Daladdda sat against the wall and chitchatted with them. When asked whether they spend everyday in the shop, Mr. Lin Shi-chang replied with a smile, “We’re always here. If not we’re on the way to street fairs somewhere.”
Lin Shi-chang majored in costume design when he was in school. Now he creates handmade T-shirts with Hakka floral pattern fabric﹙floral pattern NT$590/Double happiness characters NT$690﹚as well as tank tops﹙floral pattern NT$590/Double happiness characters NT$690﹚. His clothing is unisex and does come in small, medium and large sizes. For two years in a row he was a regular at the Red House Market selling his design and already had steady following. Originally his clothing was mainly in black and white and lately he’s crossed over to vibrant colors. In addition he works on improving the packaging by enclosing wash care instructions so that customers won’t have to worry about discoloration.
Eileen spent five years working as a 9 to 5 office worker. Her craftsmanship and high sensitivity with colors have turned YKK zippers to colorful pen bags, makeup bag, coin pouch, reusable chopsticks bags and more. The most hot-selling item is the multi-functioned bag, such as cell phone bag that comes with a pocket for battery and another pocket for EasyCard. Next time when your mobile is out of battery you won’t have to search everywhere looking for it. With quick access to EasyCard you can go in and out of MRT stations without looking for it. Eileen says, “Customers are welcome to come in and choose their favorite colors to make a bag. It’s best if they can specify what they will use the bag for and then I can design a multi-functioned and easy to use bag accordingly.”
It is purely accidental that Dada is now in the creative design business. With encouragement from Lin Shi-chang and Eileen she started Daladdda-a handmade jewelry brand. Dada calls her designs of necklaces and bracelets﹙ranging from NT$290 to NT$590﹚ “installation art” because she simply assembles different pieces together. She often goes to school markets and discovers that students are prone to favor her line of creative products. She randomly came up with a collection of Chinese Chess cell phone accessories ﹙NT$150 each﹚and now it’s selling like hot cakes!
In 7=1 there are three other creative brands-Lazy 20, Crazy Horsepower and Yellow Family. In fact this is the first retail location Yellow Family established before having a boutique store only for their designs.
小檔案/ Profile
7=1/seven EQUAL one
大安路一段31巷15號；(02)2711-6460
15, Lane 31, DaAn Rd, Sec.1
營業時間/Hours：1-10 pm
部落格/Blog http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/seven_equal_one
Creative Space Hidden In Rock & Roll Hall
Art4pcom is a design company that provides retail channels for design products. The majority of the products are sold online and their website is like a virtual department store. In addition to online shopping there’s also an Art4pcom shop right next to the entrance to The Wall Live House. You’ll find more than 10 different design brands and T-shirts featuring rock bands that regularly perform at The Wall. Some music fans often rush into Art4pcom shop to look for T-shirts from their favorite bands to show their support!
In Art4pcom shop the most well known design brand is Foufou-a hand sketch rabbit with all kinds of facial expressions. This brand was founded in 2005 by a group of young amateur artists and the name Foufou is originated from a French word, meaning crazy people. Foufou’s design is cute and adorable with some dark humor. The mission of this brand is to offer people some light-hearted humor and make everyday life less boring. The latest innovative product from Foufou-the new & improved ID holder﹙NT$250﹚comes with a self-stabbing rabbit and its roaring look is amusing. This ID holder can be used to keep your company identification and EasyCard and you can also use it as a luggage tag when you travel abroad.
Dr. Evil is another dark-humor design brand. It aims to transform the good and noble fairytale characters into someone slightly evil. Dr. Evil has turned Snow White into an ill intentioned rocker style princess and Uncle D. from a well known fast food chain into a villain. Handmade Uncle D. villain notebook﹙NT$100﹚can be used as a sketch book or a pocket book when you need to jot something down quickly. When you run out of pages be sure to tear off the notebook cover and send it off as a postcard.
It seems like most of the design brands at Art4pcom shop are rebellious by nature. We wonder if it’s because the shop is adjacent to a rock and roll live house. Next time when you go to The Wall to show your support for the Taiwanese rock and roll music, please feel free to stop by Art4pcom shop to browse through some unique brands.
小檔案/ Profile
原創好物/Art4pcom Shop
羅斯福路四段200號B1；(02)2711-0319 #146
200, Roosevelt Rd, Sec.4, B1
營業時間/Hours：5-10 pm﹙週一公休/closed on Mondays﹚
部落格/Blog www.art4p.com
Four Professional Designers Launched Creative Brands That Represent
Taiwan Spirit
By joining Taiwan Graphic Design Association four well-established designers became friends. Ajue Wu, Martin Yang, Grace Shih and James Chen each run their own designing firms as their day job. Together they form a new brand MOART-“More” + “Art” + Chinese character “Mo”﹙means silence﹚=”HeiGou”﹙means black dog﹚. This brand’s mission statement is defined by the characteristics of energetic and loyal Taiwanese black dog and to them the true Taiwanese creative force comes from silence that speaks louder than words. Their slogan is design is a living attitude.
Ajue Wu was inspired by Chiang KaiShek Memorial Hall and created “Chiang’s Talk”. The brand specializes in exquisite gift designs that can best represent Taiwan and caters to foreign tourists. “FuGui Tea Cup Set”﹙NT$3,880﹚, a china set exported to Japan, is a delightful present that signifies Chinese traditional culture. The cups are designed to be shaped like a male and a female and each is imprinted with a Chinese character on the bottom. The male cup is written “Fu” which means wealth and “Gui” on the female cup signifies precious goods. “LaoZi Says Green Tea”﹙NT$500﹚is an export to Europe and currently is on sale at the famous Lafayette Department Store in France. It contains Taiwanese green tea, including TieGuanYin and JinBao Oolong.
Martin Yang established the brand D.Yang in 2007. He used Chinese ink and wash painting to portray three of the tallest buildings-Empire Building in New York, The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Taipei 101 Building. He then transformed the paintings onto canvas ﹙NT$1,600 for one painting/NT$4,200 for all three﹚. Grace Shih introduces “uGuts” and “Show Me Wa”-two Taiwanese aboriginal brands and they incorporate aboriginal symbols onto necklaces, notebooks and coffee mugs. James Chen brings in “Yoga bobo” and this brand utilizes the basic 12 poses from yoga to design products. The most inquired-about products are skateboard﹙NT$950﹚and surfboard﹙NT$8,500﹚. Yoga bobo, dressed in white and bright orange, is any eye-catching symbol!
MOART was opened in late February, featuring 4 major design brands on display. These products represent the creativity of the four partners and gradually more products will be added to the shelves. These quality design products are not only Taiwanese creative cultures but also ideal souvenirs for foreign friends. For foreigners who currently reside in Taiwan these are perfect gift ideas. Before your next trip home you can come to MOART and shop for presents to give to your friends and family so that they’ll have a better understanding of your home away from home.
小檔案/ Profile
黑犬/MOART
成都路10號﹙西門紅樓16工坊﹚；(02)2312-1189
10, ChengDu Rd ﹙XiMen Red House Studio #16﹚
營業時間/Hours：2-9:30 pm﹙週一公休/closed on Mondays﹚
Support Original Designs and Cultivate Creative Cultures in Taiwan
In Taipei the readily available public art has shortened the distance between everyday people and fine art. As weekend street fairs become popular and often crowded it shows that creative designs that beautify our lives are easily accessible. We’ve guided you through a wide range of various design studios with different backgrounds. One has formed a family business thanks to Mom’s seamstress skills. One is a promising group project consist of ambitious young designers. There’s also a creative space combining music and design into one and professional designers who aim to take design products inspired by Taiwanese cultures to the world. Each and every one of them represents Taiwan creative art. Lately the street fairs are filled with counterfeit products and that has hard hit the designers. This infringement has violated copyright and will not stimulate the creative design industry. Please support original designs so that more and more Taiwan designers can participate in international competitions and show their talents abroad. The world will know that there is a lot more to Taiwan than just the high-tech industry!
