[Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] The "Taiwan Lantern Festival" made a comeback to Taipei after 23 years. The Taipei City Government received financial assistance from the New Immigrants Development Fund to erect a "New Immigrants Lighting Zone" at the Lantern Festival. Director of National Immigration Agency (鐘景琨) and 10 members of the New Immigrants Development Fund went to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park on February 11th to appreciate the works jointly produced by new immigrants and Taiwanese nationals, including 7 groups' creations like "Here we are," "Hito Bito," and "Grow the Taipei Tastes."
Director of National Immigration Agency (鐘景琨) and the New Immigrants Development Fund members visited New Immigrants Lighting Zone.Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
Different from the past, this event specially invites new immigrants to participate in interaction, study camps and workshops for discussion and production. "Here we are" is created by artist Wen-Chih Wang, sharing with the new immigrants how they face the new environment. The concept of bamboo weaving symbolizes the challenges in life. New immigrants always resist all kinds of obstacles with firm determination. The power of social tolerance can always make people face it with peace of mind. Director of NIA (鐘景琨) signed the work and stated that behind the work, the creators want to convey to the Taiwanese people their recognition of this land, symbolizing different cultures and caring for each other.
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“Hito Bito” by Japanese new immigrant in Fount of Light Display Zone Photo provided by Taiwan Lantern Festival
The event specially arranges works to be pop-up shows at specific time and place, and other works in the Fount of Light Display Zone, such as "Under the Stars", " Grow the Taipei Tastes", "The River of Memory" and "Hito Bito", are integrated into the script story, By attending the performance, the public can learn about the culture of the new immigrants. The New Immigrants Development Fund members praised the program's content as being wonderful and eye-catching.
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Director of National Immigration Agency (鐘景琨) took a tour at New Immigrants Lighting Zone and signed on the work, "Here we are."Photo provided by National Immigration Agency
