On December 9, the Taipei City Government’s Department for Youth hosted the "Youth Artist Exchange Program – Time Graffiti: Elegance of Ding Shuo Neighborhood" international graffiti art event. Belgian street artist ENOFone was invited to Taipei for a residency as part of this creative project. The event featured Commissioner Yin Wei of the Department for Youth, Wanhua District Director Hung Yu-Huai, and Ding Shuo Neighborhood Chief Wen Tsung-Lin, who joined residents to create graffiti. Using vibrant colors and innovative spray-painting techniques, they transformed aging walls and infused the neighborhood with new vitality.
Commissioner Yin Wei remarked that since the Department for Youth’s establishment in Zhongzheng District in June, the close administrative connection between Zhongzheng and Wanhua Districts has been significant. By inviting an international artist to create in Ding Shuo Neighborhood, the project seeks to give back to the community while introducing an international perspective and leaving behind a lasting artistic impression. Commissioner Yin also shared a personal story about proposing to his wife during a trip to Belgium, using a postcard featuring a painting of a man and a woman as part of the proposal. This successful moment deepened his appreciation for Belgium and affirmed his belief in the power of art to create unique, meaningful memories.
ENOFone’s artwork incorporated elements of Wanhua’s local history, including the old Wanhua train station, glass factories, and soap factories. Residents were invited to collaborate, bringing new life to historical memories through a modern artistic lens. Commissioner Yin further emphasized the department’s commitment to promoting exchanges between local communities and international artists. Future initiatives will include more workshops and collaborative projects, strengthening the connection between art and community while revitalizing public spaces with creativity and stories.
Ding Shuo Neighborhood Chief Wen Tsung-Lin expressed hope that the project would preserve the community’s historical memories by transforming them into vibrant graffiti artworks that tell Wanhua’s story. He noted that Ding Shuo Neighborhood was once home to toy factories, glass factories, soap factories, and soda factories. The aging walls are more than just structures—they are carriers of the city’s collective memory. To ensure authenticity, ENOFone conducted in-depth field research in Ding Shuo Neighborhood, collecting local historical and cultural data. His final creation reinterpreted the 1950s history of Wanhua, including the old train station, glass factory, and Mei Hua Soap Factory, using bold colors and intricate lines to bring the past to life.
To support the artwork’s creation, the Department for Youth collaborated with the local social enterprise "Youshi Social Innovation" to clean the walls and partnered with Wanhua's "Youxi Caring Association" for high-pressure cleaning. These efforts prepared a fresh canvas for the art while adding social value to the project, rejuvenating the alleyways and filling them with new energy.
The Department for Youth stated that the 2024 Youth Artist Exchange Program invited three young artists—Dutch artist FLEKS, Belgian artist ENOFone, and Spanish artist Orbita—for residencies in Taipei starting in December. These artists are engaging in field research within local communities and, alongside residents, creating graffiti art in Ding Shuo Neighborhood, Tianmu Baseball Stadium, and Taipei Zoo. Through their innovative works, they aim to inject fresh energy and cultural depth into Taipei’s urban landscape.
