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Learning from Movies and Comics Together: KPL Presents Visual Journey with “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema”
Date:2024-12-27
:多元文化部
Students from the Chung-Hwa School of Arts attended the “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema” opening dressed as characters from various Taiwanese and Japanese comics. On the left stands the Vice Principal of the Chung-Hwa School of Arts.
Students from the Chung-Hwa School of Arts attended the “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema” opening dressed as characters from various Taiwanese and Japanese comics. On the left stands the Vice Principal of the Chung-Hwa School of Arts.
 Students from the Chung-Hwa School of Arts attended the “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema” opening dressed as characters from various Taiwanese and Japanese comics.
Students from the Chung-Hwa School of Arts attended the “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema” opening dressed as characters from various Taiwanese and Japanese comics.

【Reported from Kaohsiung】 “Comics” are carved into every person’s memories of their formative years. These works open portals to limitless imagination when immersed within the stories and illustrations framed in their panels. “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema” is a conjoined visual experience combining comics and animation. This year, the Kaohsiung Public Library (KPL) collaborates with Century Asia Cinemas at the Second Culture and Innovation Hall to launch an event encouraging participants to learn together by watching movies and reading comics. From December 22, 2024, to January 4, 2025, citizens who borrow 10 books from the Kaohsiung Main Public Library will receive limited-time-only gifts like Coca-Cola and popcorn or movie ticket vouchers.

 

Held during the 2024 Kaohsiung Reading Festival, the “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition” was so well-received that even comic enthusiasts from central and northern Taiwan rushed to Kaohsiung to attend the exhibition. Strolling around the venue for half a day would give visitors enough time to browse the works of more than 70 Taiwanese comic artists. The exhibition will run until the end of March 2025. To create visual experiences by combining comics and animation, KPL also launched the “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema,” encouraging citizens to learn from movies and comics.

 

KPL Director Chin-Yang Lee emphasized the importance of cultural flow in nourishing Taiwan and opening the doors to more possible developments for Taiwanese comics. With a total of 126 selected works of 77 authors from different generations displayed at the event’s venue, “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition” is centered around four main themes, namely “Exploration of Memories,” “Luscious Greenery,” “Lifelong Companionship,” and “Developing Fanzines.” Director Lee sincerely invited citizens to the exhibition, where they would discover the conversations and imagination these works can spark among their readers.

 

A prime example of such work is Son of Formosa by Jianxin Zhou. This work delves into the history left unwritten in school textbooks, breathing life and charm into Taiwanese history to life through narratives and illustrations. Another example is Guangmin Ruan’s Tong-Hua-Chun Barbershop, which takes readers on a journey through Taiwan's local lives and cultures. The work encapsulates the varying shades of humanity and emotions, enabling readers to experience the beauty of Taiwan. Monday Recover’s work with screenwriter Hsiao-Yue Wu, titled Have I Found You? is another fantastic work. The comic celebrates the vitality of lives, adapting literature, stage performances, and music through a combination of written texts and illustrations that capture the minds of its readers. Last but not least is Play in the Rift by Yao-Ching Tseng. Created and published in fanzine, a type of comic rarely seen in the Taiwanese comic industry, Tseng’s Play in the Rift is a unique work filled to the brim with courageous and upfront creativity.

 

Vice Principal Rong-Siang Wu of the Chung-Hwa School of Arts took his students to attend the opening of “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema.” The students arrived meticulously dressed as characters from various Taiwanese and Japanese comics, instantly transforming the venue into a completely different reality.  

 

Jia-Ming Cai, special assistant to the Chairman of J.D. Construction Group, expressed his joy at the chance to participate in the “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema.” Aside from allowing him to learn more about the comic book culture and trends in both Taiwan and Japan, the event provided him with the opportunity to invite the students of Kaohsiung’s Chung-Hwa School of Arts, renowned for their lively and energetic stage performances, to watch and learn from watching movies together. Special Assistant Cai expressed his fondness for comics and animation, remarking on the tendency to immerse himself in the limitless imagination the stories offer. In addition, the event also allowed him a glimpse into libraries’ potential for curation and event organization. He was pleasantly surprised to realize that libraries are not simply places where one reads or studies for exams but can also become venues to host various exhibitions. Special Assistant Cai encouraged his colleagues to visit the libraries in Kaohsiung City and enrich their understanding of art and literature.

 

According to Century Asia Cinemas’ Marketing Director Fei Bai, this year’s “Joyful Youth Cinema” animation exhibition features a selection of beloved classic Japanese animated films with tickets sold at only 150 NTD. These animated films include Hula Fulla Dance, Your Name, Perfect Blue (Remastered), The Summer, Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise (Remastered), as well as Genius Party and Genius Party Beyond, all of which are popular works that have touched the hearts of countless animation fans. This year, the “Joyful Youth Cinema” is held in collaboration with KPL’s “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition,” a decision that has enriched the event’s depth, expanded its reach, and fulfilled the needs of different audience groups.

 

The “Taiwan Comic Books Exhibition X Joyful Youth Cinema” warmly welcomes participation from comic and animation enthusiasts. Details regarding the events have been posted on the official websites of KPL and Century Asia Cinemas. Citizens may also consult the service counters at KPL or Century Asia Cinemas for information about the conjoined events.

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Updated2025-01-06 PM 01:36:09
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