"Spring x Tsing Hua Arts Festival" Invites All to Create
2025.04.21
NTHU president W. John Kao (高為元) (front left) and Hsinchu City acting mayor Chen-Yuan Chiu (邱臣遠) (front right) opening the Spring x Tsing Hua Arts Festival.
The Spring x Tsing Hua Arts Festival was launched at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan, featuring over 30 concerts, a masquerade ball, and technology-driven art workshops. The NTHU Anniversary Concert was held at Taipei's National Concert Hall. The centerpiece, Bang Bang Tong, showcased over 200 metal buckets transformed into vibrant works of art by artists, students, and members of the public aged two and a half to 87.
NTHU president W. John Kao (高為元) said that the second Spring x Tsing Hua Arts Festival has expanded significantly, heralding a renaissance of arts at NTHU and fostering deeper connections with the Hsinchu community through shared artistic endeavors.
Hsinchu City Acting Mayor Chen-Yuan Chiu (邱臣遠) said that Hsinchu is renowned for its scientific and academic heritage, which is complemented by a vibrant cultural scene. “NTHU excels in nurturing talent in both science and the arts, and the Arts Festival injects cultural vitality into our city.”
The Spring Foundation, supporting NTHU's arts education since 2018, was represented at the opening ceremony by Katech R&D Chairman Chang-Ching Ho (何長慶), who said that the College of Arts already has a number of accomplished artists on its faculty, and that the Art Festival is a great way to showcase the work of both faculty and students.
Dean of the College of Arts Fang-Yu Chang (張芳宇) said that this year's festival extends to downtown Hsinchu and Taipei's National Concert Hall, in collaboration with the Hsinchu City Cultural Affairs Bureau. Events at venues like Wind Live House aim to engage broader audiences, allowing NTHU's artistic blossoms to flourish across a wider landscape.
Curated by veteran curator Su-Zhen Hsieh (謝素貞) , the Bang Bang Tong project uses square metal buckets (21 cm x 21 cm x 32 cm) as a versatile and accessible medium, encouraging participants from all walks of life to unleash their creativity.
The buckets are displayed like wind chimes at Wind Live House on Dongda Road, Hsinchu City. Each is accompanied by a card detailing its creator – ranging from NTHU teachers, students and staff to kindergarteners, city residents, and artists. For example, students from Jianshi Jiaxing Elementary School painted buckets to form an Atayal “rainbow bridge,” former NTHU president Lin-Juann Chen (陳力俊) crafted a “word waterfall” using excerpts from his writings, and Professor Ti-Yuan Huang (黃提源) created a piece capturing memories from NTHU.
Students from the NTHU Affiliated Experimental Elementary School and Dongmen Elementary School painted the outside of the buckets, and on the inside created various dioramas. One of these is a living room decorated with Hakka floral fabrics, replete with a dining table, furniture, vases, and food; another is an amazingly detailed diorama showing the woodland insects of Hsinchu and the coastal insects of Nanliao.
Artist Ming-Tse Lee (李明則) showcased his creativity by cutting a bucket in half and then reassembling it with wooden strips, offering a unique interpretation of the medium.
The NTHU Anniversary Concert, held on May 15 at Taipei's National Concert Hall for the first time, featured Russian conductor Vladimir Verbitsky leading the NTHU Orchestra in celebrated Russian compositions. Verbitsky has won the International Herbert von Karajan Conducting Competition, has been awarded the prestigious title People's Artist of the Russian Federation, and has collaborated with top orchestras around the world.
The festival also welcomed renowned violinists Nai-Yuan Hu (胡乃元) and Ching-Yi Wei (魏靖儀). Hu will perform in a concert on May 20, while Wei will lead three lectures and master classes, offering a spectacular experience for violin enthusiasts.
The Baroque Masquerade Ball, held on April 22 at the Hall of Fame, invited guests to don masks and immerse themselves in the elegance of 17th-century European court life. Japanese Baroque dancer Julie Iwasa (岩佐樹里) led dance instruction, accompanied by baroque music performed by Hsiu-Tzu Ryan (阮秀慈) on harpsichord and Chun-Yuan Yang (楊竣元) on double bass.
The festival also hosts pianist and scholar Boris Slutsky, who will lead four lectures and master classes. Slutsky is a distinguished professor at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and has earned the Best Audience Prize at the William Kapell International Piano Competition.
This year's festival includes music and technology workshops. The Workshop on Somatic Audiovisual, led by Ko-Chun Cheng (鄭各鈞) of Sonic Deadhorse, teaches participants to translate sound into visuals. The Generative Machine Learning Workshop, conducted by Hsiang-Feng Chuang (莊向峰) of Simple Noodle Art, explores AI-driven art creation. Additionally, Akiko Takeshita (竹下暁子), senior producer at the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media, and Mitsuru Tokisato (時里充), director of InterLab, will lead a master class on media technology and cross-disciplinary art.
Other activities include Artistic Blossoms: 2025 Faculty Exhibition at the College of Arts, NTHU, and the "Quirky Art Sale" Art Market featuring unique creations. Additionally, students from NTHU's Department of Music will stage flash-mob performances at venues like Mackay Memorial Hospital and Big City shopping center, delivering artistic healing and delightful surprises to the public.
The Spring x Tsing Hua Arts Festival is organized by NTHU's College of Arts, with guidance from the Hsinchu City Government and support from the Spring Foundation. All events are free, though some require advance registration. For details, contact (03) 571-5131 ext. 78811 or visit -https://art.nthu.edu.tw/?page_id=5707#gsc.tab=0
Distinguished guests at the Bang Bang Tong exhibition.
W. John Kao (高為元)(center), Chen-Yuan Chiu (邱臣遠)(right), and Chang-Ching Ho (何長慶)(left) at the opening ceremony.
W. John Kao (高為元) said that the Festival is helping to deepen the school's connection with the wider Hsinchu community.
Chen-Yuan Chiu (邱臣遠) highlights the festival's role in enriching Hsinchu's cultural vitality.
Chang-Ching Ho (何長慶) represents the Spring Foundation at the opening ceremony.
Over 200 unique entries are included in the Bang Bang Tong exhibition.
One of the amazingly detailed dioramas created by children for the Bang Bang Tong exhibition.
W. John Kao (高為元) said that the Festival is helping to deepen the school's connection with the wider Hsinchu community.
Former NTHU President Lin-Juann Chen's (陳力俊) Bang Bang Tong artwork features a “word waterfall” crafted from his writings.
NTHU Sustainability Officer Fu-Ren Lin (林福仁) (right) and retired colleagues view the Bang Bang Tong artworks.
The Bang Bang Tong exhibition transforms metal buckets into unique artworks, showcasing universal participation.
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