The new MRT Luzhou Line (蘆洲線) went on-line in early November last year. The various stations, starting from the Taipei City center, are Zhongxiao Xinsheng, Songjiang Nanjing, Xingtian Temple, Zhongshan Elementary School, Minquan W. Rd., and Daqiaotou. From here the line moves into New Taipei City (新北市; formerly Taipei County), the stations along this section are Sanchong Elementary School, Sanhe Junior High School, St. Ignatius High School, Sanmin Senior High School, and Luzhou. Travel times have been dramatically shortened between Taipei and the New Taipei City communities of Luzhou (蘆洲) and Sanchong (三重). Another pleasant surprise is that commuters will see quite a few public art on display at the stations.
By way of example, Xingtian Temple Station and Daqiaotou Station strongly emphasize the strong cultural characters of their local neighborhoods in their public pieces, with bright and vivid symbolic imagery. You will never be mistaken by which station to get off.
According to the Taipei City Govt.'s Department of Rapid Transit Systems (臺北市政府捷 運局), Xingtian Temple (行天宮) is a renowned city cultural icon and thus it was decided that ceramic tiling would be used on the walls of the Xingtian Temple Station concourse level in a work entitled"Prosperity to the Country and Peace to Her People"(國泰民安), a classic expression long used as the theme in Taiwan temple-fair activities and requested in prayer to deities. The work features the colorful operatic facial masks used for the Eight Household Generals (八家將), who protect the community, various instruments used in temple-worship ceremonies, and the auspicious Flower Windows (花窗) used in temple architecture. This and other artwork gives this station a wonderfully cultured air while celebrating the deeply held religious beliefs of Taiwan's people.
Daqiaotou Station's public art is immersed in the history and character of the old surrounding community. There are four works on the walls of the concourse."The Starting"(出發點) symbolizes the local community of Dadaocheng's (大稻埕) role as the starting point for old Taipei, with the movement of many people through the local land weaving the area's deeply intertwined cultural fabric. It also symbolizes the new starting point for the people of Dadaocheng in this newly launched era of MRT access with the Daqiaotou Station."Stories of Objects"(物件故事) represents the collective memory of the local people for the tapestry of their history, with each article depicted telling a different story."Dance Again, River"(大河再舞) conveys the hopes of the local people that Dadaocheng, once a key commercial area but long on the wane, will flourish once again with the coming of the MRT. Finally,"The Cradle"(搖籃) features representations of a pregnant woman and her unborn child, symbolizing the nurturing role of the nearby Daqiao Elementary School (大橋國小) and the idea that this is a place of gestation for a caring culture.
Sanchong and Luzhou are located on immense sandbars that have formed along the Danshui River, and have long been a prime habitat for waterfowls. In keeping with this concept, the five MRT stations located in New Taipei City have "Images of Luzhou"(回 憶蘆洲) as their public art theme and"Egrets"(白鷺鷥) as their central image theme, with the artworks blended seamlessly with the station architecture. The five stations are the only ones in the MRT system with coordinated architectural design, and Luzhou Station the only facility with an open-air"courtyard"(天井) design. This station's individuality is further heightened by the dynamic large-scale work"Dancing Feathers"(舞之羽), done by American sculptor Ray King.
The many examples of artistic beauty spread along the MRT Luzhou Line makes this a platform for cultural creativity as well as one for transportation—so why not spend a day riding the rails on a unique "Luzhou Line public art day-tour !"
