Historic Lukang Town, Limited Edition Fine Art Print

Lukang was once one of the most important settlements in Taiwan. It was one of the main ports and it grew prosperous from foreign trade. After the residents rejected the railway, trade bypassed the town and Lukang slowly declined. This did mean however that much of the town was not modernized and it still has extensive traditional streets and many cultural landmarks.

I interviewed the writer Li Ang as part of the Writer's Island TV show and explored Lukang together with her. (You can see the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdGLTXdqy8E).  We talked a lot about her past and her memories growing up in the town. She is clearly fascinated by the town's layered history. I created a historic map of central Lukang specifically tailored for her. It's anchored by the temples she identified as most significant in her childhood. I chose to depict Lukang in a specific moment in time: the early 1970s. This era resonates more closely with how Lukang appeared during the time of many of Li Ang's books and includes landmarks now lost to modernization. It was also the earliest era with clear aerial photos. This map I hope serves as a bridge, connecting the vivid imagery in her writing with the real-world locations that have shaped her storytelling. I hoped that portraying the town as it was during her last permanent residency might also evoke some poignant memories for her. To create this map I relied on a blend of historic photographs and maps, complemented by my explorations of the present-day lanes, alleys, and temples.

Available as a limited edition art print (10 prints) 100 x 34 cm size