Words and Images Creative Expo Taiwan 2025
Editing The Kanto team
“From the sea of clouds and foggy forests of Taiwan’s high mountains, through the warm springs and waterfalls of the foothills, to the streams and ocean waves along the coasts, Taiwan’s unique geography of flowing rivers and island terrain nurtures a rich and diverse cultural expression, forming a vibrant cultural ecosystem,” opens Creative Expo Taiwan 2025. “Through this exhibition, we hope visitors will not only see the close interconnection between Taiwan’s landscapes and cultural life but also feel the resilience and vitality that Taiwan’s culture has cultivated.”
Happening from August 2 to 11 at Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and the Nangang Exhibition Center with the theme “Water Scapes,” this year’s expo showcases the cultural ecosystem nurtured by Taiwan’s flowing rivers and island geography, reflecting the diverse, ever-present energy of culture as fluid and vital as water itself.
At the pre-expo press conference held last July 16, the curatorial team also introduced the annual theme, followed by presentations from the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, the Taiwan Creative Content Agency, and the Taiwan Character Brand Licensing Association, who shared their curatorial concepts and exhibition plans.
With over 630 participating brands from 10 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Poland, this year’s expo is the largest in three years, occupying more than 900 booths. The number of international exhibitors has doubled since last year, and more than 360 business matchmaking events are expected (both new records), establishing a platform for international exchange in the cultural industries.
Shaped by chief advisor and curator Jow-Jiun Gong and co-curators Ellen Peng and Blaire Ko, Water Scapes draws from Taiwan’s historical shifts and contemporary global reinterpretations of water. At the expo, a cultural creative journey tracing roots and co-creation is launched, with water serving as the guiding thread. The cultural curation section features creators from diverse fields: “The Island of Seascapes” by Sheng-Feng Lin of Atelier Or, “The Realm of Mist” by Ling-Li Tseng and Serendipity Studio, “The Spirit of Water” by Ya-Hsin Tseng and Chung-Yi Lin of hidden-domain studio, and “Taiwan as Endless Streams” by Frank Huang of Double Grass, with Grace Wang curating “Hi, Aqua Zone!” in the Creative Brand and IP Licensing pavilion.
Peng further explained that the exhibition uses “water” as the element that divides four major zones: “The Island of Seascapes,” which recalls maritime and fishing memories; “The Realm of Mist,” where foggy forests connect ecology and education; “The Spirit of Water,” exploring the spiritual connection between water and faith; and “Taiwan as Endless Streams,” featuring local flavors and 102 curated selections from all 22 counties and cities, including major cultural hubs like Zhounan Salt Field and Guangxing Paper Mill. Each zone combines sights, sounds, scents, and spatial installations to create an experience that is both sensory and intellectual, journeying through culture and land co-creation.
Ko added that to expand the exhibition experience, this year’s expo will feature over 50 live performances and interactive events with audiences, along with 10 themed forums spanning music, film, curation, branding, cross-sector collaboration, and tech culture. The co-curator also recommended two thoughtfully designed waterway reading tours and encouraged visitors to explore 15 participating shops, where purchases earn points redeemable for limited-edition merchandise.
At the “Daily Craft+” flash craft shop, the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute will showcase 70 Taiwanese craft brands. From material choices to creative spirit, these works bring craft into everyday life, placing sustainability, local culture, and practical aesthetics at the core.
Creative Brands and IP Licensing pavilion curator Grace Wang pointed out that this year’s brand exhibition theme, “Hi, Aquazone!” is inspired by seaside resorts, creating an open, lively, and exploratory creative platform. It expands into six sub-exhibitions: “Healing Lightwaves,” “The Sustainable Future,” “ Tides of Taiwan ,” “Seeds of Chaos,” “ The Anti-Burnout Club,” and “Glitched Gen-Z.” These highlight diverse issues in Taiwanese cultural creativity across life, aesthetics, and environment.
Finally, the brand exhibition zone also features the Taiwan Creative Content Agency’s “IPOP-UP: Where Taiwan’s IP Potential Comes to Life,” which focuses on IP commercialization and licensing models, showcasing 12 original Taiwanese IPs.
“Water Scapes” envisions culture as an ecosystem grown from the land and water,” Gong said. “In the four cultural exhibition zones, the planning integrates sensory experience, digital interaction, and immersive spatial design, inviting the public to rediscover Taiwan’s recent excellence in visual arts, animation, cultural heritage, film, and music brand content. Our only hope is that it will be an experience that bridges nature, life, and creativity.” •
