French Mural Artist Brightens the Walls of Aboriginal Tribes in Taiwan
What you need to know
International mural artist, Julien Malland Seth, has brought his unique style to Taiwan and reinterpreted the island's beauty and culture. The artist says the most exceptional thing he has experienced in these past few days is being surrounded by passionate people.
International mural artist, Julien “Seth" Malland, has brought his unique style to Taiwan and reinterpreted the island’s beauty and culture. He hopes to inspire creativity and hope in children through colors and art.
Starting from 2015, the “Color, Way of Love" program, promoted by the Nipsea Group, has expanded to Asian countries. The program emphasizes that people have different skin colors and religious beliefs, and hopes that each child has the chance to enjoy color, love and joy. The program wishes to use colors to inspire children to hope for a better future and motivate them to explore and create their lives.
Photo Credit：Color, Way of Love
China Times reports, Malland started touring the four major continents in 2003. His works can be seen in more than ten countries, including Argentina, Cambodia, Indonesia and Shanghai.
The artist has chose to paint murals in JinPing Elementary School of Hsinchu County, WanAn Elementary School of Taitung Coutnty and Rueimei Elementary School of Hualien County.
Rueimei Elementary School is a hundred years old and is located near The Xiuguluan River. Malland incorporated the local culture into his mural and used water as a theme. The children diving in and popping their heads out of water of different shades of blue represents how rivers, streams and the sea are inseparable from the lives of the Taiwanese.
Liberty Times reports, Malland says the most exceptional thing he has experienced in these past few days is being surrounded by passionate people. People usually come and ask, “What are you painting?” He also says that last week the principal of Rueimei Elementary School took him around campus and he decided to paint the swimming pool. The children playing happily in the pool are not facing the audience, leaving space for viewers to imagine.
The swim team of Rueimei Elementary School has been champions in various swimming contests. Malland particularly chose to paint on the walls of the three-floor high swimming pool, showing the happy little swimmers comfortably entering the water and the world of imagination. Photo credit: Color, Way of Love
UDN reports, so far Malland has finished the mural at WanAn Elementary School, Zheng-Hsing branch. He visited the tribe in advance and attended the Harvest Festival of the tribe before beginning his work.
After two days of working, the artist completed a picture of an Amis girl wearing traditional clothes and playing with a bird. There is a child watching from behind as if she is afraid of scaring the bird. Many people think this picture depicts the special tranquil atmosphere of the Zheng-Hsing tribe.
Photo Credit：Color, Way of Love
Photo Credit：Color, Way of Love
Storm Media reports, Malland had suffered depression of being unemployed in 2003. He embarked on a journey around the world with painting brushes rather than a camera and found his motivation in life again. The artist wants to reflect the real life of locals and bring hope to every corner of the world.
On the way to Rueimei Elementary School in Hualien County, Malland was inspired by the daylily field and under the consent of the land owner, painted a girl wearing a dress decorated with daylilies.
Malland painting with the children of Rueimei Elementary School. Photo credit: Color, Way of Love
Photo Credit：Color, Way of Love
Translated by Olivia Yang and June
Edited by Olivia Yang
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