Creative designs go on display at world stamp exhibition in Taipei

An array of creative works by local designers are being displayed at the PHILATAIPEI 2016 World Stamp Championship Exhibition in Taipei, including mailboxes made from a celebrity's imaginations.

Among the creative works are seven mailboxes designed by Mickey Huang (???), a local television and radio host.

In Taiwan, mailboxes are usually red or green. "But what about in places where the winter is cold and snowy?" he asked, explaining his idea of a white mailbox, with feathers as decoration.

Two of the seven creative mailboxes are made of wood, he added.

But what may be the most special is an interactive mailbox with a smiling face made of LED lighting, and the face will show a bigger smile after a person puts in a letter or postcard.

"The LED mailbox is the most special," said Lee An-hsiang (???), a visitor to the area where Huang's works are displayed.

"Writing a letter by hand is something very valuable in today's world," Lee said. "The smiling face symbolizes the person who writes the letter, and the bigger smile depicts the feeling of the recipient, who will be even happier when receiving the letter."

Other exhibits are paper doves made by paper cutting artist Cheng Jo-han (???). Doves are the icon of Chunghwa Post Co., Taiwan's official postal service, which is organizing the stamp exhibition.

Also on display are three pieces of clothing designed by Hans Chyi (???). One of the pieces is white and the others are dark blue, with a dove motif.

In addition to the creative designs, the exhibition showcases 16 special mailboxes painted with symbols and images from Taiwan's 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes, and displays stamps from 101 countries around the world.

It also features augmented reality stamps, animations, virtual reality and other audio-visual elements.

Hosted by Chunghwa Post, the exhibition is being held in Taiwan for the first time and coincides with the company's 120th anniversary.

A total of 130 national postal services, stamp dealers and collectors have set up booths at Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1, where the exhibition will run until Oct. 26.

With this year's theme of "Legacy and Innovation," the exhibition details postal history and traditions, as well as modern-day transformation and potential future developments of postal services.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel