With the successful conclusion of the inaugural Matsu Biennial, Lienchiang County Government said it is ready to start preparing for the next biennial scheduled for the fall of 2023.

The first Matsu Biennial kicked off on Feb. 12 and ran until April 10 this year.

It featured 39 works of art in different genres, spread across eight projects and three exhibition spaces, with a focus on Matsu’s transition from a highly militarized island closed to tourists.

Located close to China, Matsu was once a military outpost with the world’s highest density of military tunnels.

The General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC), which co-organized the event, expressed its gratitude to the county government, curatorial team, volunteers and cross-sector partners for their joint efforts in showcasing the beauty of Matsu to the world.

“We hope that the Matsu Biennial will become a flagship brand for Taiwan, attracting visitors from around the world,” said GACC.

With the evolution of space and sustainable reuse at the core of the biennial’s featured works, the organizers set out to make the event part of a 10-year mission to document the islands’ transformation.

According to organizers, the projects spread over five of Matsu’s islands and explored how to transform these sites into sustainable public spaces with a number of events and activities located in former army facilities.

All the art installations were created locally by 41 creative teams.

A number of the artworks are now permanent installations, the organizers said, with the works from one of the sites stored for “future educational purposes in the form of activities from time to time.”

The art event also invited several well-known performing groups, including the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, to perform.

Organizers said over 30,000 people attended the biennial, bringing a record number of tourists to the islands, with the indoor exhibition attracting more than 23,000 visitors.

Foreign representatives from over 10 countries attended the event, organizers added.

The first event was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed until the beginning of this year due to the on going COVID-19 pandemic.

The next biennial is therefore scheduled for the fall of 2023.

Lienchiang County Magistrate Liu Cheng-ying (???) said the inaugural edition raised the visibility of Matsu, and he is looking forward to meeting visitors from all over the world next fall.

The art event will “expand participation” in the future, allowing local artists, volunteers, travel groups, tour guides, local students, and citizens to take part, he said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel