(Pink Amigo as the Thinker)
What up people? After a long hiatus, we’re finally back. Not sure how many people missed this particular blog, but regardless I’ve developed a real penchant for reading the blogs of various industry folk (not saying we big time haha). It just provides a gateway into the minds of the people that have had a large impact on the landscape before us. Re-introductions aside, I recently had the chance to visit Taipei. I’ve been to Taipei in the past for lay-overs and never really anything substantial, the airport is pretty terrible and while not decrepit and run-down, it sure isn’t Hong Kong International. Myself, Jason of HB, Jasper Wong, Sinic and a buddy King all set out on what could loosely be described as a “Spring Break” of sorts. No game-plan at all, but within minutes of getting out of the cab and battling the paper rain brought on by the ceremonial burning of papers, shit went down. While I didn’t shoot the pics of the Pink Amigo cause I was doing some work, King with my camera got some weird shots of a dude running around downtown in a pink suit. The next few days went by in a blur, sleeping as the sun came out and waking up with an hour of sunlight to spare become the norm over the next few days. All in all, Taipei came across as something I felt was an amalgamation of Mainland China and Tokyo. Perhaps coming down to the way the city was set-up, areas like Ximen took on a more Mainland feel while the East District had some elements of a busier Harajuku. The creative community out there has tons of potential on their hands. In what I gather is that many move-makers in the scene have had the good fortune of embodying both Eastern and Western culture through time spent abroad, there seems to be a larger sense of unity amongst the whole group. Large groups seem to run together rather than against each other and this was something derived over a short period. Aside from the unreal women frolicking around (sorry no creeper shots), the food was dope. night market offerings were plenty and delicious. Who else would think to butterfly a rice sausage and then put another sausage in there (errrr… pause ahah). Unlike Hong Kong’s party scene, Taipei and virtually every other big city in the world has the luxury of having a much more expansive lay-out. Taiwan is an up and coming place and while it may lack previous tradition and foundation, I definitely feel that there’s a strong and organic grassroots movement before us. I know for sure I’ll be looking to return as soon as possible. Shout-outs to JJ, Jahan, Van Ness and Brandon for an awesome time.
P.S.: Yeh it’s true, girls are unreal. Dare I say better than Tokyo???
King’s borderline hentai reading material on the plane.
Dude is trying to smuggle copious amounts of bubble wrap through or what haha.
Running across the streets (reminds me of that Nike Japan / Power Ranger ad from awhile back)
Authentic handbags for sale, peep the guy in the background vouching for their fire retardant abilities.
Dumpling Factory!!!
Dumplings filled with soup.
Invincible
The recently opened Greyone Arsenal and their downstairs gallery. In Taiwan, space is a lot more abundant, of a few stores I visited, they have the ability to have a main floor retail space and combination offce x retail space or gallery downstairs.
Leftfoot
Brandon of Greyone Arsenal/Greedy Genius
Ximen
Subcrew’s flagship store, Unity.
These fried chicken steaks are huge, like the size of your face. But they were anti-climatic, not all that tasty, just pure breading.
The aforementioned double sausage.
Turnip cakes stuff with chicken, surprisingly good.
Endo of Devilock was in town as well, and we had a chance to talk for a bit at Sense Organ’s office.