Taichung Scenery Vividly Comes To Life in Record-Setting Pop-Up Book

2013 International Starlight Pop-Up Picture Books Exhibition

Words and photos by Chen Yu-hsiu
Translated by Erica Lin

Currently taking place in the new Taichung City Hall on Taiwan Boulevard, the 2013 International Starlight Pop-Up Picture Books Exhibition displays the "Taichung Pop-Up Encyclopedia"--a world-record setter for "Most Pop-Ups In A Pop-Up Book"-- plus many rare pop-up book collections from around the world. This locally-made record-breaking book, an accomplishment by 250 Taichung teachers and students, ensures that visitors to this exhibit will enjoy a "jumping out of paper" experience to the fullest.

To allow local and foreign visitors and all schools appreciate cultural ideas and artistic beauty, the Education Bureau of Taichung City Government is holding the 2013 International Starlight Pop-Up Picture Books Exhibition, currently free and open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until June 9 on the first floor of City Hall's Huizhong Building. Besides the Guinness World Record-certified "Taichung Pop-Up Encyclopedia", there are many other rare pop-up book collections from around the world, including doll house books, theater books, and the "Oscars winners" of pop-up books, seven brilliant Meggendorfer Prize winners--around 200 works in total, each elaborate and breath-taking in its own unique way.

Teamwork and the beauty of Taichung's humanity
The "Taichung Pop-Up Encyclopedia" is a bilingual Chinese/English encyclopedia featuring local stories from Taichung city. The pop-up masterpiece is 106 meters long and took 250 teachers and students from elementary and junior high schools half a year to collaborate on and complete. On April 19, all 250 participants worked as a team to transport 148 connected scenery pop-up spreads into an event hall specially prepared for a Guinness World Record Judging Ceremony. One by one, as the children opened up the pop-up spreads, astoundingly beautiful and cute illustrations jumped out. While British judge Blythe Fitzwiliam evaluated the work, Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu acted as a docent, giving explanations and checking the total number of pop-up illustrations, which is exactly 169. At the moment Fitzwiliam announced the Guinness World Record had been broken, the whole hall filled with cheers and applause.

Generally, a pop-up book only contains six to eight pop-up illustrations. However, Taichung City's pop-up book contained an astonishing 169 illustrations. The mission to set a new record was very challenging because more than 50,000 attempts are sent to Guinness World Records every year, with only four percent succeeding. For for the Taichung entry, measuring 106 meters long, to outdo a nine-meter Czech pop-up book wasn't an easy task. Making a pop-up book takes an average paper art expert a year or two to complete, as the book has to be bound strongly enough to endure repeated openings and flipping. This made Taichung's success in assembling a team to complete a seemingly-impossible mission in a such a short period of time indeed a huge challenge.

This unique pop-up encyclopedia was jointly planned by the city government's Education Bureau and Encyclopedia Britannica. The 250 students and teachers came from main host Huiwen Elementary School and 63 other elementary and junior high schools in Taichung. This is also the world's first pop-up book based on local city stories, and was assembled, piece by piece, by groups of teachers and students. Authors of this 296-page volume range from 5-year-olds to 18-year-old high schoolers. It not only is the current pop-up book record holder for the most pop-up illustrations and longest "length", but also has a pop-up book record for the most people creating art in one place.

The protagonist of the book's story--Papa Hu and Mama Hu's family of four--tours around Taichung city, introducing tourist spots, local culture, special delicacies and creative industries. These 148 local locations include the exciting Fengjia Night Market; the cultural, historical Taichung State Hall; religious hotspot Zhenlan Temple; Wuqi Tourist Fishing Port and many other places. The children's innocent brushwork vividly displays Taichung's beauty via the city's style and cultural content.

Rare world collection, interesting and exciting
Besides the must-see "Taichung Pop-Up Encyclopedia", there are many rarely-seen, valuable pop-up items, including an old wedding invitation from the 11th year of the Japanese Showa Period (1936), a Shanghai Expo Memorial Pop-Up Stamp Collecting Book, and suitable books for everyone, including well-known fairytale pop-up books, including "Cinderella", "Little Red Riding Hood", "Alice in Wonderland", and the "Wizard of Oz". There are also pop-up book versions of famous movies like "Titanic", "Star Wars", and "Batman". Others include a Taiwanese traditional hand-puppet pop-up stage, and Santa Claus' Studio. There is even a pop-up photo book of the popular Japanese celebrity Aoi Yu, at the exhibition. From traditional to modern, local to international, an estimated 200 works will make you reluctant to leave.

To further educate visiting crowds, experts have been invited to lead group tours and give explanations of pop-up book types, pop-up manufacturing skills, and the secrets to crafting such books. To participate in this pop-up extravaganza, schools from all counties and cities are welcome to schedule field trips to the Taichung City Hall, with online reservations available on the Education Bureau's website.

Exhibition Place: New Taichung City Hall, Huizhong Building 1st floor (99, Taiwan Blvd., Sec. 3, Xitun Dist.)
Exhibition Time: Continues to June 9, 2013, 9 am-5 pm
Open during holidays with no guiding services provided.
Guide Reservation Reminders:
1. Guided group tours are provided for groups of at least 15 and a maximum of 300. Reserve 7 days in advance.
2. Reservation confirmation notification will be sent via e-mail.
3. Four guided tour times available: (1) 9:30-10:30 am, (2) 10:30-11:30 am, (3) 1:30-2:30 pm, (4) 2:30-3:30 pm
4. E-mail huangwentsai@hotmail.com for any questions, or call the Encyclopaedia Britannica guide volunteers at (04) 2258-2018.