Taiwan Day 3: Xinmendeng & Red House Artist Market
Friday, September 30, 2011 @ 2:09 PM PERMALINK
After our massive travelling feat the previous day, we decided to take it easy and head to the Ximenting area for some shopping and to check out Taipei’s Red house.
Ximenting is really easy to get to via metro (get off the train at Ximen and follow the signs on the floor of the metro station). Ximenting is like every other youth centered town area in the world, displays are vibrant and eye catching, teens are abundant in number and prices a little higher than anywhere else.
We looked for some place for lunch and the choices were super overwhelming, there were a ton of cafes and local food shops to try. But then we came across this cute shop called Ah Mao Risotto.
The concept on the store seems to centre around someone’s golden retriever and the shop is too cute! It’s painted in cheery colours with cute murals (all handpainted) and mini toy displays on the walls.
Apart from Risotto, Ah Mao also sells pasta. Everything comes in quaint stone bowls and the risotto is legit Arborio rice; unlike the mushy long grained rice you get at some cafes here who claim they are serving you risotto. It wasnt too bad at all but nothing beats the mushroom risotto I ate in Fremantle.
After lunch, we walked around the shops for a bit before heading to Red House. There were a ton of varity shows being taped ( I think) and what seemed to be university bonding camp activities going on.
We stopped to watch this spray-paint landscape artist. I’ve seen this type of work in Australia but noticed that the artists there are often confined to producing space images. This guy (who does things a little differently and uses templates for some areas) does forest landscapes, mountains, seas. He is also not masked up at all and his choosen form of protection from the fumes seems to be a lit cigarette.
The Red House at Ximending hosts an artist market every weekend. Its booth holders are a mix of designers who own shops in the building and other designers who rent booths to showcase and sell their wares.
As a sidenote: I would like to inform anyone reading this that Thomas told us that Red House is where the LGBT community in Taiwan hang out (while eyeing Kah and I somewhat suspiciously) but I only saw one store obviously marketing at the LGBT community.
The artist market isn’t as huge as some others I’ve been to but its substantial and there are so many talented designers.
Mr Light was one of the first stores at the front of the market and was also one of the stores that first caught our eye. This shop sells round paper lamps that are so adorable. Each lamp is made out of high quality paper and can be put over existing light bulbs or can be purchased as a hanging or table lamp.
I was quickly distracted by
Urb, who was selling amazingly designed pins, t-shirts , paper goods and accessories. Pins were 50NT for 3 and came with free postcards. I went a little crazy and insisted I would buy them for all my friends but until now, I haven’t decided which ones to give away yet (Sorry, I’m a selfish bitch, they are all just too cute)
Random useless fact that you can skip #2: I’m a compulsive souvenir buyer. I always trick myself into believing that I am buying things for my friends as gifts when I’m away but I end up keeping the entire lot of trinkets for myself instead.
I also bought a hand painted handphone strap thing that I intend to convert into a necklace from this dude named Frank (I have his name card but his FB page is in Mandarin and I don't know how to search for it to link it -- noob). We stood around with him for awhile trying to figure out how to make it into a necklace without it being too plain. I didn't take a picture of his stall but this is how my soon to be new necklace looks like:
There are really a ton of great artists in Taipei and there were also shops selling illustrations, handmade fabric pouches, accessories and painting portraits. Everyone is really friendly and willing to talk to you about their work. They are also super polite and sweet even if you don’t buy their stuff.
After walking around the market for a bit, we headed into the building for some tea at the Red House Tea Shop.
In the Red House (as well as the artist market) most of the products sold are locally designed and produced by talented Taiwanese artists/designers. Unfortunately, most shops don’t allow photographs to be taken so you won’t be able to see how amazing their shop displays and products are.
This one shop made personalized wooden plaques that look exactly like train tickets from the Taiwan Railway as momentos for specific dates and/or with special messages.
I also bought a couple of postcards of reprints from a local designer called
Heidi Doll whose work features rabbits and girls.
After looking at the shops in Red House, we headed back to our hostel to find everyone going out for the night. The boys were going to the night market to get food then intended to head out to party.
We tried to resolve our lack of shoewear in order to go with them but no dice. So Kah and I ate amazing xiao long bao from this roadside stall and headed home with all the other things (besides shoes) that we bought from Wu Fen Pu.
Labels: Taipei, Taiwan, travel
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