EDITORIAL: Alleyways are a national treasureA Briton who has lived in Taiwan for 10 years has gained renown for drawing detailed maps of Taiwanese cities. The Taipei Times first reported on Rook in 2015 (“The accidental illustrator,” Sept. 9, page 12). Rook’s maps, with their ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia, easily lend themselves to rendering Taiwan’s unique history and identity, fostering a national consciousness and claiming a beachhead among tourists. Another British artist, Amy Tams, integrates things she considers to be representative of Taiwan into caricatures of birds that are seen throughout Taiwanese cities. It makes sense then that the country’s communities — and the living spaces they share — should be emphasized when sharing Taiwan with the world.

Source: Taipei Times July 11, 2020 16:07 UTC