Actor Yang Hao-wei Unveils Riverside Mural, Reveals Childhood Art Talent

Actor Yang Hao-wei has added a new dimension to his daily routine by participating in the "Taipei New Riverside" project. He was tasked with creating a mural on the Nangang Yuchenglin riverside wall, a spot he passes every day during his regular runs. Yang expressed his delight, calling the coincidence "truly wonderful" and joking that he now greets his own artwork each morning.

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Fate is truly wonderful! It's like I'm greeting my own work every time I run past.

The mural, titled "Time Sailing Ocean," was a collaborative effort with designer Wang Xiang-hao. It visually narrates the history, present, and future aspirations of Yuchenglin. Key elements include a purple suspension bridge, a nod to the area's past, and a junk boat, symbolizing its connection to trade and history. The design incorporates Taiwan blue magpies as a central motif, with warm and cool colors differentiating past and present, and flowing lines extending into a sea imagery.

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We can paint the past, present, and future of Yuchenglin on this riverside wall, allowing many people to remember it for a long, long time.

Yang shared that his inspiration came from learning about the area's history from the local village chief and engaging with residents. He proposed capturing the essence of Yuchenglin from its past to its future on the riverside wall. This collaborative process involved exploring alleyways and even participating in a health exercise class with elderly residents, gathering insights that shaped the final artwork.

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Running can no longer bring me joy; it has become a part of my life. If I don't run, I become anxious.

Beyond his acting career, Yang revealed a long-held passion for art, recalling winning a first-place prize in a drawing competition in kindergarten. His winning piece, a high-speed train, was even presented to then-Kaohsiung Mayor Wu Den-yih. Although the artwork is lost, Yang remembers its content vividly, attributing his sensitivity to visual details and artistic forms to his experience as a performer.

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I drew a high-speed train, and the city government even gave the award-winning piece to then-Mayor Wu Den-yih.