The Epoch Times: Taiwanese Artist Creates 'Tiger King' Artwork Using Metro Cards, Displayed in Flushing
Artist Lin Shibao's artwork titled 'Tiger King - Fearless Monarch,' made from recycled MTA subway cards, incorporates elements such as the American flag, railways, New York, Manhattan architecture, and a fusion of the tiger totem with the American symbol of the eagle in the center, symbolizing a tiger gaining wings. (Photo by Zhou Hanyin/The Epoch Times)
【Reported by Zhou Hanyin, Epoch Times New York】 On Wednesday morning, Taiwanese artist Lin Shibao held a one-day exhibition called "Doorless Art Museum" at Flushing Maple Leaf Park, showcasing four zodiac-themed art pieces - Tiger, Snake, Horse, and Pig - created from recycled subway cards.
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City Council Member Gu Yaming, Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center Chen Yongfeng, Founder of Coho Windows and Doors Chen Qiugui, Artist Lin Shibao, and the New York City Artist Corps, among others, attended the one-day outdoor art exhibition event at the 'Doorless Art Museum.' (Photo by Zhou Hanyin/The Epoch Times)
Among them, "Tiger King - Fearless Monarch" is an artwork by Lin Shibao made from 3,000 recycled New York MTA subway cards this year. Inspired by the 2022 zodiac sign "Tiger," it uses the totemic image of the tiger from the Chinese zodiac to convey messages of happiness, love, and peace during the pandemic, and to show support for New York, the United States, and the world's fight against the pandemic.
In Chinese culture, the tiger is regarded as a robust, fearless, and highly resilient animal. The upcoming year is the Year of the Tiger. This "Doorless Art Museum" exhibition aims to imbue the meaning of the tiger totem into every viewer, hoping that everyone can face everything with courage and move towards the future in the coming year.
Lin Shibao explained that using MTA subway cards for his artwork represents the MTA as the lifeblood of New York's transportation, meeting the daily travel needs of thousands of people of different races, cultural backgrounds, religions, and nationalities. The subway cards donated by people from all walks of life symbolize every ordinary person in society.
The theme of the entire artwork is "Fearless Monarch," with the central graphic combining the traditional Chinese "Tiger Totem" and the symbol of the United States, the "Eagle." This design symbolizes adding wings to the tiger, bringing together a traditional Chinese cultural totem like the "Tiger" with the contemporary aura of the MTA, showcasing the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, transcending the limitations of time, and implying the infinite possibilities of cultural integration and cooperation.
Lin Shibao has already created ten zodiac animals out of recycled subway cards from the Chinese zodiac and hopes to create the remaining two zodiac animals - the Rabbit and the Sheep. These two zodiac animals require the use of white subway cards, which are more challenging to collect due to their scarcity. Citizens who have white subway cards to donate can email shihpao62@yahoo.com to contact the artist Lin Shibao.
The New York City Artist Corps sponsored this art exhibition with a grant of $5,000. ◇
Editor: Li Yue
City Council Member Gu Yaming, Director of the Overseas Chinese Education Center Chen Yongfeng, Founder of Coho Windows and Doors Chen Qiugui, Artist Lin Shibao, and the New York City Artist Corps, among others, attended the one-day outdoor art exhibition event at the 'Doorless Art Museum.' (Photo by Zhou Hanyin/The Epoch Times)
Among them, "Tiger King - Fearless Monarch" is an artwork by Lin Shibao made from 3,000 recycled New York MTA subway cards this year. Inspired by the 2022 zodiac sign "Tiger," it uses the totemic image of the tiger from the Chinese zodiac to convey messages of happiness, love, and peace during the pandemic, and to show support for New York, the United States, and the world's fight against the pandemic.
In Chinese culture, the tiger is regarded as a robust, fearless, and highly resilient animal. The upcoming year is the Year of the Tiger. This "Doorless Art Museum" exhibition aims to imbue the meaning of the tiger totem into every viewer, hoping that everyone can face everything with courage and move towards the future in the coming year.
Lin Shibao explained that using MTA subway cards for his artwork represents the MTA as the lifeblood of New York's transportation, meeting the daily travel needs of thousands of people of different races, cultural backgrounds, religions, and nationalities. The subway cards donated by people from all walks of life symbolize every ordinary person in society.
The theme of the entire artwork is "Fearless Monarch," with the central graphic combining the traditional Chinese "Tiger Totem" and the symbol of the United States, the "Eagle." This design symbolizes adding wings to the tiger, bringing together a traditional Chinese cultural totem like the "Tiger" with the contemporary aura of the MTA, showcasing the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, transcending the limitations of time, and implying the infinite possibilities of cultural integration and cooperation.
Lin Shibao has already created ten zodiac animals out of recycled subway cards from the Chinese zodiac and hopes to create the remaining two zodiac animals - the Rabbit and the Sheep. These two zodiac animals require the use of white subway cards, which are more challenging to collect due to their scarcity. Citizens who have white subway cards to donate can email shihpao62@yahoo.com to contact the artist Lin Shibao.
The New York City Artist Corps sponsored this art exhibition with a grant of $5,000. ◇
Editor: Li Yue