台灣文博會 Creative Expo Taiwan 2026年8月6日至12日 攤位 K2-038
自從我們一家在九零年代搬到愛爾蘭之後,我從沒想過有一天會因為「工作」回到我的出生地——台灣。老實說,在藝術學院畢業後我曾試著回去,但當時連一份教英文的工作都找不到。這些年來我回過台灣好幾次,探望祖父母、度假,也試著重新連結這片孕育我文化、愛與歷史的土地——我的根就是在這裡誕生的。我聽中文的Podcast、看台灣的YouTube影片、追新聞,盡我所能地保持語言能力,並持續與這個文化保持連結。
當我要從愛爾蘭選擇第一個外銷市場的機會出現時,大家都想到鄰近的國家,像是英國、歐盟,甚至美國,畢竟我們說英文,愛爾蘭與美國的淵源也由來已久。然而,我沒有選擇最容易的路,反而選了地圖上最遠的地方——亞洲。沒錯,除了澳洲和紐西蘭之外,亞洲在Google地圖上確實是最遠的,但論心裡的距離,它卻是最近的。我把自己的品牌打造得與眾不同,那麼在拓展事業版圖時,做出不一樣的選擇不也很合理嗎?
一開始在準備要在這次博覽會上展出的作品時,我一直在想:台灣人和外國朋友會對愛爾蘭的什麼感興趣呢?這片土地?綿羊?我能提供什麼與眾不同又獨特的東西?後來我很快就意識到,答案其實早就在我眼前,就藏在我的插畫作品裡——那就是我在愛爾蘭生活32年後,對這裡的獨特觀點。我看到的愛爾蘭,不只是風景(雖然這裡的風景依然美得令人屏息),我看到的是別人看不到的東西:身為一個外國移民,在這裡生活、適應、理解並慶祝這個文化與日常生活是什麼樣子——我稱之為「Making Home(練習成家)」。
這個想法的靈感來自2025年6月,我帶著兒子回台灣的那趟旅程,那是他聽我講了十年台灣的故事後,第一次親自造訪這個地方。我們和家人一起旅行,並住在我姐姐朋友Denis家——他非常親切地帶我們四處遊覽。他是一位退休的大學設計系教授,我們因此有很多可以聊的話題。回到愛爾蘭後,我傳訊息謝謝他帶我們到處走走,順帶提了一句:如果能有一個方式,讓兩個國家透過創意連結起來,那該有多好啊?Denis真的是一位很有啟發性的教育者,他說:為什麼不現在就做?就今年,讓它成真吧!他把我介紹給相關的人脈,他們幫我媒合到這場活動,我遞交了申請——於是就有了現在的我:我要在2026年8月前往台灣參加文博會了!!
謝謝所有支持我、幫助我走到這一步的人,包括大力支持我的科克市企業辦公室(Cork City Local Enterprise Office),以及所有活動主辦單位,像是台灣的文化部、國立臺灣工藝研究發展中心(NTCRI)和文化內容策進院(TAICCA)。如果你到活動官網的最下方,可以看到這場活動背後的努力,以及所有贊助單位為了促成這場年度盛事所付出的辛勞。從中我學到好多,也等不及要儘快把照片分享給大家。
我還想說——謝謝「一月的Hannah」(也就是我自己)當初答應了這件事,我到現在都還有點驚訝自己居然答應她要做這件事……我真的很期待透過我的創作,重新連結我的出生地和那裡的人們!
台灣文博會,我來了!
Hannah
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Creative Expo Taiwan 06-12 August 2026 Stand K2-038
Since we have moved to Ireland in the 90s, I never thought I would be returning to my birth country, Taiwan, for 'work', I mean I had tried to go back after my art college studies and there wasn't even a teaching English job for me then. I have returned Taiwan multiply times to visit my grandparents, for holiday and try to connect the land that gave me amazing culture, love and history of making whom I am - where my roots were born. I listen to Chinese podcasts, watch Taiwanese youtubes, news etc to keep up the languge and connect to the culture as much as I possibly can.
When the opportunity comes to choosing my first export market from Ireland, everyone thought of nearby countries like UK and EU, and even US because we speak English and obviously Irish and American connection goes way back. I, however, didn't make the easy choice by choose the farest I can - Asia. Yes it's by far the farest on Google map besides Australia and Newzealand, but it is surely the cloest by heart. I set up my brand to be different, it makes sense to make a different choice when it comes to business expansion right?
At first thought while preparing the products to showcase at this expo - what would Taiwanese and foreign nationals be interested to see in Ireland? The land? The sheep? What can I offer that is different and unique? It wasn't long before I releases what is in front of me, already in my illustration work, It is my point of view of Ireland - by living here for 32 years. I see Ireland more than the landscapes (althought it is still breath taking), I see what others don't see, as an expat, what's like to live here, to adapt and understand and celebrate the culture and everyday living - I call it 'Making Home'.
The idea sparked from my trip home to Taiwan in June 2025 with my son, it was his first time visitng the place after listening to me talking about it for 10 years. We travelled with family and stayed with one of my sister's friend, Denis in Taiwan- whom was so kind to show us around and being a retired university design professor, we got alot to talk about. So I sent him a message after returning home to Ireland and thank him for taking us around and mentioned briefly, wouldn't it be wonderful there is a way we could connect two countries with creativities? Denis being a true inspirational educator, he said why not now, this year, make it happen! He introduced me to the networks and they matched me to the event, I then sent in the application and here I am - I am going to Taiwan for the Creative Expo in August 2026!!
Thanks to to everyone that got behind me and getting me there, including Cork City Local Enterprise Office whom is supporting me massively and all event hosts like Ministry of Culture in Taiwan, NTCRI (National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Insitute), TAICCA (Taiwan Creative Content Agency). If you go down to the bottom of the event webpage, you can see the works behind the event and all the sponsors hardwork putting the annual event together. So much to learn from this and I cannot wait to share the images with you soon.
I must say - thank you 'Januray Hannah' (myself) saying YES to this too, I am still somehow shocked that I am agreeing to her to do it... I am so looking forward to re-connect my birth country with the people throught my creativity!
Creative Expo Taiwan here I come!
Hannah
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（此篇中文翻譯由AI協助完成,並經本人親自校對確認。）