Reviving Tradition: Daxi Daxi Festival by BIAS Architects and Associates

BIAS Architects and Associates Rejuvenate Taiwanese Religious Festivals with a Pop Culture Twist

The Daxi Daxi Festival, held annually in the rural outskirts of Taipei, celebrates Lord Guan's birthday, a significant event locally known as "the second Chinese New Year for Daxi." BIAS Architects and Associates were tasked with preserving and promoting this event, and since 2018, they have developed an urban festival that assists the township in preparing for the celebration. The festival, aptly named "Daxi Daxi," meaning "Good Luck Daxi," has successfully attracted more than 100,000 people to the township, strengthening the local community's identity.

The unique aspect of Daxi Daxi lies in its blend of tradition and pop culture. The festival's curatorial approach involves selecting young artists and designers who can collaborate with traditionalists, mediated by BIAS. The result is a vibrant mix of traditional parade rules and preparations with pop culture aesthetics, communicated as a new pride of the local community.

The festival's success is not without challenges. The key hurdle was the curatorial level, specifically the selection of third-party artists and designers who could engage in a meaningful dialogue with tradition bearers. BIAS played a crucial role in creating opportunities for these seemingly opposite actors to interact and collaborate.

BIAS's innovative approach to the Daxi Daxi Festival has not gone unnoticed. The design was awarded Silver in A' Event and Happening Design Award in 2021, a prestigious accolade given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. This recognition is a testament to BIAS's commitment to preserving tradition while engaging a new generation of festival-goers.

The Daxi Daxi Festival is a shining example of how design can mediate between the old and the new, rural and urban, tradition and innovation. It is a testament to the power of design in preserving cultural heritage while adapting to the changing times. BIAS Architects and Associates have indeed struck a balance, ensuring that the charm of Taiwanese folk beliefs continues to enchant the urban public.