To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Taichung Public Library has launched the special exhibition “A Stroll in the Forest 「散步森林」—Taichung Public Library 10th Anniversary Book Exhibition”, which officially opened July 24th at the main library of Taichung Green Museumbrary. Curated by picture book author Shih-Ying Chuang 莊世瑩 and illustrator Chun-Sheng Chou 鄒駿昇, the exhibition brings together 25 of Taiwan’s most celebrated illustrators and showcases 130 original artworks. Transforming the library into a forest filled with stories and imagination, the exhibition invites visitors to follow the paths of books and illustrations, embarking on a restorative journey through a space where reading, art, and architecture come together.

The Taichung City Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that over the past decade, the Taichung Public Library has grown alongside the city, accompanying countless families, children, and citizens through different stages of life with the power of reading. As part of its 10th anniversary celebration under the theme “Forest of Reading,” A Stroll in the Forest serves as one of the flagship exhibitions. By integrating books, illustrations, and spatial design, the exhibition transforms reading from the simple act of turning pages into an immersive sensory experience. Visitors are invited to discover the harmonious dialogue between reading, art, and architecture while experiencing the cultural richness and creative energy cultivated through ten years of reading promotion in Taichung.

The exhibition features a curated selection of 100 forest-themed picture books chosen by Shih-Ying Chuang. Beginning with Taichung as its point of departure, the collection weaves together stories of nature, ecology, life, and the land, guiding readers not only into the forest but also into the most tender landscapes of their own hearts.

The exhibition space, designed by Chun-Sheng Chou—winner of the Grand Prize at the Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition—thoughtfully extends the display tables originally created for the Green Museumbrary by the internationally acclaimed architectural firm SANAA. Featuring two-tone grass-inspired carpeting, a large newspaper kiosk installation, and the library’s 10th anniversary visual identity, the exhibition creates the relaxed atmosphere of reading inside a forest cabin.

The anniversary key visual incorporates the image of a book’s title page together with the soft pink hue of the Taiwan cherry blossom—the official flower of Taichung. It symbolizes reading as a seed that begins to sprout from the moment the first page is opened, quietly growing, blossoming, and ultimately flourishing into a vibrant forest of reading throughout the city.

According to the Taichung Public Library, the exhibition is organized into three themed sections:“Fertile Taichung” presents picture books and publications by Taichung-based creators, highlighting the city's rich creative vitality.
“A Stroll in the Forest” invites visitors of all ages to explore forest-themed picture books and discover the joy of reading through nature.
“Forest Landscapes,” the exhibition’s centerpiece, features 130 original artworks by 25 distinguished illustrators—including Lai Ma賴馬, Mao Yu貓魚, Rui-Zhe Wu吳睿哲, Hsin-Chih Wu吳欣芷, and BALLBOSS. Many of the participating artists are recipients of prestigious awards such as the Golden Tripod Awards金鼎獎, the Golden Butterfly Award金蝶獎, the Golden Picture Book Award金繪獎, the Bologna Illustration Award波隆那插畫獎, and the SM International Illustration Award. Each artist interprets the theme of the forest through a unique artistic perspective, creating an exhibition that resembles an enchanting woodland filled with stories and imagination.

The Taichung Public Library announced that A Stroll in the Forest will be on display in the main lobby of Taichung Green Museumbrary from now through January 17 next year. Visitors are encouraged to slow down and wander through the intertwined landscapes of books, illustrations, and greenery, experiencing the beauty that emerges when reading and art meet.  A series of accompanying programs will also be offered throughout the exhibition. Ten participating illustrators will lead seven picture book workshops and three thematic lectures, inviting audiences to move beyond reading into artistic creation while exploring visual storytelling, creativity, and aesthetic appreciation.  For more information, please visit the official website of the Taichung Public Library (https://www.library.taichung.gov.tw/  , and click "Home> Breaking News >News")