As Taiwan’s cultural, arts, and technology industries rapidly grow and evolve, the integration of digital technologies is revitalizing traditional culture, infusing it with new vitality. Prof. Hu Hui-Jiun from the Department of Visual Arts at National Chiayi University designed the micro-credit course “Co-Creating through Arts and Technology – A Cultural Stroll,” as part of the “Discovering Chiayi” initiative. Centered on immersive field experiences, the course leads students into Chiayi’s iconic cultural and technological spaces to explore the fusion of local art aesthetics and digital innovation – offering a fresh perspective on cultural practices and industry engagement.
The course aims to cultivate NCYU students’ creative thinking, problem-solving skills, digital innovation applications, cultural sensitivity, and global perspective through hands-on, out-of-classroom experiences. The ultimate goal is to equip students with the ability to practice interdisciplinary integration and collaborative innovation with industry.
As part of the course’s exploration of innovation and practice in traditional arts, Director Yen Ren-Hung of the SamadhiTang Creative Puppet Troupe led his volunteer team in guiding students through the intricate design and performance techniques of glove puppetry. NCYU students observed the intricate craftsmanship of puppet design and construction up close. While enjoying a lively and humorous demonstration of vocal performance, they also had the opportunity to manipulate large wooden puppets weighing over 20 kilograms and worth tens of thousands of NT dollars. The puppet “Goddess of Time” blends Taiwanese historical symbols and architectural elements, adorned with over 300 phoenix-flower-shaped fabric flowers. It has even been featured in cultural diplomacy aboard the Goodwill Fleet. As a non-profit organization, SamadhiTang advances the art of glove puppetry through volunteerism and innovation. From making wooden puppets, writing scripts, performing to promoting, the team showcases innovative integration with contemporary aesthetics, interdisciplinary design, and international cultural exchange, deeply inspiring students’ professional attitude and creative thinking.
As Chiayi’s first startup hub focused on cultural technology, the Chiayi Culture X Technology Innovation Hub was founded with the spirit of “Return to Chiayi to Start a Business; Business Returns to Chiayi.” It offers vital space and technical support for cultural-tech startups. During the visit, project leader Zou Shu-Wen and WhiteDeer Animation Studios Director Chen Wen-Nong shared insights into the intersection of AI and art. They highlighted the “Longci Light Festival,” a large-scale outdoor interactive light and shadow projection project, to illustrate its practical applications and technical features. Led by the Startup Base team, students experienced various cultural and technological innovations, including AR/VR applications, AI-generated anchors, a naked-eye 3D Tiger Lord display, and the Bright Lantern Prayer System. The entrepreneurial resources and digital transformation examples at the hub offered students a comprehensive understanding of industry trends and practical applications.
Cheng Hao-Cheng, Product Director of OUOrange Digital Design, led a tour and shared how the team, since returning to Chiayi to start a business in 2012, has developed cross-platform integrations, AR/VR applications, cultural interaction designs, and locally themed digital navigation systems. The team also showcased several interactive projects highlighting Chiayi’s unique cultural features. Students also had the opportunity to create with 3D printing pens – an experience that could later extend into AR-based art displays, deepening their understanding and enhancing their practical ability to integrate technology with art.
The “Co-Creating through Arts and Technology – A Cultural Stroll” course is funded under the “Main Axis A – Innovation and Enhancement of Teaching” of NCYU’s Higher Education SPROUT Project. The course, open to students from 11 departments, has fostered vibrant interdisciplinary exchanges. Through immersive, multi-sensory experiences, both faculty and students have gained deeper insights into the deep-rooted vitality of Chiayi’s local arts and its digital innovation potential.
Photo 1:
Students explored traditional arts in an innovative way by manipulating glove
puppets.
Photo 2: AR
immersive experience of “Joy of Tea” at the Southern Branch of the National
Palace Museum
Photo 3:
Immersive theater experience of “Rugged Revelry After Dark” at the Longci Light
Festival.