「維多利亞磚」背後代表著百年前英國的海上貿易，如何隨著強勢的軍事與經濟力量來到亞洲，當時身為台灣茶商工會主席的陳朝駿為了招待國際商友，就在圓山神社旁築起了一幢仿自日本時尚的英式建築，這一塊磁磚見證了酒饌茶樂之間，台灣藉著茶、糖、米等傳統貿易開始與世界的交往史。
香港到處都有維多利亞磚，以及更多以維多利亞命名的公共空間與建築，2003年在香港長大的律師陳國慈認養了台北故事館，她說，驅使她同意接下這棟童話建築的原因之一是鄉愁，老房子換上新磚，她收藏起一塊殘破的維多利亞磚，許下心願—要讓這充滿記憶的老房子擁有說故事的能力，十一年過去了，台北故事館成為港人自由行首選的台北迷你博物館，在這棟洋房裡細膩而優雅地講述台灣的各種故事。
特別感謝亞洲聯合財務、港澳台灣慈善基金會與古物古蹟辦事處等機構的大力協助，使得台灣月得以更完整、更深入的規模實現。今年的台灣月從青春老城、文藝創新、泥土記憶、與古蹟活化四個面向繼續與香港交朋友，並共同創造喜愛藝術的文化現場。
The story begins with a tile. With a colorful, elegant pattern, this classic tile can easily be spotted embellishing fireplaces and washrooms on the first and second floors of Taipei Story House. And it has a quintessentially British royal name - the Victorian tile.
Behind the Victorian tile stands the Great Britain's maritime trade a century ago, and how the country landed in Asia with her formidable naval and economic power. To serve his guests and clients from overseas,Chen Chao-chun, the then chairman of Taiwan Tea Merchants Association, built a Tudor-style house - a vogue in Japan at the time - next to the Yuanshan Shrine. This tile, as part of the joyous setting of Chen's villa, witnessed the beginning of Taiwan's traditional trades of tea, sugar, and rice.
Victorian tiles are everywhere in Hong Kong; here we have even more public spaces and buildings named after'Victoria'. In 2003, on an invitation of Dr. Lung Ying-tai, then commissioner of Taipei City Government's Department of Cultural Affairs, Hong Kong-born lawyer Eva Tan sponsored the establishment of Taipei Story House at the former villa. She said nostalgia was one of the reasons that drove her to 'adopt'this legendary building. One day when the old villa was being revitalized with new tiles, Tan picked up a broken Victorian tile at the heritage site and made a wish, that the historic building filled with memories would turn into a story-teller. Eleven years have flown; Taipei Story House has become a mini-museum and a top spot for Hong Kong tourists, in which various tales about Taiwan are gracefully and movingly told.
This year, Taiwan Culture Festival returns with the theme of 'stories', and through organizing a range of activities, including exhibitions, performances, community designs and talks, we once again offer a rich encounter with the arts. In today's fast-paced, ever-changing world, we hope to learn through personal stories that aging buildingsdo not have to be demolished, as 'old' is not always old-fashioned, while memories can be put to novel uses and reinterpreting traditions can bring in new audiences as well. This year happens to be the 130th anniversary of Taipei's historical district Dadaocheng, which, similar to Hong Kong's Sai Ying Pun, used to be a trading dockin its early days. Dadaocheng has now been injected with fresh creativity, attracting a crowd of young, cultured people to hang out there. Indeed, once you get to look into stories of old towns, you will be able to discover new possibilities in our city.
We would especially like to thank UA Finance, HK & Macau Taiwanese Charity Fund Limited, and the Antiquities and Monuments Office, with whose generous support we are able to organize this year's Taiwan Culture Festival in a more comprehensive, in-depth scale. Departing from four directions, namely 'Old Town Revival', 'Grass-roots Memory', 'Creative in Art'and 'Heritage Revitalization', the festival continues to make friends with people in Hong Kong, setting out to create with you a thriving cultural scene through the arts.
Director
Lucy LU