Kaohsiung Music Center and the Lingyaliao Railroad Bridge

The Kaohsiung Music Center and the Lingyaliao Railroad Bridge illuminated in the colors of Ukraine’s national flag during the 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival. This light show was displayed from February 26, two days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. More Info

The Annual Taiwan Lantern Festival

—where lights dazzle, lanterns shimmer, and the spirit of creativity burns brighter than an electric bill during the holiday season. But in 2022, this spectacle took on a profoundly poignant twist, illuminating not just Kaohsiung’s skyline but the collective conscience of a global community.

In the shadow of Russia’s brazen invasion of Ukraine, the Kaohsiung Music Center and the Lingyaliao_Railroad Bridge donned their most stylish get-up: the vibrant blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag. Now, talk about a light show that didn’t just twinkle—it resonated. For anyone who attended from February 26 onward, the sight must have felt like being wrapped in a warm hug from a Ukrainian babushka who just learned you love borscht.

Let’s set the stage for this dazzling affair! As the sun dipped below the horizon, the city transformed from a bustling hive of daily activity to a reflective backdrop for hope and resilience. The Kaohsiung Music Center, an architectural marvel often compared to a giant mollusk playing hard to get, emerged as a beacon of solidarity. Meanwhile, the Lingyaliao Railroad Bridge swayed gently in the cool night air, looking rather dapper in its patriotic attire, as if it had crashed a Ukrainian wedding uninvited but made friends immediately.

Now, why illuminate these structures in the colors of a nation in crisis? It’s simple: because beauty does not live in a vacuum. The festival has always been about light representing hope, rebirth, and community. In a time when many felt helpless watching events unfold globally, this tribute is a reminder that even the smallest gestures can send ripples of solidarity across the world. As lanterns floated into the sky, I can’t help but imagine each one carrying a message of peace, even if every recipient was too busy dodging missiles.

The festival not only brightened the city but also sparked conversations and brought communities together, proving that art is more than just pretty colors; it’s a vessel for change. People donned the colors of Ukraine, paraded with placards of support, and let their voices echo—It was a multicultural rave that said, ‘We stand with you, Ukraine!’ while shaking the very foundations of the dance floor.

Moreover, while the lantern festival is often a celebration of Taiwan’s culture, this year it morphed into an embodiment of global unity. Who knew that a bunch of illuminated paper lanterns could start a discussion that spanned continents? In a world where negativity often overshadows the good, this colorful intervention reminds us that there’s still room for hope under the most dramatic LED designs.

So, here’s a toast to the Kaohsiung Music Center and the Lingyaliao Railroad Bridge. May their lights continue to shine brightly for all who seek inspiration—even if it comes swaddled in situations as grim as international turmoil. Because remember, despite the shadows that may creep in, a little light can illuminate the darkest of worlds.

Next year, I expect nothing less than the Eiffel Tower lighting up in funky pastels while hosting a drag show in support of all nations under duress. Until then, let’s keep our hearts and our lanterns shining bright, shall we?