British artist maps his way to the heart of Taipei
08/04/2021 04:07 PM
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Part of an extremely detailed Taipei map created by British artist Tom Parker. Photo courtesy of the artist
By Lee Hsin-Yin, CNA staff reporter
If a hand-drawn map can showcase a city s spirit, then the one created by British artist Tom Parker shows Taipei as a city brimming with color, energy and humor, reminding many people what they love about this place they call home. Compared to somewhere like London, where I would be exhausted by the urban chaos after a 30 minute walk Taipei is exciting and interesting, but scattered with history and peaceful places, said the 46-year-old from Wales.
Taiwan Business TOPICS Photo: Erik Fok
Despite the prevalence of satellite data, traditional map-makers continue to tell remarkable stories with historical and contemporary images of Taiwan.
In the age of smartphones, satellite data shows us the world in real-time to an accuracy of up to 30 centimeters per pixel with just the tap of an app. How can traditional maps, produced by hand, compete with that?
Judging by the reactions on social media to a stunning Taipei street map created by British artist Tom Parker last December, the art of mapmaking is neither dead nor forgotten. Parker’s Facebook page was inundated with likes and comments following a post unveiling the new map, and he has since been wooed by local media, including the Taiwan editions of