Secretariat, Taipei City Government

From Nov. 2 to Nov. 6, 2020, the Taipei City Government and Mexican Trade Services, Documentation and Cultural Office cohosted the “The Day of the Dead: The Continuous Evolution of an Ancient Mexican Tradition” special exhibition. The opening ceremony was held by Mayor Ko and Martin Torres, head of the Mexican Trade Services, Documentation and Cultural Office; and invited foreign diplomatic envoys in Taiwan to enjoy the Mexican dance performance and photography exhibition together.
 
To kick off the special exhibition, Deputy Mayor Tsai Ping-kun, Head Torres, and parade participants departed from the TWTC International Trade Building square, wearing custom-made painted skull masks and strolling along the Taipei City Hall Square before arriving at the Taipei City Hall main hall to be personally greeted by Mayor Ko at the entrance.
 
The Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) has been listed as one of the world’s cultural heritage. The Mexican people hold colorful celebrations and parades in memorial of their deceased relatives and to celebrate life. Some of its crucial features involve the use of items such as Mexican marigolds, painted skull decorations, and colored paper sculpture to build altars to guide their ancestors home. They also host various costume parades and parties to celebrate this day.
 
Head Torres thanked the Taipei City Government for allowing the special exhibition to be held in the Taipei City Hall which provides the opportunity for Taipei citizens to learn more about traditional Mexican culture. Mayor Ko then responded that cohosting this special exhibition with the Mexican Trade Services, Documentation and Cultural Office is the perfect opportunity for Taipei to demonstrate its multiculturalism, expanding the citizens’ international horizons and facilitating future bilateral cultural and economic collaboration between Taiwan and Mexico. While the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, this special exhibition made the public feel as if they had visited Mexico and experienced Mexican culture in Taiwan. Mayor Ko then stated that he intended to find a suitable “international showcase space” in Taipei to accommodate all future cultural exhibitions held by countries worldwide.
 
At the end of the opening ceremony, Head Torres presented Mayor Ko Mexico’s famous tequila as gift, and Mayor Ko presented Head Torres the Taipei City mascot Bravo Bear and Taipei’s special edition cocktail (Wenshan Sour & Taipei Mojito) gift box in return.