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BackThe French Oposito Theater Company's Mechanical Elephant parades in Shilin Night Market and makes a lively debut at the 2026 Taipei Arts Festival
The French Oposito Theater Company's Mechanical Elephant parades in Shilin Night Market and makes a lively debut at the 2026 Taipei Arts Festival
BREAKING
自由时报44 minutes agoCulture1 min readChinaView original

The French Oposito Theater Company's Mechanical Elephant parades in Shilin Night Market and makes a lively debut at the 2026 Taipei Arts Festival

Mechanical ColossusShilin Night MarketTaipei Arts Festival

Quick Look

  • During the 2026 Taipei Arts Festival, the French Oposito Theater Company brought three nearly 5-meter-high and 8-meter-long mechanical elephants to the Shilin Night Market for a parade on Jihe Road.
  • Crowds of people followed them to the Taipei Performing Arts Center Square.
  • The event time was chosen at 19:14 to commemorate the year when Taipei’s first zoo was founded.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

This event echoes the establishment of Taipei’s first zoo in 1914. The performance time is set at 19:14, and there will be a second performance at 7:14 on Sunday evening, giving the public the opportunity to participate.

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The elephant is coming! The giant mechanical elephant passes through Shilin Night Market. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

2026 Taipei Arts Festival "The Elephant is Coming"! The French Compagnie Oposito turned Jihe Road of the Shilin Night Market into a theater tonight. Three nearly 5-meter-tall and 8-meter-long mechanical elephants set off to the sound of horns and drums. The super wild parade recreated the zoo's move 40 years ago. The crowds of people "followed the elephants" and marched all the way to the Taipei Performing Arts Center Square for a grand show. The event is held at "19:14" to echo the founding of Taipei's first zoo in 1914. For those who haven't caught up with tonight's event, there will be another one at 7:14 on Sunday evening.

The three mechanical elephants are 4.5 meters high and 8 meters long in the outdoor masterpiece "The Elephants Are Coming..." by the French Oposito Theater Company. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

The 2026 Taipei Arts Festival transforms the streets of Shilin into a theater. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

A grand performance by the artistic team. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

Suona performance. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

The performers focus on puppeteering. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

The crowds of people rushed to take pictures. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

Crowds of people rush to take pictures of the mechanical giant elephant. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

"The Elephant is Coming..." was packed with people. (Photo by reporter Wang Yisong)

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What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • There will be a second Mechanical Elephant Parade performance on Sunday at 7:14 p.m.

    Very likely · Within days

Open Questions

  • Will Colossus be touring in other territories?
  • What is the total budget and sources of sponsorship for this event?
  • Will it become a regular program at the Taipei Arts Festival in the future?

Related Topics

Mechanical Colossus
PeopleWang Yisong
OrganizationsFrench Opposite Theater CompanyTaipei Performing Arts Center
PlacesShilin Night MarketJihe RoadTaipei Performing Arts Center Plaza
TopicsShilin Night MarketTaipei Arts FestivalFrench Opposite Theater Companytraveling showPerforming Arts Center
This article was originally published by 自由时报.

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