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97-Year-Old Grandpa Saves Village by Painting Buildings with Colorful Art A little over 10 years ago, a then-86-year-old Huang Yung-fu faced a dilemma. The Taiwanese government was threatening to knock down his village, as he was the last remaining resident, in attempts to build a more modern apartment complex. He was offered money to pack up his home and move elsewhere, but couldn’t bear the thought of leaving the only home he’d ever known in Taiwan. That’s when he started painting. Huang, now affectionately known as “Rainbow Grandpa,” was born in China. After fighting in the Sino-Japanese War and World War II, he fought for the Nationalist Party over Mao Zedong’s Communist government. When the Nationalists lost, he and 2 million others fled to Taiwan. It was here that he was housed in a makeshift village put together hastily for incoming members of the military and their families. What was meant to be a temporary solution eventually became home. So, it came as a shock when, 40 years later, it looked like his home was going to be obliterated. “When I came here, the village had 1,200 households and we’d all sit and talk like one big family,” Huang shared with BBC. “But then everyone moved away or passed away and I became lonely.” With nowhere to go, he turned to art to ease his suffering. First, he painted a small bird on his bungalow. It continued with cats, birds, and people that began flowing across the vacant buildings in the village. Then, in 2010, a local university student stumbled upon the village and after hearing Huang’s story, vowed to help. He snapped a few photos of the village and began a fundraising campaign and petition to save it from destruction. The news quickly went viral and “Rainbow Grandpa” was born. Capturing the heart of the nation, the colorful village became a huge draw for tourists and it continues to bring over a million visitors each year. Best of all, Huang gets to keep his home. “The government has promised me they will keep this house and this village,” he said. “I was so happy and thankful.” Photo 3: 97-year-old Huang Yung-fu is known as “Rainbow Grandpa” for the colorful paintings he has created in his village. Photo 4: This temporary military settlement once housed 1,200 families but was at risk of being demolished. Photo 5: Huang, who was the only remaining resident, refused to move. Instead, he picked up a paintbrush… Photo 6 & 7: …and started painting every surface of the village. Photo 8 & 9: After his story caught the eye of the public, the government decided to save the buildings. Photo 10: Now, over 1 million people a year come to visit this Rainbow Village.           Honesty is the best policy. |
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This 97 years old "Rainbow Grandpa" has successfully and peacefully protested Taiwan government to knock down his village. He uses his colorful paintings to save his house and village. The most peaceful protest that I have ever heard. I think he should collect some "donation" or "door ticket" from the million of tourists for his talent and pay for the paint cost. I know I would pay for a donation. Honesty is the best policy.
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There's nowhere else he would want to spend his old age Honesty is the best policy.
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6/3/2019 3:06 am |
There's nowhere else he would want to spend his old age
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The "Rainbow Grandpa" has spent lots of time and afford to draw so many colorful pictures on many houses in order to save his village. I think he drew those pictures after I left Taiwan. I have been in USA for 39 years. I've never seen his paintings even I went back to Taiwan for a month in 2011. His spirit has inspired millions of people. Honesty is the best policy.
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If you can't read Chinese, let me translate 知足常樂 into English for that “Rainbow Grandpa” wrote on the wall "Happiness consists in Contentment". He wrote on the wall many times 知足 "Contentment". This is a inspiring story to save his village. Honesty is the best policy.
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My Caucasian PhD physicist friend forward emails to me the story about a 97 years old man who lives in Taiwan. The old man painting buildings with colorful art in order to save the village he lives in. With a young university student's help, the 97 years old man finally not only save his village, keep his house, but also attracts a million visitors each year. It is a sweet story, so I would like to share with Chinese FriendFinder bloggers. You can see that 97 y/o man on photo 3. Honesty is the best policy.
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