Taiwan Travels: Finding Patterns in Art and Nature

There are several good reasons why the Portuguese called Taiwan "Formosa," the Beautiful Isle: lush, rolling green hills thanks to its tropical marine climate; shimmering waters that produce a bounty of seafood; a gorgeously decorated temple at every turn, and shrines in even the smallest alley. 

Han Chinese settled in Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty, adding to the mix of aboriginal and Japanese (and Dutch and Portuguese) culture already present there.

I was lucky enough to witness the ways in which nature directly influences art and architecture on this charming island. No matter how brightly painted and stylized building facades are decorated, one can still tell that their forms were inspired by the vines and flowers native to the area.