TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — “Battle City: Finale” is a multimedia exhibition displaying 14 years of artist Chang Li-ren’s work (張立人), and has been drawing large crowds in Taipei over the past month.

Some works in the exhibition have been shown individually before, and are being exhibited together for the first time at the Museum of National Taiwan University of Education (MoNTUE) between May and July. Chang's work was selected by the museum as the winner of the biennial “Dreamin' MoNTUE” competition for emerging artists.

A large model of an imagined Taiwan cityscape - arguably the centerpiece of the exhibition - has been seen throughout Taiwan, in France, and has now been installed by Chang alongside his other works to complete “Battle City: Finale” 

Many who viewed the exhibit were attracted by the intricate cityscape, which is built at an approximate 1:12 scale. Lines of people queuing to enter the museum have exceeded organizers expectations after an Instagram reel depicting the city scape went viral.  

Taking elements from urban environments around Taiwan, the model is created from scenes in Chang’s memory, without representing a specific place. It has all the hallmarks of a Taiwanese city, but Chang stresses the location is fictional. 

It may come as a surprise to visitors that the model is not actually a work in itself - only the set in which the main works were created. The works themselves are two short films (“The Glory of Taiwan” and “Economic Miracle”) and a comic book (“Formosa”), which are all available for audiences to view, in addition to the city model. 

After watching the films, viewers will see a staggering list of credits showing that in addition to creating the main set, other smaller models, and the 108 puppets that form the cast, Chang performed nearly every other role in the production. He is credited with voicing all the characters, filming, editing, animation, sound design, art design, and more.

Most of the elements seen in the animations were made in a warehouse in Tainan, where Chang lived and worked for many years. Chang explained that his time in Tainan came to an end after the warehouse was repurposed as a dormitory for migrant workers at the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), which has set up a plant in the surrounding area. 

Audiences may be tempted to connect Chang’s experience of being ousted from his studio by the semiconductor giant to themes in “Battle City 2: Economic Miracle.” The second of the two short films depicts a future in which Taiwan comes entirely under the control of one large corporation, with citizens struggling to get by under its oppressive rule.

Themes of unrequited love, inequality, capitalism, war, and U.S. exceptionalism also feature throughout the animated short films and comic. When viewing the exhibit with Taiwan News, Chang discussed the everyday battles of living in modern society, from the high cost of living in Taipei, to growing economic inequality, and consumerism.

However, when asked about some specific aspects of the work, Chang was often hesitant, or unable to find the right words. He said communication is not his strong suit, and ultimatley, he would prefer the work to speak for itself. 

“If I had the words to describe my ideas, I wouldn’t have had to make the work,” he said.  

Chang said the 14 year process of creating "Battle City" was sometimes lonely, and that going forward he is looking forward to working on more collaborative projects. Friends sometimes helped with small tasks, but mostly, Chang created everything audiences will see in the exhibition on his own.

Asked about the viral success of the exhibition, Chang said he is not worried if audiences are drawn by the opportunity for a good Instagram reel. The more people who come to see the it the better, he said, regardless of whether they come for the model or the artworks.

“Battle City: Finale” is open to the public for free at MoNTUE in Taipei until July 21.