Boring Scenery of Taipei: A Photobook by Cheng Hung-ching

Taiwan's photography history presents its most enigmatic photobook yet. Japanese-based photographer Cheng Hung-ching (teikoukei) releases his first personal photobook, "Boring Scenery of Taipei." Moving away from idealized visions of Taipei's good life, this collection captures the most insignificant individuals and street scenes around us. Through his lens, we discover landscapes that are ordinary, yet unexpectedly reveal a subtle smile. It turns out, Taipei's boredom is its most compelling aspect! [Celebrity Endorsements: The Most Boring, Yet Most Sincere Recommendations] I've been to Taipei over a dozen times and even lived there! But I've never seen Taipei like this!!! Mr. tei is too interesting. — Kawashima Kotori, Japanese photographer How can he capture such "quirkiness"? Is Cheng Hung-ching constantly pressing the shutter button with 24-hour intensity? This photobook will make you laugh, fill you with warmth, and help you rediscover Taipei (and Taiwan). — Chen Hsia-min, Publisher Taipei isn't boring; the photographer is. While urban photography aesthetics increasingly strive to make everything look like it's from Minsheng Community, Cheng Hung-ching insists on documenting Taipei's various states of ennui, almost with a mischievous "What are you trying to say?" approach to his subjects. And so, we see an elder lounging in Yongkang Street Park (What's in the sky?), a crowd of head-down phone users at Xinyi Vieshow Cinemas (the dog sits as upright as the people), a couple openly displaying affection at Ximending MRT Station (Can't they wait?), and someone resting under a plastic bag at Nishihonganji Plaza (Suffocating sleep?)...... It's truly boring, but not the boring of a 3 PM math class. It's more like the boredom of having nothing on your to-do list, a boredom filled with a spiritual presence, inspiring me to write a poem called "Boredom" with only two lines: "Humans are bored / God takes the opportunity to rest." Cheng Hung-ching is bored, and we are freed from the fatigue of the scenery. — Hu Nan Chong, Poet Recently, many Japanese magazines have been featuring Taipei in their photo shoots. I wonder what peculiar filters Japanese photographers use, as I often find the perfectly composed and elegant Taipei street scenes unfamiliar. However, after seeing tei-san's photobook, I realized his lens is even more magical. I can't help but wonder where he encounters these peculiar and fantastical everyday scenes in Taipei; it's truly astonishing. — "Design Wave," a platform for Japanese design exchange ◎ A 5-year project, featuring 118 street photography works of Taipei by Cheng Hung-ching. ◎ A collaboration with Liao Tzu, the graphic designer behind the Golden Melody Award-winning Best Album Packaging, known for his adventurous spirit. Featuring special color-sprayed edges and a handmade sticker cover, it's a dazzlingly audacious photobook. ◎ Includes a bonus flyer from Taipei's most boring streets. Stick one on and immerse yourself in the Taipei scenery.