25×40 Art Space Introduction
Huang Yizhen, a 25-year-old working in Taipei, had her dream of opening a coffee shop sparked after reading the book "The Song of the Heartbroken Coffee Shop." After 15 years in the workforce, she finally realized her dream at the age of 40 on Zhongzheng Road in Chiayi City. This is the origin of the name "25x40 Arts Space," which reflects her journey from age 25 to 40. Upon entering the 25x40 Arts Space, the old cypress house tells its story of over 60 years of history. It was at the first sight of this old house that Huang Yizhen decided to lease it and spent three months refurbishing it. The high-ceilinged, open structure seems to welcome any passerby who might drop in unexpectedly. The space offers irregular exhibitions and sells creative cultural products, stemming from Yizhen's experience during her graduate studies, where she noticed that many artists and artisans had limited opportunities to showcase their work. She hopes to provide a platform for these cultural and artistic works to shine. In addition to selling physical products, Yizhen also curates various arts and cultural activities, frequently inviting well-known figures from across the country to hold lectures, workshops, and concerts, aiming to promote and invigorate the cultural exchange in Chiayi City. The old cypress house once connected with the adjacent building; construction workers stated that the cypress wood used in the house comes from the high-quality timber of Alishan, suggesting that this house might have belonged to a person of certain influence or economic status in the past. With the passage of time, this house has shed its fame and fortune and, after coming across Yizhen, has transformed into Chiayi City’s first open arts space, sincerely inviting anyone with a passion for the arts to come and share their beautiful dreams. Recommended dish: Alishan tea.
