Connect with the Ancestor

The Lantern Festival is one of the most important celebrations of the Chinese society. It is also the time for farmers to pray for a plentiful harvest. In order to promote this unique and traditional festival to the international community, since 1990, Taiwan has turned the tradition of carrying hand lanterns on the Lantern Festival into a large-scale celebration events to attract tourists. For the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival, the theme is "Light Up the Future".

"Connect with the Ancestor" by indigenous artist Iyo Kacaw was created using the natural material of camphor wood. It takes on the shape of the fire pit, an important spiritual symbol of the indigenous peoples, and is supplemented by sound and light shows, the chanting of prayers by indigenous peoples, as well as the swirling white smoke that rises to the sky. The white smoke represents the passage that carries the emotions, thoughts, and love of the tribe members to their ancestors. This work expresses indigenous peoples' gratitude to the sea, mountains, forests, as well as the old melodies and ballads inspired by all living things and the nature, as well as expressing their hope for life and imagination for the future.

Fire brings together members of indigenous tribes. Sitting around the fire pit and living with the light produced by fire, they tell stories, legends and mythologies, and sing ballads of their tribes. For thousands of years, their culture and spirits have been passed on as the fire continues to glow, and their community will remain united for generations to come.