Design History Photography

#elephants #Pi Cheng Hsiu #playgrounds #Taiwan

Pi Cheng Hsiu Traverses Taiwan to Document a Disappearing Population of Elephant Slides

July 27, 2023

Kate Mothes

A colorful elephant slide.

All images © Pi Cheng Hsiu

Through the parks and schoolyards of Taiwan, a dwindling herd of vintage elephant slides trudges alongside ball courts and buildings. Popular in the mid-20th century, the slides no longer adhere to local safety regulations, and as parks are redeveloped, they have been gradually disappearing. In an ongoing series, Pi Cheng Hsiu (previously) captures the herd’s diverse expressions and ornamentation, some retaining their original gray appearance, and others the recipients of vibrant makeovers.

Pi has also generated an interactive map featuring all of the locations documented so far, and you can explore more on Instagram.

 

An elephant slide under a tree.

An elephant slide painted with characters from Disney's Bambi.  A colorful patchwork elephant slide.

A small elephant slide made from brick.

A colorfully-painted elephant slide. A double-sided elephant slide next to a running track.

A colorfully painted elephant slide.

An elephant slide under a roof with small tricycles.

#elephants #Pi Cheng Hsiu #playgrounds #Taiwan

 

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. You'll connect with a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, read articles and newsletters ad-free, sustain our interview series, get discounts and early access to our limited-edition print releases, and much more. Join now!

 

 

Also on Colossal

Related posts on Colossal about elephants Pi Cheng Hsiu playgrounds Taiwan