The rainbow maker
You had dedicated your life to serve your country. At the young age of 15 you enrolled into the NRA (National Revolutionary Army) to fight against the forces of Japan and the insurgence of communism. Both would destroy the China you knew. Despite your hard-fought victory against the Japanese armies you were eventually driven back by the communists and forced to flee your home country. You escaped to Taiwan and were housed in a hastily built bungalow, one of thousands quickly thrown together to shelter you and your fellow war-weary survivors. But the war is not over yet.
Preparations to launch a campaign to retake the homeland were in motion; Project National Glory. One day you would return to your homeland and drive back the communists. But that day never came. Initial tentative attempts failed and the hope of you and your men returning to China soon fade. This rugged bungalow became your permanent home, your only home. You settled into a peaceful life here, a life unfamiliar to you. Over the years your fellow survivors drifted away from the bungalow village or departed through old age. Soon you were the only one left.
You received a letter in 2011 informing you that your home was going to be destroyed to make way for tall high-rise tower blocks. The bulldozers soon arrived and begun to scythe their way through your village. Your home; this modest structure of coarse rubble and mortar is all you had left and soon it will be pushed under by the bulldozer blade of progress.
This is when you begun to paint a giant bird on the wall of your bedroom. Perhaps as a form of escapism? An activity to occupy your mind whilst the bulldozers crashed their way towards your front door. Or perhaps you painted in an attempt to add value to your home. A place you considered so valuable and others considered valueless. After coating the inside walls of your home with your beautiful artwork you turned your brush onto the exterior walls. Soon the whole neighbourhood had become your canvas. You funded your new hobby by coins left in a small donation box outside your home.
Every morning, at 4am, you got up to paint.
The doomed village
One night a student from the local university stumbled upon Huang Yung-Fu during one of his late night painting sessions. Upon seeing Huang's paint work and hearing of his predicament the student begun a fund raising campaign so Huang could continue painting beyond the limitation of his donation box.
The story of Huang and his "Rainbow Village" spread quickly, both to local residents who became sympathetic to his cause and to oversea visitors who were drawn in by the vivid colours and Huang's hospitality.
As popularity grew so did the pressure on the local government to halt the demolition and save the village. The local mayor received over 80,000 emails urging him to stop the demolition.
With only 11 homes left out of the 1200 a decision to halt the demolition was announced by the local government. The remaining homes, now part of Huang's infamous Rainbow Village were re-designated as a public park to protect them from future developments. Huang, against all the odds had won and saved his home.
A typical street in Rainbow Village.
Grandpa Rainbow
The rainbow village has changed considerably since gaining park status. The empty houses that were once home to Huang's wartime neighbours are now bustling gift shops and tea egg cafes (a popular Chinese snack), all run by the local students. Huang himself, affectionately known as "Grandpa Rainbow", still lives in the village and to my knowledge continues to get up at 4am every morning to paint. During the day he can be found sitting behind a table in a quiet corner next to the busy souvenir stand. A sign on the table invites you to come and meet Grandpa Rainbow and have your photo taken with him, like meeting a celebrity at a book signing. He is a celebrity in his own right.
The students now seem to be responsible for running the rainbow village and I think this is the best scenario for Huang. Over a million visitors descend upon the small village each year, a number that would be overwhelming for any individual.
Huang, stated in a interview that he was lonely in the village after everyone else had left. A common and serious problem many elderly people face. Now as Grandpa Rainbow he is anything but lonely. He is surrounded by an entourage of young students who work in his gift-shops and cafes and by the millions of tourists who come to visit him and his village each year, an average of nearly three thousand a day.
I was honoured to meet Grandpa Rainbow himself and have a photo taken with him when I visited the Rainbow Village on the 7th of January 2020, one week shy of his 98th birthday. During his photos he usually shows a V sign with his hand, V sign for victory. He is indeed victorious. Not only in saving his home, but in winning the hearts and minds of all those who meet him. Perhaps he is the most popular 98 year old on the planet?
I really see a lot of resemblance with Huang's story with the film “Up” by Pixar Studios, just replace the colourful balloons with colourful paint.
Click / press on photos for full screen.
