
Insulting emperor quotes, cute cats and punny goods at Creative Expo
Taiwan’s biggest celebration of creativity is back, and it’s bigger than ever. The Creative Expo Taiwan has opened at the Nangang Exhibition Center, bringing together a record 1,200 booths and over 870 brands. There’s stickers with insulting quotes from the Yongzheng Emperor, punny trinkets for mouse lovers, and adorable cat trinkets. For many Taiwanese who grew up in the 80s and 90s, there’s an extra dose of nostalgia, as beloved illustrator Cathie Chen returns to the spotlight after a 30-year hiatus.
Creative Expo Taiwan has kicked off at Nangang Exhibition Center, with the first two days open to professionals only. More than 80 companies from overseas have come to Taiwan to discuss collabs with creators. Among them is Cathie Chen, who’s making a comeback after 30 years by offering illustrations that evoke childhood memories for Gen X.
Cathie Chen
Creator of cathie’s
Last year marked 30 years of cathie’s. Now it’s the 31st year, and I recovered my trademark. So this is a fresh start for me, and cathie’s.
Chen is celebrating her new beginnings by participating in the expo for the first time. Among her wares is an illustrated 6-ring binder that can be used as a journal. The event has brought together 870 brands across 1,200 booths, including popular creators such as Fumeancats and Onion Man. It’s the biggest edition of the expo yet.
Lin Yung-chi
FTV reporter
The popular National Palace Museum rain ponchos can also be found here, as well as highly-demanded products with memeable quotes from the Yongzheng Emperor’s memorials, like this savage sticker saying “You are mentally ill.” Other more amiable quotes include “I gained weight again” or “I trust you can do it.”
Huang Yung-tai
National Palace Museum
It is a major breakthrough for us to be able to bring personalized content to the general public. We also have a section dedicated to the Tibetan Dragon Canon, which became super popular recently.
There’s a book with illuminations from the Tibetan Dragon Sutras, lucky charms, a bottle opener and even a pen shaped like a vajra scepter. If you like cheesy puns about mice, this other stand will get you squeaking with laughter. After mouse-ive demand last year, they have stocked shelves to the rafters.
Ah-tsung
Creature Collectors Club
There were so many people, it was crazy. We brought more stock this year, especially since last year everyone loved our handkerchiefs.
Yuri
3co Studio
We have doubled the stock we bring to a regular expo. New creators can come to expos to sell their products, but if you can score a collab with a manufacturer, you can get licensing agreements.
Exposure is what every up-and-coming artist wants, so rental prices for booths in the emerging creator area are cheaper than before, at just NT$9,500. If shopping for ingenious doodads sounds like fun, this weekend and next, the Creative Expo Taiwan is the place to be.
For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
#creativeexpotaiwan #designer #creator #illustration #creative #expo #3costudio #Fumeancats #onionman #cathies #nationalpalacemuseum
2026-08-06