Originally as an illegal settlement, Treasure Hill community in Taipei in the past decades has undergone dramatic transformation from a rambling complex of slum quarters to a thriving hub of modern art and design. The transformative process, despite causing constant and massive controversy, has been proved to be a good example of how the long denied history of a city can be unfolded and represented to the general public as a form of cultural landscape. This thesis, through a systematic review on the existing literature, is to examine the transformation of Treasure Hill in the historical context of Taipei. Especially by focusing on four key concepts - artivism, urban acupuncture, place-identity, and community participation, the case of Treasure Hill is argued to hold profound implications for the future development of Taipei: First, the role of art in the process of urban renewal is quickly expanding but should be carefully defined in terms of means and ends. Second, the voice of the general public is emerging and becoming influential in shaping the urban landscape of Taipei.
