| HIGHLIGHT | |
 Purchase a photo and help improve the lives of refugee children in the Middle East this weekend at River Restaurant Art Gallery. PHOTO: COURTESY OF KLOIE PICOT | Hidden in Plain Sight is a photo exhibition and auction to raise money for Iraqi and Palestinian refugees. Taiwan-based Canadian photographer and documentary filmmaker, Kloie Picot, has assembled for silent auction the work of international photojournalists such as Lisa Hogben, David Bathgate and Laura El-Tantawy at the River Restaurant Art Gallery. The opening night of the four-day event features performances by Foreign Affairs, a posse of hip-hoppers, THC, a three-piece hip-hop group from Taipei, comedians Kurt Penny and Matt Goding and belly dancing by the Asmah Belly Dancers. Each night leading up to the 19th, the day before the Iraq War started four years ago, films will be screened at the restaurant from 9:30pm to 11:30pm. Titles include Iraq in Fragments and Gaza Strip by James Longley, Operation Filmmaker by Liev Schreiber, and Jenin Jenin by Mohammad Bakri. For more information about the event and auction visit hiddeninplainsightexhibition.blogspot.com.
■ River Restaurant Art Gallery, 18 Datong Rd, Jhongli City, Taoyuan County (桃園縣中壢市大同路18號) ■ Tonight, beginning at 9pm ■ Tickets are NT$200, and can be purchased at the door |
Theater
The National Theater's 2008 Inter-
national Theater Festival continues with Creative Society's (創作社) Roberto Zucco, an adaptation of Bernard-Marie Koltes' original play of the same name. Inspired by the life of Italian serial killer Roberto Zucco, the plot of the 15-scene play follows the last years of his life and the examines his motives for embarking on a killing spree. Three actors play 20 nameless characters and take the audience on an avant-garde plot that follows Zucco's prison break and subsequent crime rampage.
■ National Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Dubbed the first Broadway-style Hakka musical, My Daughter's Wedding (福春嫁女) is based on William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. It tells the story of a successful career woman who is skeptical of love and fears marriage. Consequently, no man dares approach her because of her rudeness — except one, who tries to win her heart by unusual means.
■ Hsinchu Municipal Auditorium (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17 Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$900 and are available through NTCH ticketing
In the play The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? (山羊或誰是蘇維亞？), Martin is a successful 50-something architect who is married to a beautiful woman and has a son. His life falls to pieces, however, when appearing on a famous talk show he inadvertently discloses that he is conducting an extramarital affair. How does Martin admit to his concerned wife and son and curious friends that his lover, Sylvia, is a goat?
■ National Taiwan University Theater (台大劇場), 1, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路段四段1號)
■ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$300 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Small Cardboard Boxes (小紙箱) is a children's play that tells the story of how a homeless man befriends a cardboard box and in the process becomes less lonely about living on the street.
■ Taipei Culture Center, Wenshan Branch (台北市社教館文山分館), B2, 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號B2)
■ Tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company (台原偶戲團) and Italian puppet master Massimo Godoli Peli team up to bring young audiences the Italian Puppet Show Pippo. Emphasizing audience interaction, the performance takes a humorous look at family struggles in a rural Italian town.
■ Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧北路79號)
■ Tomorrow at 3pm
■ Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing
A Mandarin version of the The Vagina Monologues will be performed tonight and tomorrow as part of V-Day Taiwan. Based on the script written by Eve Ensler, The Vagina Monologues consists of condensed segments of about 200 interviews Ensler conducted with women about their vaginas, sexuality and stories of violence and sexual abuse. The performance comprises 17 monologues on topics ranging from pubic hair and masturbation to rape and childbirth. The women interviewed for the play hail from all walks of life, including prostitutes and women living on the street. All proceeds go to select local charities that work with women.
■ Taipei City Hall Family Theater (台北市親子劇場), 2F, 1 Shifu Rd, Taipei City (台北市市府路1號2樓)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$500 and are available through ERA ticketing
Event
Are you non-Taiwanese but still want to vote in Taiwan's presidential elections? You can tomorrow afternoon at Formosanetwork.com's launch party, which will be held at Citizen Cane. The Web site is geared toward foreigners living in Taiwan and Taiwanese living abroad. The idea is to provide useful local information and connect people for online and offline social functions. There will also be a free raffle at the do.
■ Citizen Cain (國民), 67 Dongfeng St, Taipei City (台北市東豐街67號)
■ Tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm
■ Admission: Free
Classical music
London Philharmonic Orchestra Asian Tour (倫敦愛樂交響樂團亞洲行) will play two engagements in Taipei under conductor Vladimir Jurowski, featuring violin soloist Nikolaj Znaider. The program will include Mark Anthony Turnage's Lullaby for Hans, Hans Werner Henze's Sonata per archi, Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Major, Op.77 and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6 in B Minor, Op. 74.
■ Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$1,800 to NT$3,600, available through ERA ticketing
Vilde Frang with the Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (薇爾德•弗朗&台北愛樂青年管弦樂團) features the young protege of violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter. Cheng Li-pin (鄭立彬) will conduct a program that includes Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77, Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43, as well as Golden Melody Award-winner Lee Wen-pin's (李文彬) Eight Scenes of Lukang (鹿港八景選曲).
■ Monday at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 and are available through TRTC ticketing
Eric Chen's Music Journey of Fairy Tale (陳冠宇音樂童話之旅) features the highly regarded classical pianist collaborating with the If Kids (如果兒童劇團) children's theater group to create a musical event for the whole family.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,500, available through ERA ticketing
2008 Spring Concert (2008春季音樂會) will feature the Taiwan Soloists Chamber Orchestra (台灣獨奏家室內樂團) performing with pianist Natalia Amosova, cellist Alexander Dardykin and violinist Hsiao Pang-heng (蕭邦亨).
■ Sunday (Kaohsiung) and Monday (Taipei) at 7:30pm
■ Kaohsiung's Chih-Teh Hall (高雄市文化中心至德堂) at 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號) and National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$200 for Kaohsiung and NT$300 for Taipei, available from NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
Underworld (地下社會) features emo act Hindsight (光景消逝) and punks Damn Kidz tonight. Indie-rockers Cotton Candy (棉花糖), Freckles (雀斑), and Dhin Sheng (欽聖), ex-What Mulan (花木蘭), play tomorrow. There's no cover on Sunday, when DJs Exploded (Pink) Yodas, Eyelephant, Discoattack and Bitter (B哥) take turns on the ones and twos. Post-rock group Mosquilephant (蚊子大象) performs on Wednesday, along with Mr Doris.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
■ Bands start playing after 9pm. The bar is open from 8pm daily, except Mondays
■ Entrance tonight, tomorrow and Wednesday is NT$300 and includes one drink. Sunday is free. Before midnight on Tuesdays and Thursdays, drinks are buy-one-get-one-free
Tonight, The Wall (這牆) presents singer/songwriter Peggy Hsu (許哲珮) with support from guitarist Chi Mu (赤木), bass player Huai Bi Li (壞比利), drummer Tohru Komiya, violinist Chen Yi-chen (陳怡蓁), cellist Liu Han (劉涵) and flautist Chen Chia-ching (陳家慶). Soda Green (蘇打綠) is scheduled for another three performances this week: tomorrow, Sunday and Tuesday. Pop-rock band Lumei (露魅) and Crescent Lament take to the stage on Wednesday.
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
■ Shows start at 8pm, except for the Soda Green shows, which all start at 7:30pm, and Sunday's Coco concert, which starts at 1:30pm
■ NT$400 tonight; tomorrow, Sunday and Tuesday are sold out; NT$300 on Wednesday. Admission includes one drink
Appearing tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) are vocalist Lynn (李昀陵) and the Onyz Jazz Quartet (奧尼斯爵士四重奏), with Kinya on bass, drummer Dafu, guitarist Paco Huang (黃俊仁) and Jimmy Li (李承育) on sax. There's a mini-concert featuring popular indie-pop act Wonfu (旺福) tomorrow. On Sunday, it's the release party for Compilation Vol. 3 by Echo (清大迴聲社合輯Vol.3首賣會). Monday is open-jam night. Country-rock band Slimo (啾吉惦惦) and Nekojamband (妮可醬) play on Tuesday. Xiao Yu (小宇), who stirs his Mando-pop with a little hip-hop, and Mando-pop singer Olivia Yan (閻韋伶) perform on Wednesday. And on Thursday, it's singer/guitarist Wing (羅文裕).
■ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm, except Sunday's fest, which starts at 7pm
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow; NT$350 on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Admission includes one free drink. There is a one-drink minimum on Monday
Two blues bands take to the stage tonight at Bliss, Barrelhouse Fire and David Chen and the Muddy Basin Ramblers. Tomorrow, it's Sound One Art Gallery (www.scallart.com) with beats and ambience courtesy of ambient/electronica group Viba and electronica composer Moshang (see the Vinyl Word above).
■ 148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號), one block east of Dunhua South Road (敦化南路). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com. For more information on live performances at Bliss,visit www.myspace.com/blisslivehouse
■ Tonight at 10pm and tomorrow from 8pm. Bar/kitchen open from 7pm daily. Ladies night Fridays; women get one free cocktail of their choice
■ Entrance to the bar is free. Cover for the live music upstairs is NT$200
Witch House (女巫店) hosts country-rock band Slimo (啾吉惦惦) tonight and indie singer Lisa tomorrow.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Road Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Call (02) 2362-5494 or visit
www.witchhouse.org
■ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sunday to Wednesday; 11am to 1am Thursday to Saturday
■ NT$300 entrance includes one drink
Exhibition
Appreciate Arts From Body Rhythms (從人體的律動穿透藝術—正視人體之美). To celebrate the gallery's fifth anniversary, the exhibition takes a retrospective look at nudism in painting and features nude portraits by 30 Chinese and Taiwanese artists from the late 19th century to the present. The work of Pan Yu-liang (潘玉良), Xu Bei-hong (徐悲鴻) and Liu Qi-wei (劉其偉), among others, will be on display.
■ Chan Liu Art Gallery (長流畫廊), 3F, 12, Jinshan S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市金山南路二段12號3樓). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm. Call (02) 232- 6603
■ Until March 28
The Platform of “Friend” (「朋友」的平台). In his latest work, artist Kao Jun-honn (高俊宏) explores the idea of a “friendly society” built on the foundation of “social architecture.”
■ Taishin Tower (台新金控大樓), 2F, 118, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路四段118號2樓). Open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm. Call (02) 3707-6955
■ Until March 28
Phantom of History — Yao Jui-chung Solo Exhibition (歷史幽魂 — 姚瑞中個展). Three video works feature artist Yao impersonating Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正) in surreal settings. Yao proffers witty remarks on society through his seemingly foolish acts.
■ Galerie Grand Siecle (新苑藝術), 17, Alley 51, Ln 12, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段12巷51弄17號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. Call (02) 2578-5630
■ Until March 30
Chinese Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition (華人當代雕塑展). Featuring works by celebrated artists from Taiwan and China, including Ju Ming (朱銘) Yuyu Yang (楊英風) and Sui Jian-guo (隋建國), the exhibition aims to introduce a new sculptural aesthetic. The exhibits include Sui's playful translations of Sun Yat-sen's (孫中山) drab tunic suit and Huang Po-jen's (黃柏仁) comic toy figures.
■ Fish Art Center (秋刀魚藝術中心), 137 Jihu Rd, Taipei City (台北市基湖路137號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (02) 2532-3800
■ Until March 30
Haremos Taiwan 2008 (“西”奇古怪). The exhibition introduces visitors to the development of contemporary painting in Spain with the works of 10 Spanish artists.
■ Jia Art Gallery (家畫廊), 1F-1, 30, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段30號1樓之1). Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm to 6pm. Call (02) 2591-4302
■ Until March 29
When nature calls, Masana Izawa has followed the same routine for more than 50 years: heading out to the woods in Japan, dropping his pants and doing as bears do. “We survive by eating other living things. But you can give faeces back to nature so that organisms in the soil can decompose them,” the 74-year-old said. “This means you are giving life back. What could be a more sublime act?” “Fundo-shi” (“poop-soil master”) Izawa is something of a celebrity in Japan, publishing books, delivering lectures and appearing in a documentary. People flock to his “Poopland” and centuries-old wooden “Fundo-an” (“poop-soil house”) in
Jan 13 to Jan 19 Yang Jen-huang (楊仁煌) recalls being slapped by his father when he asked about their Sakizaya heritage, telling him to never mention it otherwise they’ll be killed. “Only then did I start learning about the Karewan Incident,” he tells Mayaw Kilang in “The social culture and ethnic identification of the Sakizaya” (撒奇萊雅族的社會文化與民族認定). “Many of our elders are reluctant to call themselves Sakizaya, and are accustomed to living in Amis (Pangcah) society. Therefore, it’s up to the younger generation to push for official recognition, because there’s still a taboo with the older people.” Although the Sakizaya became Taiwan’s 13th
Earlier this month, a Hong Kong ship, Shunxin-39, was identified as the ship that had cut telecom cables on the seabed north of Keelung. The ship, owned out of Hong Kong and variously described as registered in Cameroon (as Shunxin-39) and Tanzania (as Xinshun-39), was originally People’s Republic of China (PRC)-flagged, but changed registries in 2024, according to Maritime Executive magazine. The Financial Times published tracking data for the ship showing it crossing a number of undersea cables off northern Taiwan over the course of several days. The intent was clear. Shunxin-39, which according to the Taiwan Coast Guard was crewed
For anyone on board the train looking out the window, it must have been a strange sight. The same foreigner stood outside waving at them four different times within ten minutes, three times on the left and once on the right, his face getting redder and sweatier each time. At this unique location, it’s actually possible to beat the train up the mountain on foot, though only with extreme effort. For the average hiker, the Dulishan Trail is still a great place to get some exercise and see the train — at least once — as it makes its way
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