 SiZhuKong performs tomorrow at Witch House. PHOTO COURTESY OF SiZhuKong Highlight Tomorrow at Witch House (女巫店), SiZhuKong (絲竹空爵士樂團) brings its fusion of modern jazz and traditional Chinese music to the stage. The six-piece ensemble uses instruments such as the ruan (阮) and the erhu (二胡) as solo voices on top of the standard jazz rhythm section of piano, drums and bass. “Music is emptiness … music is not meant to be controlled or manipulated,” the band writes on its Web site in reference to its name, which translates as “silk,” “bamboo” and “emptiness.” Pianist Yuwen Peng (彭郁雯), who received the Toshiko Akiyoshi Award for jazz composition while studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, started the group. SiZhuKong made an appearance earlier this year at Indonesia’s Java Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz gatherings in the world. On the Net: www.sizhukong.com. ■Witch House (女巫店), 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號) ■Tomorrow at 9:30pm, doors open at 9pm. Call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org ■Admission is NT$300 at the door
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Wu Chun-hsien. PHOTO COURTESY OF NTCH Dancers are filling the stages at the National Theater building this weekend as the NTCH’s Dance into Spring series resumes with a double-bill. Taipei’s famed Neo-Classic Dance Company (新古典舞團) will perform six of founder/artistic director Liu Feng-shueh’s (劉鳳學) best-known works, including Sparks and Ambushed From All Sides. In the Experimental Theatre, Double C, founded by former Cloud Gate Dance Theatre member Wu Chun-hsien (吳俊憲) and his wife/partner Chrystel Guillebeaud, will perform Wu’s quirky 2006 work, Reflex. Wu and Cuillebeaud were last seen in the Experimental Theater as part of the line-up of the Duet Dance Festival 2007 last spring.
■Neo-Classic Dance Company (新古典舞團), National Theater, Taipei City ■Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm ■Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing ■Double C, Experimental Theater ■Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm ■Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing |
| Theater Taiwan’s underground economy now includes a bizarre new product: caged people. People of the Cage (匡匡人•硬著陸), a new performance by Ghostdoll Theater Company (鬼娃株式會社劇團), tells the story of three brothers who try to earn a living by selling caged people — a popular product in Taiwan because they can be used as slaves, friends or lovers — on the black market. When their business begins to fail, the brothers hatch a desperate plot to keep afloat. ■Red House Theater (紅樓劇場), 10 Chengdu Rd, Wanhua Dist, Taipei City (台北市萬華區成都路10號) ■Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm ■Tickets are NT$450, through NTCH ticketing I Hope This Letter Brings You Happiness (收信快樂) by Off Performance Workshop (外表坊時驗團) tells the story of two people exchanging letters over a 40-year period, their experiences and loves. ■Huashan Cultural and Creative Industry Center (華山創意文化園區), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號) ■Today, tomorrow and Sunday at 8pm ■Tickets are NT$500, through NTCH ticketing Hard-hitting social commentary tinged with moral themes is a trademark of the plays written by the late Spanish playwright Fernando Arrabal. Taiwan’s Tellus Theater continues its adaptation of Arrabal’s work with Guernica Picnic on the Battlefield, which combines two of the master playwright’s works and investigates what it means to live through war. The play is in English. ■Lien Te Vegetarian Restaurant (蓮德品素天地), B1, 82 Ningbo W St, Taipei City (台北市寧波西街82號B1) ■Tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7pm and Sunday at 2:30pm ■Tickets are NT$350, through NTCH ticketing Taiwan’s raucous legislature and zany television shows are some of the fodder for Mad in Taiwan (瘋狂年代), the latest work by Ping-Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班). The play within a play tells the story of a theater group that attempts to produce a musical that captures the spirit of Taiwan. The trope they eventually hit on is betel nut beauties. ■Tainan Municipal Cultural Center (台南市立文化中心), 332, Chunghua E Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號) ■Tomorrow at 7:30pm ■Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,500, through NTCH ticketing |
| Classical music Vendome Clarinet Quartet (法國凡登單簧管四重奏), comprised of Franck Amet, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Alexandre Chabod and Olivier Patey, will perform a program of light classics ranging from Bach to Bizet. ■Monday 7:30pm (Taichung), Tuesday 7:30pm (Taipei), Wednesday 7:30pm (Kaohsiung) ■Chunghsing Concert Hall, Taichung (台中中興堂), 291-3 Chingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路291之3號), National Concert Hall, Taipei City, and Kaohsiung City Concert Hall (高雄市音樂館), 99 Hexi Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市河西路99號) ■Tickets are NT$300 to NT$600 in Taichung, NT$300 to NT$800 in Taipei and NT$300 in Kaohsiung; available through NTCH ticketing Daniel Ciampolini Percussion Recital (丹尼爾．湘伯里尼法國打擊獨奏會) sees the former soloist of the Ensemble Intercontemporain show of the latest trends and techniques in percussion music in a program that includes works such as Xenakis’ Psappha version electronique, works by composer Wang Sue-ya (王思雅) as well as Ciampolini’s own composition Touch of hang pour hang. ■Today at 7:30pm ■National Recital Hall, Taipei City ■Tickets are NT$300 to NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing The Long-Thibaud Contest First Prize Series (芙若德瑞克.薩吉絲小提琴獨奏會) features Frederieke Saeijs on violin and Maurice Lammerts van Bueren on piano performing Beethoven’s Spring Sonata in F Major, Respighi’s Sonata in B Minor, Tchaikovsky’s 3 souvenirs d’ un lieu cher and Ravel’s Tzigane. A second concert in the series will feature pianist Hibiki Tamura on May 15. ■Sunday at 7:30pm ■National Recital Hall, Taipei City ■Tickets are NT$500, available through ERA ticketing, at www.ticket.com.tw Frederieke Saeijs Violin Recital (芙若德瑞克．薩吉絲小提琴獨奏會) features the violinist repeating the same program as her Taipei concert. Wednesday at 7:30pm Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City (台中市學士路98號) Tickets are NT$500, available through ERA ticketing Russian Romance (俄羅斯迷情), an evening of Russian music by the Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra (高雄市交響樂團) under the baton of guest conductor Igor Verbitsky. The program includes Mussorgsky’s Introduction to Khovantchina, Borodin’s Petite Suite and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.2 in C Minor, Op.17. ■Sunday at 7:30pm ■Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chih-Teh Hall (高雄市立文化中心至德堂), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號) ■Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800 and are available through ERA ticketing |
| Contemporary British singer/songwriter James Blunt — famous for songs such as You’re Beautiful and whose music is so ubiquitous his name has become an insult in Cockney rhyming slang — will soft-rock Sinjhuang Stadium in Taipei County tomorrow. ■Sinjhuang Stadium (新莊體育場), 66 Hesing St, Sinjhuang City, Taipei County (台北縣新莊市和興街66號) ■8pm tomorrow ■NT$1,200 to NT$1,600 tickets are sold out; seats priced NT$2,000 to NT$3,600 are available through ERA ticketing Jazz Quintessence is tonight at Sappho de Base, the favorite late night hang-out for Taipei’s jazz musicians. Tomorrow, it’s Black Sheep, which plays Texas-style blues. On Tuesday night, there’s a set by the Grace Jazz Trio with an open jam afterwards. Wednesday is “a special event with a special guest.” DJ Zulu returns on Thursday, spinning what he calls “timeless and positive black sounds.” B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Call (02) 2700-5411 (after 9pm) or visit www.sappho102.biz Performances begin at 10:30pm No entrance fee Tonight at Italian restaurant Capone’s, it’s Taipei’s most authentic funk and blues band, the Kenyatta Quintet, led by drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta, a New Orleans native. The group plays every Friday until June 27th. ■312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號) Call (02) 2773-3782 for more information ■Fridays from 9pm to 11pm ■No entrance fee; dinner seating Tonight at Underworld (地下社會) it’s an evening of atmospheric indie rock with Double Wide and The Capelin (柳葉魚樂團). Tomorrow Caribbean beats take over with High Tide — the side band of Public Radio singer/guitarist Moshe Foster, Skaraoke, and Taimaica Sound System (台買加環繞音效), an all-Taiwanese outfit mixing and playing reggae, ska, and rocksteady [see story above]. Alt-rock bands Spinpin (轉圈圈) and Nakama (納卡瑪) play on Wednesday. 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 Tuesday through Sunday ■Entrance tonight and tomorrow is NT$300 and includes one drink. Entrance on Wednesdays is NT$100. Before midnight on Tuesdays and Thursdays, drinks are buy-one-get- one-free The Wall presents French Music Nights 2008 (法蘭西初夜), which starts tonight with the spacey pop-rock sounds and sultry voice of Keren Ann. Tomorrow, the sounds enter electronica territory with Digihai opening for tHe pEneLOpe[s] of Paris. On Sunday it’s post-rock and noise with The Cranes, Black Faith With Sonic Pace (黑色信念跟隨著音速腳步), and Emily (艾蜜莉). The Shine & Shine & Shine & Shine (閃閃閃閃) bring its electronica-laced rock 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 visit www.the-wall.com.tw for more information ■8pm tonight, tomorrow; 3pm Sunday ■NT$1,200 tonight, NT$600 on Saturday, NT$1,500 for both nights; NT$300 Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Admission includes one drink Tonight at Witch House (女巫店), it’s Diagonal Music (對角線樂團), a trio consisting of a bassist, guitarist and accordionist that plays instrumental music which evokes film-noire and gypsy folk. SiZhuKong ( 絲竹空爵士樂團) plays tomorrow. 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd 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 ABS (All Blues and Ska), which is composed of members of Wubai’s (伍百) backing band China Blue, takes to the stage tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Princess Ai (戴愛玲) and Bibi Chao (趙之璧) and her band play tomorrow. On Sunday it’s R ‘n’ B hip-hop crew Genesis Open Mic (創世紀音樂會). 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 ■NT$450 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow; NT$350 on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Admission includes one free drink. There is a one-drink minimum on Monday Tonight at 89K in Taichung it’s funk supergroup The Moneyshot Horns, playing until late. Tomorrow, it’s a fundraiser for Pressed Magazine featuring hip-hop outfit Dr Reniculous Lips, rock trio Moss and electric blues band Three Day Bender. ■25 Daguan Rd, Taichung City (台中市大觀路25號). Call (04) 2381-8240 ■11pm tonight; 9pm tomorrow ■NT$250 tonight, NT$300 tomorrow. Admission includes one drink |
| Events The biannual Petanque bowls tournament (French style), organized by the French Association in Taiwan, will include a barbecue (sausages, spicy grilled meat, salads and beverages) and a lucky draw at the end of the afternoon’s entertainment. ■Sunday at 10am ■Taipei European Primary School Campus, 731 Wenlin Rd, Shilin Dist, Taipei City (台北市士林區文林路731號). ■Admission is from NT$100 to NT$500 depending on age and membership status. To reserve tickets, send an e-mail to comiteaft@gmail.com or call 0935-021-492 for more information Tomorrow The Londoner hosts what is billed as the first live multi-act comedy show in Taichung, sponsored by The Comedy Club. The show features five comedians, with Hartley Pool as the main act, Matt “The Puppet Guy” Bronsil, The Taichung Improv Group, Mark Goding, and newcomer to the scene, Tom Levene. [See story above.] ■143 Huamei W St Sec1, Taichung City (台中市華美西街一段143號) Call (04) 2314-6919 or visit www.londoner.com.tw ■Tomorrow at 10pm ■NT$350 entrance includes one drink Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL). After eight months of tough, regular season action, the CIHL enters its quarterfinals tomorrow night with the sixth-place Bears squaring off against the third-place Wolves at 9:15pm. At 10:45pm, the Sharks, who finished fifth place in regular season action, will face the Raptors, who finished fourth. The semifinals are on Sunday night, with tomorrow’s lowest seeded team hitting the ice against the top-ranked Tigers at 7:45pm, while the second lowest seeded team will battle the second-place Lions, at 9:15pm. More game information can be found at www.cihl.com.tw. ■Taipei Arena (台北巨蛋), tomorrow at 9:15pm and Sunday at 7:45pm ■Admission is free |
| Exhibition The Shin Leh Yuan Art Space 10th Anniversary Exhibition — Eternal Adventureland (新樂園十週年展—永恆的成人遊戲工廠). With works by more than 50 local artists, the exhibition is an ambitious attempt to bring everyday products from the kitchen, bedroom, garden, factory, street and grocery store to the museum. For more information, visit www.sly10.url.tw. ■Taipei National University of Arts — Guandu Museum of Arts (台北藝術大學關渡美術館), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Beitou Dist, Taipei City (台北市北投區學園路1號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2896-1000 x2432 ■Until June 29 Exploring Christian Lacroix by Christian Rizzo and David Dubois (反常—克利斯瓊拉夸). Christian Lacroix’s 20th anniversary fashion show in May last year was an attention-grabbing crossover of theater, music and fashion. Designer and scenographer David Dubois and artist Christian Rizzo created the show’s theatrical atmosphere. ■Museum of Contemporary Art (台北當代藝術館), 39 Changan W Rd, Taipei City (台北市長安西路39號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2552- 3721 ■Until June 15 No Error Lost. Three local young artists question the meaning and reinterpretation of the word “primitive” through their multimedia art works. Yu Cheng-ta (余政達) examines spatial dimensions to find an answer, while Luo Chiao-ling (羅喬綾) returns to a childhood of innocence and daring and Chiu Yuan-nan (邱元男) explores the processing of garbage. ■Nanhai Gallery (南海藝廊), 3, Ln 19, Chungching S Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市重慶南路二段19巷3號). Open Wednesday to Sunday from 2pm to 9:30pm. Call (02) 2392-5080 ■Until May 17 400 Noeuds — an Exhibition by Chan Chih-ting (400個結—詹芝婷個展). The exhibition probes the connection between places and people. It also reveals aspects of Chan’s childhood and her education in France. ■Islanders Studio (島民工作室), 95 Chaozhou St, Taipei City (台北市潮州街95號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7:30pm. Call (02) 2396-9208 ■Until May 31
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Nov. 11 to Nov. 17 People may call Taipei a “living hell for pedestrians,” but back in the 1960s and 1970s, citizens were even discouraged from crossing major roads on foot. And there weren’t crosswalks or pedestrian signals at busy intersections. A 1978 editorial in the China Times (中國時報) reflected the government’s car-centric attitude: “Pedestrians too often risk their lives to compete with vehicles over road use instead of using an overpass. If they get hit by a car, who can they blame?” Taipei’s car traffic was growing exponentially during the 1960s, and along with it the frequency of accidents. The policy
Hourglass-shaped sex toys casually glide along a conveyor belt through an airy new store in Tokyo, the latest attempt by Japanese manufacturer Tenga to sell adult products without the shame that is often attached. At first glance it’s not even obvious that the sleek, colorful products on display are Japan’s favorite sex toys for men, but the store has drawn a stream of couples and tourists since opening this year. “Its openness surprised me,” said customer Masafumi Kawasaki, 45, “and made me a bit embarrassed that I’d had a ‘naughty’ image” of the company. I might have thought this was some kind
What first caught my eye when I entered the 921 Earthquake Museum was a yellow band running at an angle across the floor toward a pile of exposed soil. This marks the line where, in the early morning hours of Sept. 21, 1999, a massive magnitude 7.3 earthquake raised the earth over two meters along one side of the Chelungpu Fault (車籠埔斷層). The museum’s first gallery, named after this fault, takes visitors on a journey along its length, from the spot right in front of them, where the uplift is visible in the exposed soil, all the way to the farthest
The room glows vibrant pink, the floor flooded with hundreds of tiny pink marbles. As I approach the two chairs and a plush baroque sofa of matching fuchsia, what at first appears to be a scene of domestic bliss reveals itself to be anything but as gnarled metal nails and sharp spikes protrude from the cushions. An eerie cutout of a woman recoils into the armrest. This mixed-media installation captures generations of female anguish in Yun Suknam’s native South Korea, reflecting her observations and lived experience of the subjugated and serviceable housewife. The marbles are the mother’s sweat and tears,
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