Theater
The long-anticipated, Chinese-language production of Shakespeare’s Othello (針鋒對決) by the Godot Theater Company (果陀劇場) premieres in Kaohsiung, with headliners Li Li-qun (李立群) and Chin Shih-jie (金士傑), two of Taiwan’s most accomplished stage actors.
■Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm (Kaohsiung), Sept. 6 to Sept. 7 (Hsinchu), Sept. 13 (Tainan), Sept. 18 to Sept. 28 (Taipei), Nov. 8 to Nov. 9 (Taichung)
■This weekend’s performances will be held at the Kaohsiung Cultural Center’s Chihteh 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$1,000 to NT$4,000 (Taipei); NT$500 to NT$4,000 at all other venues. Tickets are available through TRCH ticketing or from Godot Theater Company at www.godot.org.tw
Hong Kong director Mathias Woo (胡恩威) brings his esoteric multimedia stage performance Hua-yen Sutra — Mind as a Skillful Painter (華嚴經之心如工畫師) to Taiwan as part of the Taipei Arts Festival. The performance is a mixture of chanting, music, dance and digital images that is meant to replicate the Buddha’s insight that the world is forged entirely by the mind.
■Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台),
25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City
(台北市八德路三段25號)
■Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
■Tickets are NT$500 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing
The Timid Little Chicken (膽小小雞) by Song Song Children’s and Puppet Theater (九歌兒童劇團) is a puppet performance for the whole family. A mother chicken tries to teach her offspring the ways of the world, but the little chicken is too afraid to learn. But when the mother chicken brings the youngster to a park, what began as fear turns into curiosity.
■Taipei Cultural Center, Wenshan Branch (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 2pm
■Tickets are NT$200, available through NTCH ticketing
Classical Music
The Magic of Taiwan Folk Songs — The Sounds of Liang Hsi-wen (台灣歌謠的清新魅力—聆聽梁茜雯的弦外之音).
The highly regarded local violinist Liang Hsi-wen (梁茜雯) will be presenting a selection of Taiwanese folk songs with piano accompaniment by Lu Yi-tsi (盧易之).
■Today at 7:30pm (Taichung) and tomorrow at 7:30pm (Hsinchu)
National Taichung Library Chunghsing Concert Hall (台中市中興堂),
291-3 Chingwu Rd, Taichung City
(台中市精武路291之3號) and
the Hsinchu Municipal Performance Hall (新竹市立演藝廳),
17 Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City
(新竹市東大路二段17號)
■Tickets are NT$200 to NT$800 at both venues, available through ERA ticketing
Za Ondekoza (“demon drum group,” 鬼太鼓座) is back for yet another tour of Taiwan in their ever popular program of percussion and bare buttocks. They perform in Taipei this Sunday and will go on to tour Jhongli, Chiayi and Kaohsiung through September.
■Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
■National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (台北國父紀念館), 505, Renai Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市仁愛路四段505號)
■Tickets are NT$800 to NT$2,500, available through ERA ticketing
Flute Fantastic — Recital by Trevor Wye (崔佛懷長笛獨奏會)
has flute virtuoso Trevor Wye performing a program that includes Telemann’s Trio Sonata in G minor and Couperin’s Three Pieces for Flute Damour and Piano and The Carnival of Venice. Piano accompaniment will be provided by Hsu Chia-chi (徐嘉琪).
■Tomorrow at 7:30pm
■Lujhou Branch of KHS Musical Co Music Hall (蘆洲功學社音樂廳),
162 Jhongshan 2nd Rd, Lujhou City, Taipei County (台北縣蘆洲市中山二路162號)
■Tickets are NT$300, available through NTCH ticketing
Kai-Hsuan Wang Flute Recital 2008 (2008王凱萱長笛獨奏會)
brings this emerging young flautist to the stage to present a program with Gary Schocker’s For Dad, Frank Martin’s Ballade Pour Flute et Piano, Jean-Michel Damase’s Sonata for Flute and Harp, Georges Hsu’s Fantasie and other pieces.
■Thursday at 7:30pm
■Kaohsiung City Concert Hall
(高雄市音樂館演奏廳)
99 Hesi Rd, Kaohsiung City
(高雄市河西路99號)
■Tickets are NT$200, available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
It’s Jazz Your Mind tonight at Sappho de Base, Taipei’s favorite late-night venue for impromptu jazz sessions. Appearing tomorrow night is New Orleans funk outfit Kenyatta Trio. On Tuesday night the Grace Jazz Trio plays a set, with an open jam afterward. Wednesday features the Chris Stiles Jazz Trio, and on Thursday it’s DJ Zulu, 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 for more information
■Performances begin at 10:30pm on weekends, 10pm on weekdays
■No entrance fee
Tonight there’s an evening of heavy metal at The Wall (這牆), with Anthelion (幻日), Desecration, Vulcan, Demise (薨) and Beyond Cure. No shows are scheduled for tomorrow, but Sunday features punk-rock bands Broken Flowers(碎紙花), Damnkidz and Punk Hoo (胖虎). Alt-pop band 13 (拾參) appears on Wednesday, and Asia-based UK rock band Transition takes to the stage on Thursday.
■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
■7pm tonight; 8pm Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday
■NT$450 tonight (NT$400 for advance tickets); NT$350 on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Pop-rock band Abandoned Machines (留聲機工廠) and alt-rock band the Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦) hit the stage tonight at Underworld(地下社會).
Appearing tomorrow night is Shaolong to the Sky, a Japanese trio that plays indie-rock and pop, along with local acts FreeWill (自由意識樂團) and Jacuzzi (賈庫西).
■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
■Live shows go from 9:30pm to 11:30pm. The bar is open from 8pm daily, closed Mondays
■Entrance tonight and tomorrow is NT$300 and includes one drink
Indie-electronica singer Veraqueen appears tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Tomorrow it’s alt-rock band the Silent Toads (啾吉惦惦). On Thursday it’s a night of trip-hop and electronica with Nylas (耐拉斯).
■7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). For more information, 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 Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■NT$300 entrance includes one drink
Tonight Riverside Cafe presents the RAY Band (雷樂隊), a trio of veteran session musicians who play power rock originals and covers. Taiwanese alt-rock pioneers Backquarter (四分衛) perform tomorrow night. On Sunday metal-core/emo band 831 (八三夭) plays in the early evening, followed by a solo show from RAY Band bassist Yen (韓賢光).
■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 for more information
■Shows start at 9:30pm; Sunday’s shows start at 8:31pm and then 10:30pm
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow; NT$350 on Sunday (includes both shows), admission includes one free drink
Weekends at VU Live House feature two sets of shows. The first round of shows tomorrow night sees up-and-coming local bands in an event titled Rock and Roll Banquet (搖滾音樂饗宴). Later on it’s Soma, a Taipei cover band that plays popular contemporary rock as well as popular songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with indie-electronica band Alluvial (阿路米爾). Tomorrow night’s first set includes metal band Lucifer (璐西法), pop-rock band Music Plant (留聲機工廠) and pop cover band Diamond5 (方塊五樂團). The second set features electronica-rock and video band Gross Fugue.
■ B1, 77 Wuchang St, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Call (02) 2314-1868 for more information
■ Two sets of shows tonight and tomorrow, from 7pm to 10pm, and then 10pm till late
■ NT$400 for first set of bands; NT$300 for the second set. Admission for each set includes a free drink
Tonight and every Friday at Tone 56 Live Bar, a new restaurant on the corner of Fuxing North and Minquan East roads, it’s Rubber Band, which plays rock, pop, and dance music. Tomorrow it’s house band Loaded, which plays everything from “rock classics to today’s hits.” Sundays feature a regular rotation of bands, with the Blues Vibrations playing blues and surf rock this week.
■ 1F, 56 Minquan E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市民權東路三段56號1樓), near the corner of Fuxing North and Minquan East roads
■ Call (02) 2517-3869 for more information
■ Music shows go from 9:30pm to 12:30pm tonight and tomorrow, and 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Sundays
■ No entrance fee
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s a blues open mic, held by the Blues Society on Taiwan and hosted by Torch Pratt. All are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in on guitar, bass, or drums.
■ 1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號1樓). Call (02) 2508-0304 or visit www.cosmo.com.tw for more information
■ 8pm to 11pm every Wednesday
■ Free admission
Exhibitions
The Ancient Art of Writing — Selections from the History of Chinese Calligraphy (筆有千秋業). Long a subject of interest Chinese culture, the history and development of calligraphy is the theme of this exhibition that features selections from the museum’s collection. Masterpieces from the Jin (221 BC to 206 BC) to Qing (1644 to 1911) dynasties are arranged in chronological order to provide a general overview of calligraphic development.
■National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院), 221, Zhishan Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市至善路二段221號).
■ Open Mondays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm; Saturdays until 8:30pm.
■ Call (02) 2881-2021 for more information
■ Until Sept. 25
Anomy — Chen Wen-chi’s Solo Exhibition (社亂— 陳文祺個展). Chen’s video work shows improvised performances evoking the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride.
■ 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 Tuesdays through Sundays from 1pm to 6pm. Call (02) 2578-5630 for more information
■ Until Sept. 14
Collaboration — Anticipating the Art of Future (跨領域— 未來藝術先驅). As the artist in residence from May 11 to July 13, Mary Sherman from the US worked with students and faculty at the Taipei National University of the Arts to create this exhibition of collaborative art. Each work is born out of discussions, workshops and meetings among five teams of artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines with the aim of lifting creativity beyond the physically isolated, geographically specific, and historically limited space that is conventional for studio art.
■ Taipei National University of the Arts ─ Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts (台北藝術大學關渡美術館), 1 Xueyuan Rd Beitou, Taipei City (台北市北投區學園路1號). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
■ Call (02) 2893-8871 for more information
■ Until tomorrow
Something to Wear … (穿什麼). The New York-based Chinese-American artist Rosa Ruey takes clothing as the theme for her debut exhibition in Taiwan. Through a playful show of costumes and accessories, the artist creates a form that she calls “fantastic functionalism.”
■ Juming Museum (朱銘美術館), 2 Sishihu Rd, Jinshan Township, Taipei County (台北縣金山鄉西勢湖2號). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Call (02) 2498-9940 for more information
■ Until Sept. 28
City, Image and Perspective: Between Realign and Imagination (城市•影像•透視— 在現實與想像之間). This photo exhibition features works by five local photographers who have captured and recorded the changes undergone by Kaohsiung City, its culture and people over the years.
■ Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (高雄市立美術館), 20 Meishukuan Rd, Kushan Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鼓山區美術館路20號). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Call (07) 555-0331 for more information
■ Until Oct. 5
While global attention is finally being focused on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) gray zone aggression against Philippine territory in the South China Sea, at the other end of the PRC’s infamous 9 dash line map, PRC vessels are conducting an identical campaign against Indonesia, most importantly in the Natuna Islands. The Natunas fall into a gray area: do the dashes at the end of the PRC “cow’s tongue” map include the islands? It’s not clear. Less well known is that they also fall into another gray area. Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim and continental shelf claim are not
Since their leader Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and others were jailed as part of several ongoing bribery investigations, the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) has risen in the polls. Additionally, despite all the many and varied allegations against Ko and most of the top people in the party, it has held together with only a tiny number of minor figures exiting. The TPP has taken some damage, but vastly less than the New Power Party (NPP) did after it was caught up in a bribery scandal in 2020. The TPP has for years registered favorability in the thirties, and a Formosa poll
Nov. 4 to Nov. 10 Apollo magazine (文星) vowed that it wouldn’t play by the rules in its first issue — a bold statement to make in 1957, when anyone could be jailed for saying the wrong thing. However, the introduction to the inaugural Nov. 5 issue also defined the magazine as a “lifestyle, literature and art” publication, and the contents were relatively tame for the first four years, writes Tao Heng-sheng (陶恒生) in “The Apollo magazine that wouldn’t play by the rules” (不按牌理出牌的文星雜誌). In 1961, the magazine changed its mission to “thought, lifestyle and art” and adopted a more critical tone with
Chiayi County is blessed with several worthwhile upland trails, not all of which I’ve hiked. A few weeks ago, I finally got around to tackling Tanghu Historic Trail (塘湖古道), a short but unusually steep route in Jhuci Township (竹崎). According to the Web site of the Alishan National Scenic Area (阿里山國家風景區), the path climbs from 308m above sea level to an elevation of 770m in just 1.58km, an average gradient of 29 percent. And unless you arrange for someone to bring you to the starting point and collect you at the other end, there’s no way to avoid a significant amount
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