Globalization and social activism are among the themes of this year’s Taipei Biennial, a contemporary art exhibition that officially opened yesterday and runs until Jan. 4. The topics will spawn endless conversation, argument, and declarations, but who says you can’t discuss the issues while having a little fun?
The Biennial celebrates its launch tonight with an indie music mini-festival, and continues with a six-week film program run by the organizers of the Urban Nomad Film Festival (城市游牧影展). Both events are free and take place at the Taipei Brewery (台北啤酒文化園區) on Bade Road.
The music fest, entitled Slurpee Revolt, features a who’s who of Taiwanese indie groups, with musical styles ranging from folk and hip-hop to punk and electronic rock.
Even though it invokes the infamous 7-Eleven concoction, the event’s name is not meant as an overt anti-globalization statement, says Huang Yi-chin (黃一晉), whose indie record label Silent Agreement was hired to organize the show.
Instead, the slurpee, with all of its colors and flavors, describes the diversity of Taiwan’s indie music scene, says Huang. Also, with a short history in rock, Taiwanese bands had “to learn fast and learn a lot” from their Western counterparts; Taiwan’s music scene is like a slurpee cup that overflowed and then “exploded,” he says.
The “revolt” lies in this explosion, but it also represents Taiwanese bands adding their unique touch to Western style rock. “We need to learn from Europe and the US, but we also have to have our own special qualities,” says Huang. The festival performers are also connected by an interest in societal issues, which are either directly or indirectly reflected in their music, notes Huang.
Tonight’s lineup features a comedy and video routine by Hsiao-ying (小應) of the Clippers (夾子), Taiwanese and Hakka hip-hop from Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤), and Hakka folk from the Hohak Band (好客樂隊), comprised of former members of the protest-rock group Labor Exchange (交工樂隊).
All tomorrow’s
continued from p14
While Slurpee Revolt takes an ambivalent attitude towards globalization, Urban Nomad’s film program at the Biennial embraces more “anti-corporate” and social activist themes.
Urban Nomad, an annual underground and indie film festival in Taipei, worked with the Biennial’s curators to create a program that includes topics such as foreign brides in Taiwan, poverty in the Philippines, and anti-World Trade Organization activism. The films will be shown every weekend, with most screenings at the Taipei Brewery (see schedule for details).
The program also features some unusual but compelling stories. Crossing the Line, which screens on Sunday, is a documentary about a US soldier stationed in South Korea who defected to North Korea, and is currently the only living American defector in the country.
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, which closes the program on Oct. 18, tells the story of six Sierra Leonean musicians that met while living in a refugee camp and formed a band. This documentary follows the musicians as they tour refugee camps, record an album, and return to their war-torn country.
Urban Nomad’s organizers also want to bring a community feel to their program as part of the Biennial. They worked with one Biennial participant, Italy-based artist Bert Theis, who created a pentagram-shaped seating area made of bamboo that serves as the film screening area.
Hopefully Urban Nomad’s program will serve as an “access point” for people unfamiliar with the Biennial, and encourage people to visit the other exhibitions, says Sean Scanlan, one of Urban Nomad’s co-founders and organizers.
“There’s a lot of great artists [in the exhibition] … we want to get people to come to the Biennial,” he said.
Tonight and tomorrow, Urban Nomad will hold an informal party at the bottle recycling area of Taipei Brewery, and will show selected film clips and video art not included in its official program.
FESTIVAL NOTES:
What: Slurpee Revolt, the opening concert for the Taipei Biennial at Taipei Brewery (台北啤酒文化園區), also known as Taipei Beer Factory, 85, Bade Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市八德路二段85號)
When: Tonight from 7:30pm to 9:30pm and tomorrow from 3pm to 9:30pm
On the Net: revolt.taipeibiennial.org
Details: Beer and food for sale at the venue
Tickets: Enter the venue for free by filling out a brief survey printed on the event flyer that is available at Eslite bookstores and at the door. A downloadable version is available at revolt.taipeibiennial.org
BAND SCHEDULE
TONIGHT
» 7:35pm to 8:05pm Hsiao-ying of the Clippers (夾子小應)
» 8:20pm to 8:50pmKou Chou Ching (拷秋勤)
» 9:05pm to 9:35pm Hohak Band (好客樂隊)
TOMORROW
» 3:00pm to 3:30pm Gelresai and Leo Chen (農村武裝青年)
» 4:40pm to 5:10pm Come On! Bay Bay! (來吧! 焙焙!)
» 5:30pm to 6:00pm Tizzy Bac
» 6:20pm to 6:50pm Go Chic
» 7:10pm to 7:40pm 88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽)
» 8:00pm to 8:30pm Angry Young Man(生氣的年輕人)
» 8:50pm to 9:20pm LTK Commune
(濁水溪公社)
What: Urban Nomad Film Program at the 2008 Taipei Biennial wedding of actor Jimi Zhang (張囍米)
Where: Brewery (台北啤酒文化園區), also known as the Taipei Beer Factory, 85, Bade Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市八德路二段85號); Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 81 Zhongshan North Road, Sec 3, Taipei City ( 台北市中山北路3段181號); Taipei Art Park (中山美術公園), located next to the museum
When: tarts Sunday, runs until Oct. 18
On the Net: urbannomadfilmfest.blogspot.com; www.taipeibiennial.org
Film Schedule
All films have Chinese and English subtitles
» Sun, 7:30pm, Taipei Art Park (outdoors, next to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, will be rescheduled in the event of typhoon, check Urban Nomad Web site for updates)
• Short Films by James Hong (US, 35min)
Examines cross-cultural relationships between the West and Taiwan and China
• Crossing the Line (UK, 2007, 90min)
Documentary about a US soldier stationed in South Korea who deserted his unit and defected to North Korea
» 9/20 (Sat), 7:30pm, Taipei Brewery
• The Voyage to Happiness (Taiwan, 2007, 60 min)
Documentary about history of foreign brides in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan
• Welcome to Nollywood (US, 2007, 57 min)
A look at Nigeria’s film industry, which is the third largest in the world, and its impact on culture in West Africa, at home and abroad
» 9/27 (Sat), 7:30pm, Taipei Brewery
• The Campaign (Japan, 2007, 120min)
Documentary about a candidate for a seat the Kawasaki City Council, and a look at the old-boys club mentality in Japanese politics
» 10/4 (Sat), 7:30pm, Taipei Brewery
• Filipino Activist Shorts (Philippines, 2005-08, 30min)
Short films, including animation from an opposition collective, Southern Tagalog Exposure
• Tribu (Philippines, 2008, 95min)
Journalist Jim Libiran recruited rival teenage gangsters in Manila to act in this film about their slum’s gang wars. In the process of making the film, a real truce was created among the gangs.
» 10/11 (Sat), 7:30pm, Taipei Brewery
• Odds and Ends (US, 2001-08, 35min)
Collection of short films and music videos from Portland, Oregon’s indie music scene
• The Yes Men (US, 2003, 80min)
Based on activist group of the same name, this film follows anti-corporate pranksters that pose as World Trade Organization spokespersons on TV and business conferences around the world
» 10/12 (Sun), 2:30pm, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, B2 Auditorium
• A repeat screening of 10/4’s films, Filipino Activist Shorts and Tribu; members of the Filipino community and other foreign nationals are especially invited
» 10/18 (Sat), 7:30pm, Taipei Brewery
• Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars (USA, 2005, 80min)
Documentary about six Sierra Leonean musicians that each fled their war-torn country, met while living in a refugee camp, and formed a band
• Random Shorts (USA, 2004, 45min)
Film about skateboarding, shot in 8mm film
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