Theater
Seasoned actress and film director Sylvia Chang (張艾嘉) returns to the stage after a two-decade hiatus with Design for Living (華麗上班族之生活與生存). Directed by Hong Kong theater director Edward Lam (林奕華), the star-studded play takes a humorous and compassionate look at the life and dreams of white-collar workers.
▲National Theater, Taipei City
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$500 to NT$4,000, available through ERA ticket outlets or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s (雲門舞集) second company, Cloud Gate 2, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with Spring Riot (春鬥), a tour which begins today at Taipei’s Novel Hall and will next month take in Hsinchu, Taichung and Kaohsiung. The bill includes Island of Silence (緘默之島) by Gu Ming-sheng (古名伸) and Lin Hwai-ming’s (林懷民) Waiting for Spring Wind (望春風).
▲Novel Hall (新舞臺), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticket outlets or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Celebrated theater director Wang Jia-ming (王嘉明) teams up with songstress Cheer Chen (陳綺貞) and composer and music producer Chen Chien-chi (陳建騏) for his latest work Once, Upon Hearing the Skin Tone (膚色的時光), a mystery thriller musical about love and the atrocities and madness it entails.
6F Performance Hall, Eslite Xinyi Store (誠品信義店6F展演廳), 6F, 11 Songgao Rd, Taipei City (台北市松高路11號6樓)
▲Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm, Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticket outlets or online at
▲www.artsticket.com.tw
Ping-Fong Acting Troupe’s (屏風表研演班) 2002 The Aurora Borealis (北極之光) returns with a countrywide tour. The big-budget production examines first love and commitment.
▲Metropolitan Hall (城市舞台), 25, Bade Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市八德路三段25號).
▲Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
A Zhainan’s Fantasy (宅男的魔法與愛異想世界) tells the tale of a homebody who has plenty of love but is short on looks.
▲Comedy Club, B1, 24 Taihsun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街24號B1)
▲Today, tomorrow and Sunday at 8pm
▲Tickets are NT$250 at the door and include one drink
Lanling Theatre Workshop (蘭陵劇坊), a pioneering experimental theater, is celebrating its 30th anniversary by restaging three works from its repertoire. The first, Cats’ Paradise (貓的天堂), premiered in 1980, and,
by conveying emotions through
body movements, dances rather
than dialogue, challenged
theatrical orthodoxy.
▲Novel Hall (新舞臺), 3-1 Songshou Rd, Taipei City (台北市松壽路3-1號)
▲Thursday at 7:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical
Jerome Rose Piano Recital (傑羅姆.羅斯鋼琴獨奏會). Jerome Rose, a gold medallist at the International Busoni Competition, will visit Taipei to present two master classes and two concerts. The program includes Beethoven’s Sonata in E-Flat Op. 3, Schmann’s Humoreske, and Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude, Funerailles and Mepnisto Waltz by Liszt.
▲Sunday at 7:30pm (Hsinchu) and Wednesday at 7:30pm (Taipei)
▲Performance Hall of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs Hsinchu City (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17 Dongda Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號) and National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,500 for the Hsinchu concert and NT$400 to NT$2,000 for the Taipei Concert, available through ERA ticketing or online at www.ticket.com.tw
Ode to the Earth (用音樂愛地球) is a concert of music on the theme of nature performed by the Taipei Symphonic Winds (臺北市立交響樂團附設管樂團), a group formed from members of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (臺北市立交響樂團) performing under Hsu Shuang-liang (�?G). The program includes Philip Sparke’s Earth, Water, Sun, Wind — Symphony for Band, Bert Appermont’s Microtopia, Alexander Glazunov’s “Autumn” from Ballet Suite “The Seasons,” Satoshi Yagisawa’s Ode to Sun and Tsutomu Tajima’s 24 Solar Terms.
▲Today at 7:30pm
▲Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
▲Tickets are NT$200 to NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
NCO Power Series — The Legend (NCO王者系列—太王四神記) is a presentation of the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by the NCO. The work, by Japanese composers Joe Hisaishi and Koji Sakurai, is based on a Korean mythological story that became popular in Taiwan after a television series, titled The Legend, was shown here. In addition to the premiere of The Legend — A Symphonic Poem (交響詩 — 太王四神記), the program includes Tan Dun’s (譚盾) The Rite of Fire (火祭), and Hsu Chien-chiang’s (徐堅強) Annular Eclipses (日環蝕).
▲Today at 7:30pm
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
NSO Meet the Master — From Mozart to Mahler (NSO 遇見大師系列—交錯的平行線) sees the National Symphony Orchestra (國家交響樂團) performing under the baton of conductor Gunther Herbig. The program includes Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 in C-Major and Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 in A-Minor.
▲Sunday at 2:30pm
▲National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Contemporary
Tomorrow night VU Live House hosts funk combo New Hong Kong Hair City, garage rockers The Deadly Vibes and a new expat rock band, The Blue Trucks.
▲B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Tel:
▲(02) 2314-1868
▲Show begins at 11pm
▲Entrance fee is NT$350, includes one drink
Sugar Plum Ferry (甜梅號) takes
to the stage tonight at The Wall
(這牆). Tomorrow Japanese pop
and rock musician Inoran, formerly of the band Luna Sea, performs in
a concert entitled Pleased to Meet You Again. On Sunday it’s indie bands The Tic Tac and The Capelin (柳葉魚).
▲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.thewall.com.tw for more information
▲Starts at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
▲Entrance is NT$400 tonight, NT$1,500 tomorrow and NT$300 on Sunday
Sirius Sharp (天狼星口琴樂團), a trio of harmonica virtuosos, perform tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Tomorrow’s show features John Suming (約翰淑敏), singer and
multi-instrumentalist from the popular college rock band Totem
(圖騰). On Thursday it’s jazzy/bluesy act Kukao (鼓號大樂隊).
▲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
▲Entrance for music shows is NT$300, which includes one drink
At Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) tonight Wailin’ Soul, a group of local and expat jazz musicians, perform rhythm and blues, reggae, ska and world music. Tomorrow night former Sticky Rice frontman Ma Nien-hsien (馬念先) and friends take to the stage. On Sunday there’s classical and contemporary jazz with Hung Yun-hui and Wei Liang’s Quartet (洪筠惠與威良) and pop music played by string and wind quartet Levites Chamber (利未人室內樂團).
▲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
▲Show starts at 9:30pm tonight, 9pm tomorrow and Sunday
▲Entrance is NT$450 tonight, NT$400 tomorrow and NT$350 Sunday
“Brit-pop” group 1976, which released its first major label album Asteroid 1976 late last year, appears tonight at Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館). Tomorrow it’s pretty boy pop-rock group Rock Oriental Express (搖滾東方) with newcomers The Little playing an opening set.
▲177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Call (02) 2370-8805 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information
▲Shows start at 8:30pm
▲Entrance fee is NT$450, includes one drink
Sea Journey Jazz Combo (海洋知音爵士樂團), a four-piece group with vibraphone, bass, drums and guitar, plays tonight at Sappho de Base. Tomorrow New Orleans funk and rock ensemble The Kenyatta Trio takes to the stage. T and T Jazz Trio performs on Tuesday, while Mr Ed and Blind Lemon Lanny play on Wednesday. On Thursday, the venue hosts The Jason Hayashi Jazz Trio.
▲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 admission fee
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill is an open mic hosted by Jake Stanley of the acoustic duo Stoked Pokey. All are welcome to participate; performers receive 20 percent off drinks.
▲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.
▲Every Wednesday, 8:30pm to 11pm
▲No admission fee
EZ5 Live House hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Highlights this week include Huang Chung-yuan (黃中原) tomorrow, Julia Peng (彭佳慧), a major draw who appears every Tuesday, and Lang Tzu-yun (郎祖筠) and Lin Chun-yi (林俊逸) on Thursday.
▲211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號). Call (02) 2738-3995 or visit www.ez5.com.tw for more information
▲Music shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
▲Entrance (including two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer. Call venue for exact price
It’s a rock and punk evening tonight at Underworld (地下社會) with Random (隨性), Inhuman Species (非人物種) and 88 Balaz (八 十 八顆芭樂籽). Tomorrow the venue hosts metal bands Desecration and Crusher. On Wednesday it’s Mary See the Future and Vanish.
▲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
▲Tonight and tomorrow from 9:30pm to 11:30pm and 9pm to 11pm on Wednesdays
▲Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow and includes one drink, NT$100 on Wednesday
Tonight at Tone 56 Live Bar is New Orleans funk and rock ensemble
The Kenyatta Trio. Tomorrow house DJs spin blues and jazz for “chill
night,” while on Sunday there’s an open jam and barbecue.
▲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 (復興北) and Minquan East (民權東) roads. Call (02) 2517-3869
▲The music starts at 9:30pm tonight and tomorrow. Sunday’s open jam
▲starts at 4pm.
▲No admission fee
Exhibition
Life, Illusion of Bodies (空身幻影) is a solo exhibition by Taiwanese artist Lee Kuang-yu (李光裕). Lee’s abstract sculptures investigate themes such as the shifting line between the real and unreal, movement and stillness and the visible and the invisible.
▲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 Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Tel: (02) 2896-1000 X2432. On the Net: kdmofa.tnua.edu.tw
▲Until June 14
Chang Dai-chien: Memorial Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition (張大千110—書畫紀念特展) displays 96 works by one of the 20th century’s most revered painters working in Chinese art. From his early output, which was firmly rooted in tradition, to the later paintings, which were influenced by modernism, this exhibit provides insight into the painter’s evolution as an artist and the different schools of thought that influenced him.
▲National Museum of History (國立歷史博物館), 49 Nanhai Rd, Taipei City (台北市南海路49號). Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm.
▲Tel: (02) 2361-0270. On the Net:
▲www.nmh.gov.tw
▲Until June 14
Toward the Twilight (行走在消逝之中) is a dual exhibition by photographer Chen Po-i (陳伯義) and painter Hsu Pei-cheng. Chen’s photos capture the destruction of Taiwan’s temples that were rased to make way for industrial development. Hsu’s expressionist canvases contemplate ordinary scenes of backyards, parks and playgrounds on a background that depicts twilight in various shades of radiant colors.
▲Project Fulfill Art Space (就在藝術空間), 2, Alley 45, Ln 147, Xinyi Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市信義路三段147巷45弄2號). To arrange a viewing call (02) 2325-0023. On the Net: www.pfarts.com
▲Until April 26
Cuba: The Island Garden is an exhibit by US photographer Keith Brown that sympathetically documents the people and architecture of the last bastion of communism in Latin America.
▲Pethany Larsen Gallery (Pethany Larsen藝坊), 30, Ln 45 Liaoning St, Taipei City (台北市遼寧街45巷30號). Open Tuesdays tho Sundays from 11am to 8pm. Tel: (02) 8772-5005. On the Net: www.pethanylarsen.com
▲Until May 17
Kamatani Tetsutaro employs mixed media materials, such as Barbie dolls and plastic toy soldiers, as well as acrylic on canvas to explore the constantly the nature of reality in his solo exhibition Ultra Superficial.
▲Gallery J Chen, 3F, 40, Ln 161, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段161巷40號3F). Open Tuesdays tho Sundays from 12pm to 9pm. Tel: (02) 2781-0959. On the Net: www.galleryjchen.com
▲Until April 30
In-Between, A Jiaocha Experience (間—交叉體驗) is a joint exhibit by French artist BlueScreen and Taiwan’s The Puppet and Its Double Theater (無獨有偶劇團). The interactive installation ponders the meeting points between performance art, new media and contemporary art. [See story above.]
▲Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei (MOCA, Taipei), 39 Changan W Rd, Taipei City (台北市長安西路39號). Open Tuesdays tho Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Tel: (02) 2552-3721. On the Net: www.mocataipei.org.tw
▲Until April 26
Collision Between Taboo and Desire: Hou Chun-ming Works of Print, 1992-2008 (六腳侯氏—衝撞在慾望與禁忌之間的版畫創作1992-2008) displays 13 sets of the artist’s printmaking. Bearing titles such as Erotic Paradise and Paradise Lost for the Heterosexuals, the prints unflinchingly explore religion, sexual desire and the artist’s own life experiences.
▲National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in Taichung (國立台灣美術館), 2, Wucyuan W Rd Sec 1, Taichung City (台中市五權西路一段2號). Open Tuesdays tho Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Tel: (04) 2372-3552
▲Until May 24
Ancient Pottery of the Paiwan Tribe in Taiwan (祖靈的居所—台灣排灣族古陶壺特展) shows how ceramics are closely associated
with the legends of the Paiwan tribe’s origins, and how pottery
helps to perpetuate the tribe’s
social hierarchy.
▲National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館), 1, Guancian Rd, Taichung City (台中市館前路1號). Open Tuesdays tho Sundays from 9am to 5pm. On the Net: www.nmns.edu.tw
▲Until May 17
The God of Earth in Taiwan (台灣土地公特展) explains the origins of the Earth God (土地公) and why it continues to play an important role in folk worship throughout the country.
▲National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館), 1, Guancian Rd, Taichung City (台中市館前路1號). Open Tuesdays tho Sundays from 9am to 5pm. On the Net: www.nmns.edu.tw
▲Until May 31
From an anonymous office in a New Delhi mall, matrimonial detective Bhavna Paliwal runs the rule over prospective husbands and wives — a booming industry in India, where younger generations are increasingly choosing love matches over arranged marriage. The tradition of partners being carefully selected by the two families remains hugely popular, but in a country where social customs are changing rapidly, more and more couples are making their own matches. So for some families, the first step when young lovers want to get married is not to call a priest or party planner but a sleuth like Paliwal with high-tech spy
With raging waters moving as fast as 3 meters per second, it’s said that the Roaring Gate Channel (吼門水道) evokes the sound of a thousand troop-bound horses galloping. Situated between Penghu’s Xiyu (西嶼) and Baisha (白沙) islands, early inhabitants ranked the channel as the second most perilous waterway in the archipelago; the top was the seas around the shoals to the far north. The Roaring Gate also concealed sunken reefs, and was especially nasty when the northeasterly winds blew during the autumn and winter months. Ships heading to the archipelago’s main settlement of Magong (馬公) had to go around the west side
Several recent articles have explored historical invasions of Taiwan, both real and planned, in order to examine what problems the People’s Republic of China (PRC) would encounter if it invaded. The military and geographic obstacles remain formidable. Taiwan, though, is part of a larger package of issues created by the broad front of PRC expansion. That package also includes the Japanese islands of Okinawa and the Senkaku Islands, known in Taiwan as the Diaoyutai Islands (釣魚台), to the north, with the South China Sea and certain islands in the northern Philippines to the south. THE DEBATE Previous invasions of Taiwan make good objects
Some people will never forget their first meeting with Hans Breuer, because it occurred late at night on a remote mountain road, when they noticed — to quote one of them — a large German man, “down in a concrete ditch, kicking up leaves and glancing around with a curious intensity.” This writer’s first contact with the Dusseldorf native was entirely conventional, yet it led to a friendly correspondence that lasted until Breuer’s death in Taipei on Dec. 10. I’d been told he’d be an excellent person to talk to for an article I was putting together, so I telephoned him,
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