To recognize the achievement of Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theater (
A red signpost with "Cloud Gate Lane" printed on it was placed at the entrance of Lane 231, Fuhsing North Road, by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Liao Hsien-hao (廖咸浩) and the founder and artistic director of Cloud Gate, Lin Hwai-min (林懷民).
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"The roads with names having political symbolism have always prevailed in Taiwan -- such as Chungshan North Road or Chungcheng Road," Liao said.
"The Taipei City Government has tried to integrate fine arts into business areas and advocate them in mainstream culture," Liao said.
Liao said that designating the road "Cloud Gate Lane" was an act that marked the first time Taiwan has officially acknowlegded an artistic group's accomplishments.
"Mayor Ma said that a city is made great because of its artists, and I would say Taipei's culture is great thanks to Cloud Gate," Liao said.
"We hope to leave art imprinted on the city's map forever," Liao added.
Lin said that it is common in Europe and North America to name streets after artists or artistic groups.
"I think it is an evocative and inspiring way to draw the public into approaching art more closely," Lin said. "It inspires people's imaginations and also shows the respect of a community that is dedicated to art and culture."
Extolled as "Asia's leading contemporary dance theater" by The Times of London and the "best of the best" by the Sydney Morning Herald, Cloud Gate achieved its reputation by gathering experienced dancers proficient in various disciplines including Tai Chi, meditation, Chinese Opera movements, modern dance and ballet.
Since its founding in 1973, Cloud Gate has earned accolades both nationally and internationally.
It has performed at locales ranging from the prestigious National Theater in Taipei to small high school auditoriums in remote villages.
Free outdoor performances have drawn audiences of as many as 60,000 people.
Cloud Gate's overseas tours in cities throughout the world have thrilled local audiences and won commendations from art critics.
"Cloud Gate has developed outstanding dancers from several generations for the people of Taiwan," Ma said. "And the revival of Legacy represents Cloud Gate's everlasting energy."
Cloud Gate will perform Legacy, Lin's signature work, an epic dance piece depicting the saga of Taiwan's pioneers at the National Theater from Aug. 21 through Aug. 26.
Several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) officials including Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) are to be summoned for questioning and then transferred to prosecutors for holding an illegal assembly in Taipei last night, the Taipei Police said today. Chu and two others hosted an illegal assembly and are to be requested to explain their actions, the Taipei City Police Department's Zhongzheng (中正) First Precinct said, referring to a protest held after Huang Lu Chin-ju (黃呂錦茹), KMT Taipei's chapter director, and several other KMT staffers were questioned for alleged signature forgery in recall petitions against Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators. Taipei prosecutors had filed
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
President William Lai (賴清德) has appointed former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday on his behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. The Holy See announced Francis’ funeral would take place on Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square. The ministry expressed condolences over Francis’ passing and said that Chen would represent Taiwan at the funeral and offer condolences in person. Taiwan and the Vatican have a long-standing and close diplomatic relationship, the ministry said. Both sides agreed to have Chen represent Taiwan at the funeral, given his Catholic identity and
Lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday established a friendship group with their counterparts in Ukraine to promote parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. A ceremony in Taipei for the Taiwan-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Association, initiated by DPP Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷), was attended by lawmakers and officials, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) and European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan Director Lutz Gullner. The increasingly dire situation in Ukraine is a global concern, and Taiwan cannot turn its back when the latter is in need of help, as the two countries share many common values and interests,