Taiwanese drag queen Nymphia Wind is to attend the Paris Cultural Olympiad, performing Formosan Follies at the Taiwan Pavilion.
She has said the show would introduce Taiwan to the international stage in resplendent fashion.
On April 19, the 28-year-old became the first Taiwanese and first East Asian to be crowned the “Next Drag Superstar” in the globally acclaimed reality television series RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Photo courtesy of MTV via CNA
Nymphia is the drag persona of Leo Tsao (曹米駬), who goes by he/him in everyday life, but she/her when in drag.
Nymphia would be performing as part of the pavilion’s “Taiwan and France” theme at the Cultural Olympiad, an artistic celebration of the Summer Olympics in Paris, the Ministry of Culture said.
The other themes are “Voice of Freedom,” “Island Elegance” and “Cultural Exchanges Between.”
In a recent interview, Nymphia said that her performance would incorporate scenes from Taiwan with Paris-inspired “follies.”
The show is to feature an all-Taiwanese cast and another drag queen.
Nymphia and her drag family, the “House of Wind,” had already been invited to perform at the Cultural Olympiad before she appeared on international television.
She said it was an opportunity she could not refuse.
However, she said she found it challenging to properly portray Taiwan in a performance lasting only 30 minutes.
Much of the creative process involved waiting for inspiration on how to present the show, she said.
Nymphia said it was “significant” to showcase Taiwan, whether on RuPaul’s Drag Race or the Cultural Olympiad, because it is a small nation that does not receive much attention in international politics.
It is sometimes hard to establish a national position for Taiwan, because discussion “always focuses on whether we are Taiwanese or Chinese,” she said.
On top of that, Taiwan consists of multiple ethnic groups, while lacking a strong national identity, she said.
Nymphia said she is “very honored to be able to introduce Taiwan as a drag queen,” because members of the LGBTQ+ community often face societal pressure, confusion regarding their identity and have an urge to express their true selves — all aspects that are similar to Taiwan’s international experience.
Regarding gender issues in Taiwan, diverse opinions are being heard and society is becoming more inclusive, she said.
It would be the first time Taiwan has participated in the Cultural Olympiad under the “Taiwan Pavilion” banner, the ministry said, adding that 22 teams and more than 120 people would make presentations.
The pavilion at Parc de la Villette in Paris is to host three to five performances every day from July 27 to Aug. 10 to showcase Taiwanese arts and culture, the ministry said.
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