Twenty “abominable snowmen” are to attend the Taipei Nuit Blanche, an annual arts show scheduled for next week at Daan Forest Park (大安森林公園), the Taipei Department of Cultural Affairs told a news conference on Wednesday last week.
This year’s show has the theme “Nocturnal Animals’ Party,” with the snowmen to be the main exhibition, Taipei Nuit Blanche artistic director Agi Chen (陳怡潔) said, adding that communities in nearby Yongkang Street, the Dongmen shopping area and Jianguo Holiday Market would extend their business hours and host artistic performances.
Kitty Hartl, the art director of the Paris Nuit Blanche events in 2022 and last year, is involved in the event, which would incorporate surrealism, interactivity and athleticism to get participants close to nature, Chen said.
Photo: screen grab from the Taipei Nuit Blanche Web site
Performances would highlight themes including diversity and awareness with the land to help people to “get in touch with their inner animals,” she said.
Nuit Blanche has become an important event connecting France’s mission to Taiwan and the Taipei City Government since it was first held in Taipei in 2016, said Vincent Yanelle, an official from France’s representative office in Taipei.
The event also represents the friendship between Taiwan and France, as well as the two sides’ shared regard for artistic creation and representation, Yanelle said, adding that the scale of the event has grown since it began.
A parade curated by Hartl in which 20 abominable snowmen — with the performers from the artist’s Les Yetis Pop adaptation — are to interact with attendees is an example of bilateral cooperation this year, he said.
Another feature would be “Owl Mask & Totems,” at which people can get owl masks and take part in a masquerade party, the organizers said.
Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua (林奕華) said that this year is the 30th anniversary of Daan Forest Park and its selection as the main site of the event was “profound.”
The performances would surround attendees in artist celebrations and bring awareness to the importance of the park’s environment, Lin said.
The Nuit Blanche is scheduled for Saturday next week from 2pm to 2am the following day.
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