In this episode, you'll hear from Alice Sheu, a returning guest of the show. Alice Sheu is harpsichordist, historical organist, and pianist from Taiwan, currently based in the Netherlands. Alice shares with us the upcoming performances for the 2024 Taiwan Early Music Festival: Tears of Zeelandia. There will be several exciting early music performances taking place in September. The performances will feature several fascinating instruments, as well as psalms sung in the Siraya language of the indigenous Siraya people of Taiwan.
The theme, Tears of Zeelandia, is informed by the history of Dutch Formosa in Taiwan. It’s been exactly 400 years since 1624, when the Dutch East India Company landed in Taiwan. Have you wondered what music sounded like back then? To tell us more, let's welcome Alice Sheu.
Click here to learn more of the 2024 Taiwan Early Music Festival: Tears of Zeelandia
This is part 2 of my conversation with Asia Gilharry from Belize. In the previous episode, Asia shares with us the history, languages, and food of Belize. Today, we will learn about the magnificent nature of Belize, the tight-knit community of Asia’s hometown, Corozal, culture shock Asia experienced as a student in Taiwan, and what she aspires to do as a fresh graduate of International Relations and Diplomacy. Let's jump right back into it.
Do you know Belize and Taiwan have been diplomatic allies for many years? Bilateral relations between Belize and Taiwan have been maintained since 1989. What do you know of the country, Belize? There’s so much to learn about this diverse country in Central America. Today, you’ll hear from Asia Gilharry, who’s from Corozal Town, Belize, and is the president of the Belize Taiwan Association. Asia has been living in Taiwan for around 5 years. She shares with us what brought her to Taiwan and how Belize’s history informs the languages, education, food, and music of this diverse country. Let’s get started.
Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week.
Cover photo: Asia dancing at a cultural exchange program in Taiwan. (Photo: The Central American Trade Office)
Welcome to part 2 of my conversation with Yen (CHOU Tung-yen), founder and director of Very Theatre Company & Very Mainstream Studio. Very Theatre Company is based in Taiwan and takes new media as core and focuses on creating interdisciplinary works with strong emphasis on narrative. Their work invites participants to explore and reflect on intimacy, trust, life experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, and so much more.
Today we touch on how to create a space where people feel comfortable to share their vulnerability, when digital tech is involved. What are some ways cutting edge technology could foster interpersonal trust? Yen also shares with us what’s next for Very Theatre.
Check out the website of Very Theatre
To be honest with you (pun intended), it's hard to put into words how intriguing and fascinating the work of my featured guest and their team is. In this episode, you'll hear from Yen (CHOU Tung-yen), founder and director of Very Theatre Company & Very Mainstream Studio. Very Theatre Company is based in Taiwan and takes new media as core and focuses on creating interdisciplinary works with strong emphasis on narrative. Their work invites participants to explore and reflect on intimacy, trust, life experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, and so much more. Very Theatre Company has participated in many local and international film festivals and one of their immersive VR experiences, Traversing the Mist recently won the Top Prize, the Grand Jury Prize at the NewImages Festival in Paris. Let's hear from Yen.
Check out the website of Very Theatre
This is part 2 of my interview with Dr. Stephen Clingman, the author of the exhibition catalogue for the exhibition, William Kentridge, which is currently on view at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum till September 1, 2024. Make sure to listen to part 1 if you haven’t.
Towards the end of part 1, we paused at talking about how Kentridge’s animation, such as Ubu Tells the Truth draws people in. In this episode, Stephen shares with us how Kentridge’s work welcomes people to explore the boundary space together, to reflect on the darkness of colonialism and apartheid, and realize how we need both light and shade to see, to really make sense of our world and our relation to it. We also talked about the piece Sibyl, which you definitely should not miss out at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Stephen also shares with us the incredible energy of Kentridge’s studio from his visits.
Learn more of Dr. Stephen Clingman Learn more of the exhibition, William Kentridge
Check out the exhibition catalogue by Clingman
In this episode you’ll hear from Dr. Stephen Clingman, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the author of the exhibition catalogue for the exhibition William Kentridge at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. During his time in Taipei, Clingman also gave a keynote speech “The World as Animation: William Kentridge’s Art of the Boundary.” We will dive deeper into the works and stories of the South African artist William Kentridge together, including his use of charcoal, approaches to animation, and how the apartheid and post-apartheid era shaped his work. Let’s get started.
Stay tuned for part 2 coming up next week.
Learn more of Dr. Stephen Clingman
Learn more of the exhibition, William Kentridge
The exhibition, William Kentridge is open and will be on till September 1, 2024 at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. The exhibition is a collaboration between the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London and it is also William Kentridge’s first time showing in Taiwan. In this episode you’ll hear from the curator of the exhibition, Adrian Locke, of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
William Kentridge was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1955. Kentridge’s art is shaped by apartheid and grounded in the politics of the post-apartheid era, and in science, literature, and history. Kentridge’s parents were prominent lawyers for their defence of victims of apartheid, which has a deep influence on him. Kentridge’s charcoal drawings, films, and animation are also informed by his experience in acting.
Let's hear from curator Adrian Locke.
Learn more about the exhibition here.
In this episode, we’ll get to know more of the actor and director, Ulrike Arnold. Ulrike is from Germany, and was in Taiwan not long ago for the 2024 Taiwan Traditional Theater Festival. She performed in the theater production “Forgery of Zhong Kui, a Portrait of the Demon Queller” from April 12-14. It’s Ulrike’s first time performing in Taiwan. In Germany, she performs with the State Theater of Nuremberg.
What’s the theater scene like in Germany? What was Ulrike’s first impression of Zhong Kui (鍾馗), an intriguing figure in East Asian mythology? We also talked about stories of older women in theater and film, the Bechdel test, and more.
This is part 2 of my interview with Taiwanese painter Peihang Benoît (Pei). Pei recently just wrapped up her solo exhibit 7 RUE DES FOSSÉS SAINT-JACQUES at TGK+ Galley in Taipei. Through the exhibit, Pei welcomes you to her space and her way of portraying, and telling stories of domestic life, life of a parent, a woman, a human who longs for a joyful life. We also chatted about her previous exhibit on Barbie, where Pei shared her thoughts on the human form and how stories of her personal life, where there’s vulnerability, struggling moments, and doubts, like all of ours, inform her as a painter. Let's dive right in.
Website of Peihang Benoît: https://peihangbenoit.com/
Pei at TGK+ Gallery: https://www.tkgplus.com/exhibitions/130/overview/
It's Sharon and I am back from my travels! My last stop was Paris, France, which is so fitting for this episode featuring Taiwanese painter, Peihang Benoît. Peihang or Pei has a solo exhibit currently on at TKG+ Gallery in Taipei, titled 7 RUE DES FOSSÉS SAINT-JACQUES. It’ll be on till April 20, this Saturday! Make sure to go check it out before it closes. Peihang's works have been exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery, Macau Art Museum, Museum of Tokyo University of the Arts, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, and many places in the U.K., China, Japan, South Korea, Germany and many other countries. Peihang currently lives in Paris, and I got to chat with her during her visit in March for her solo exhibit 7 RUE DES FOSSÉS SAINT-JACQUES. What does the title entail? How has Peihang's multicultural upbringing and education influenced her work? How has motherhood informed Peihang as an artist and as a person? Let's get to know more of Peihang Benoît.
Stay tuned for part 2 coming up next week.
More information of the exhibit: https://www.tkgplus.com/exhibitions/130/overview/
This is part 2 of my interview with Palestinian filmmaker and artist Jumana Manna on her film Foragers. Foragers is featured in this year's Taipei Biennial which will be on till March 24. In this episode, we'll dive more into what Jumana’s neighbors and family went through, which are the stories that inspired the film. Jumanna also touches on the displacement of Palestinians from their villages, controversial laws like the Law of Return, and the ongoing violence from the Israeli military in Gaza.
You can watch Foragers every afternoon (except for Monday) at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum as part of the Taipei Biennial.
More info: https://www.taipeibiennial.org/2023/content/screenings-afternoonprogram
Check out Jumana’s website to keep following her work: https://www.jumanamanna.com/
For today's show, I got to chat with Palestinian filmmaker and artist Jumana Manna on her film Foragers. Foragers is featured in this year's Taipei Biennial which will be on till March 24. You can watch Foragers every day except Monday in the cinema room at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum.
Foragers is a film about the practice of Palestinians foraging for wild edible plants like Za'atar and Akkoub. Yet, this long-existing Palestinian tradition is deemed "illegal" according to the laws of the current state of Israel. We'll get to know more of why Jumana wanted to create the film and the stories behind it. Let's welcome, Jumana Manna.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the interview coming up next week.
You can watch Foragers every afternoon (except for Monday) at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum as part of the Taipei Biennial.
More info: https://www.taipeibiennial.org/2023/content/screenings-afternoonprogram
Get to know more of Jumana’s work: https://www.jumanamanna.com/
Today, I’m bringing you part 2 of my interview with the magical hairdresser, Danny Beuerbach. Make sure to listen to the previous episode if you haven't. Danny was at the 2024 International Book Exhibition in Taipei not long ago, with his project “Book a look and read my book.” During the exhibition, many visitors enjoyed Danny's service while reading a book together. It's a heart-warming scene to see. If this project is planting a seed in people, what does Danny hope it could grow into? Hope you enjoy this episode that's filled with personal stories, vulnerability, and empathy of Danny Beuerbach.
Danny’s Instagram: @bookalook_and-read_my_book
Danny’s website: https://dannybeuerbach.de/
The 2024 Taipei International Book Exhibition was just over yesterday. I was there and hope you got a chance to visit as well. Did you make your way to the German booth? Some of you book lovers might have noticed a fun activity at the booth of the project by German hairdresser Danny Beuerbach called “Book a look and read my book.”
During the international book exhibition in Taipei, Danny offered discounted or even free haircuts to visitors who read out loud from a book of their choice. Before the exhibition started, Danny stopped by the studio to have a chat with me. Let’s get to know more about The Magical Hairdresser himself.
Stay tuned for part 2 coming out next week.
Danny’s Instagram: @bookalook_and_read_my_book
Danny’s website: https://dannybeuerbach.de/
Today, I’m bringing you part 2 of my interview with Jason Hsu, founder of Switch Taipei, a group that's dedicated to creating a LGBTQAI+ friendly community in Swing Dance, especially Lindy Hop, in Taiwan. Jason is also dedicated to raising cultural awareness through dance. Last week, we wrapped up our conversation on approaching “improvisation.” Today, Jason is sharing more with us, such as: How do the 2 dancers in a partner dance know what to do next? How to raise people’s awareness when approaching the concept "vintage?”
You can follow Jason's work here:
https://www.switchtaipei.com/
Instagram @switchtaipei_pridevoice
Podcast: Pride Voice/Swing大小事
Picture a partner dance. What image would you think of? Who is usually the leader or follower in the dance Lindy Hop, for example? Today, we have Jason Hsu, founder of Switch Taipei, a group that's dedicated to creating a LGBTQAI+ friendly community in Swing Dance (especially Lindy Hop) in Taiwan. Lindy Hop originated from the African American community, and this month, February, is also Black History Month in the United States. Jason would also share with us why it's important to know the history of dances you're learning. Everything is connected to everything. Shall we dance?
You can follow Jason's work here:
https://www.switchtaipei.com/
Instagram @switchtaipei_pridevoice
Podcast: Pride Voice/Swing大小事
Welcome to part 2 of my interview with Taiwanese writer, the one and only, Kevin Chen (陳思宏). Where does Kevin usually write? What is his writing process like? In the fast-paced world filled with technology now, what is our relationship like with the written word? Also, what could readers expect from Kevin Chen in 2024? Without further ado, let's jump right back in.
Don't forget to head to @rtienglish on Instagram for more video highlights. See you there!
Have you heard of the book Ghost Town鬼地方, written by Taiwanese writer Kevin Chen (陳思宏)？If you haven't, put this book and this writer on your radar. Kevin Chen's Ghost Town was included in the New York Times list of “33 Works of Fiction and Poetry Coming This Fall” in 2022, and has won many other international awards as well. Ghost Town first came out in 2019, and has since been translated to 12 languages, including English, German, French, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Greek, and more to come. His many other works are also well-loved by readers in Taiwan and worldwide.
Today, we're doing a personal dive into the world of Kevin Chen. Kevin and I share a lot in common: We both graduated from the English Department of Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, both are logophiles (lover of words), both have a lot to say about the word 鬼 "Ghost" in a Taiwanese context, and we both struggle to keep houseplants alive. Kevin's words are like keys, leading his readers to the fantastical world he created. Before entering, maybe, remember to knock on the door.
Stay tuned for part 2 of our interview coming up next Monday! Head to @rtienglish on Instagram for more video highlights!
The Taiwan Pavilion at the upcoming 2024 Venice Biennale is going to be fantastic. People of the world, you should not miss it. Today, here’s part 2 of my interview with curator of the Taiwan Pavilion, Abby Chen (陳暢). Make sure to listen to the previous episode if you haven't.
Artist Goang-Ming Yuan (袁廣鳴) has prepared a great show of resilience, of home, and of course, of Taiwan for you, in an accessible and intimate way as well. Let’s hop right back in with curator Abby Chen. Don’t forget to head to our instagram @rtienglish for more video highlights.
The Taiwan Pavilion will be at the Palazzo delle Prigioni from April 20 to November 24, 2024!