This year, Full Sugar Corp. invites visitors to the Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum to explore the evolution of Taiwan’s sugar industry during the Japanese colonial period.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, are you looking for somewhere to enjoy the holiday atmosphere? Throughout Taiwan’s history, sugar has symbolized not only sweetness and celebration but also the bitterness of colonial rule, reflecting resilience and shared memories across generations. This annual special exhibition begins with traditional Chinese pastry shops and confectionery companies, then moves on to the development of the sugar industry and historical events such as the Erlin Sugarcane Farmers Incident. Through the fictional Full Sugar Corp., the exhibition looks at the history of Taiwan’s sugar industry. Whether you come with family, friends, or simply want a quiet place to walk around, this is a perfect spot to slow down and experience the museum’s unique New Year ambiance.

The Year of the Horse holiday program is combined with the second-floor special exhibition, “Full Sugar Corp.: Taiwan Sugar Industry History Exhibition in the Japanese Era.” Follow the company’s introductions to complete your mission. Pick up a task sheet on the first floor, finish the activities, and receive a token to spin the capsule machine for a New Year gift from the museum. Visitors can also use the colored pencils provided on-site to design their own exclusive “Full Sugar New Year Candy Box” packaging: perfect as a gift or keepsake. Supplies are limited, so be sure to arrive early!

▍ Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum

[Full Sugar Corp. · Run Free with Sweetness] Complete the challenge to receive a special gift. Daily quantities are limited, available while supplies last.

Dates: Saturday, February 21– Sunday, March 1

Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm (closed Mondays and public holidays)

To welcome the Year of the Horse in 2026, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (SongYan), is partnering with Hansheng Magazine (ECHO) to create a festive atmosphere throughout the park. This year’s theme, “Fortune Arrives with the Horse at SongYan” (馬到松滿福), symbolizes good luck galloping into the park and blessings filling every corner. It also represents abundance and prosperity for the year ahead. 

Special New Year installations can be found across the park, including the Four Guardian Deities at the former tobacco factory, floral-and-bird calligraphy couplets (花鳥字對聯) on the exterior walls of the office buildings, and traditional square “Fu” decorations (福字斗方). Along Creative Street (文創大街), visitors will find 15 paper-cut window displays featuring “One Hundred Horses Celebrating the New Year” (百馬賀年) and auspicious horse-themed motifs (吉祥語馬圖). Stroll through the park, take photos, and bring home both the festive spirit and heartfelt blessings.

Widely regarded as one of the first thematic exhibitions in the world devoted to Object Theatre, this special exhibition is presented at the Puppetry Art Center of Taipei. 

Originating in France in the 1980s before expanding across Europe, Object Theatre explores the expressive and performative potential of everyday objects. This exhibition brings together Object Theatre artists from countries around the globe, including Taiwan, France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Czechia. It offers audiences a chance to experience the original creative energy and imagination that shaped European Object Theatre while also tracing the evolution of object-based performance in Taiwan. Participating Taiwanese groups include Flying Group Theatre, which has worked extensively in object-based creation for many years and founded Close to You and the Yinalang Group, known for its contemporary object driven performance language. 

Responding to the idea of the object as both something seen and a carrier of memory, the exhibition also features a cross-media dialogue by artist Chung-li Kao, creating a thoughtful exchange between material, image, and memory.

As readymades, daily objects carry social and cultural traces and bear witness to the passage of time. On stage, an object need not imitate a human or animal form to come alive. It reveals its own presence and narrative potential through its material, weight, shape, and marks of use.

The exhibition title “Sńg mih-á” comes from the Taiwanese word “sńg,” meaning to play, and “mih-á,” meaning small objects. The name reflects how performers engage with objects in a playful manner, discovering their intrinsic qualities through observation, placement, and arrangement. Each gesture becomes a question posed to the object and a response received in return.

Since the early twentieth century, the concept of the readymade has steadily taken root in the visual arts. Beginning with Marcel Duchamp’s transformation of everyday objects into works of art, this idea later extended into movements such as Pop Art, Arte Povera, and conceptual art. Artists began to see objects not merely as tools, but as subjects capable of carrying ideas, structures, and meaning. These artistic developments also shaped theatrical practices in the latter half of the twentieth century. Around the 1980s, Object Theatre emerged as creators took familiar items from daily life and placed them on stage to be bearers of character, voice, and narrative significance. In this form, objects themselves became the central storyteller. Such work can feel direct and simple, yet it can also unfold as highly conceptual and aesthetically rigorous experimentation.

This exhibition seeks to explore the many possibilities and trajectories of Object Theatre. Rather than being confined to a single definition, the exhibition returns to the site of creation itself, beginning with the relationship between artist and material and examining how objects come to occupy the emotional and narrative core of a performance. 

The impulse to create often arises from an intuitive gaze between maker and object, a dialogue shaped by memory, experience, and feeling. Through this exchange, seemingly ordinary things take on renewed presence and expanded life. The exhibition also invites visitors to reconsider the objects that surround them. What we usually treat as simple props may instead become active agents on stage, shaping action and driving the storyline.

For many people, childhood play—arranging objects and inventing scenarios in pretend games—is an early foundation for understanding the world. Through imitation and role playing, children learn how to relate to others and their surroundings, gradually developing narrative awareness and a sense of relationships. Through imagination, projection, and storytelling, ordinary objects become vessels for emotion and meaning. In the space between object and memory, this exhibition encourages audiences to rediscover the possibilities embedded in everyday things, to see anew their connection to the world, and to embark on a personal journey of exploration, imagination, and discovery into the nature of the object itself.

▍“Sńg mih-á” Object Theatre Special Exhibition

Exhibition Dates｜Now through Sunday, June 28, 2026; closed Mondays

Venue｜Puppetry Art Center of Taipei

*Weekend Guided Tours: 2:30 pm to 3:00 pm

On site registration, no reservation required

This year’s Gold and Silver Award winners, Liang-Chord and DrunkMonk, will perform on October 18 and 19 at Zandari Festa in Hongdae, Seoul, marking a major milestone in bringing Taipei’s music to the international stage.

Now in its eleventh year, the program has expanded significantly. This year, eligibility criteria were adjusted for the first time to focus on musicians who have yet to release a full album or hold solo concerts with audiences of more than 1000 people. International jurors were also invited for the first time to broaden the scope and perspective of the selection process. A total of 352 applications were received, with 340 passing initial review, setting a new record.

Dalse Yoon-Young Kong, founder of Zandari Festa, served as juror during the preliminary and semi-final rounds and was impressed by the two bands’ live performances. He later attended TRENDY TAIPEI’s Taipei Music Expo (TMEX) and the JAM JAM ASIA stage series, where he once again saw the winners’ performances and decided to invite them to Zandari Festa. As Asia’s first showcase music festival, Zandari Festa centers on live venues in Seoul’s Hongdae district and focuses on creative output and the energy of live performances. It is widely recognized as one of the most influential music exchange platforms in the world. Each year, international festival programmers, agents, and record labels gather there to discover new talent and explore industry collaboration, making it a vital gateway to the global market.

Since its inception, Taipei Music NonStop has been dedicated to creating performance and development opportunities for emerging musicians, and offering promising new artists a platform where they can fully express their creative energy while building visibility and recognition. This year marks the first time international jurors have joined the selection panel. Their participation enables rising artists at the very beginning of their careers to view their work through a global lens and better understand their position and potential within the broader international music landscape. Through real world overseas performances, musicians can sharpen their live performances and gain professional experience through direct engagement with international industry professionals, laying a solid foundation for their future careers. 

Having the Gold and Silver Award winners, Liang-Chord and DrunkMonk, perform at Zandari Festa makes the program’s international impact especially tangible this year. Their appearance also demonstrates the sustained global outreach achieved through the joint efforts of the Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Taipei Music Center in organizing and advancing Taipei Music NonStop.

Under the theme “Only Writing, No Final Chapter,” this year’s award seeks to present Taipei’s rich and diverse cultural landscape through writing based on the city. 

The award ceremony will take place on February 4 at the Theme Plaza (主題廣場) at Taipei International Book Exhibition. The author will receive a prize of NT$500,000, and the publisher NT$100,000, with both receiving certificates and trophies in recognition of their achievement.

Eating and Me (我與吃飯) is a further example of Kuo-chih Shu’s signature calm and refined prose. Shu uses food as a lens to portrays the everyday feelings and urban character of the people of Taipei. Through careful, human-centered observation, he writes about local food, the streets, and interpersonal encounters, transforming the texture of city life into sensory memory and literary experience. The jury noted that Shu’s understated yet deeply resonant writing captures the spirit of Taipei, his reflections on food moving beyond mere cuisine to mirror the feelings of the city and the passage of time, to offer one of the most distinctive urban perspectives in contemporary Taipei literature.

Writing Taipei is the first city-themed annual writing award to be created by the city government, said Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Shih-ping Tsai. The goal of the award is to use reading and other creative work to ensure that Taipei’s stories are seen, recorded, and passed on.

Commissioner Tsai expressed congratulations for the winner and added that the book reminds readers that Taipei’s beauty lies not in grand narratives but in the subtle yet deep details of everyday life.

Since the award was announced, it has attracted wide attention from the publishing industry and readers alike. The finalists come from literature, art, cultural commentary, and urban history, demonstrating the many facets of Taipei. After multiple rounds of review, Eating and Me was unanimously selected for its style, depth, and strong connection to the city.

Taipei Arts Festival, a cultural landmark of the capital, has been organized by Taipei Performing Arts Center (TPAC) since 2018. The festival is envisioned as a place where members of the public can take the first step in their journey through the arts and also as a creative hub for artists. The festival uses creativity as a channel to share Taipei’s vitality, diversity, and thriving multiculturalism with the rest of the world.

In 2023, TPAC appointed River Lin, a Taiwanese artist based in Paris, as curator of the Taipei Arts Festival. By drawing on his extensive experience in international curation and his longstanding engagement with Taiwan’s visual and performing arts ecology, Lin has enabled the festival to open up new channels of dialogue and exchange.

Now, in its 27th year, the Taipei Arts Festival will run from September 11 to September 28. This year’s theme is Reeling Hyperreality and will include eight ticketed productions spanning theatre, film, dance, installation, and experimental performance, featuring artists from Japan, Indonesia, the United States, Germany, Philippines, and Taiwan. 

In addition, the festival includes the TPAC Faces (北藝人物) and TPAC Notes (北藝筆記) lecture series, where audiences are invited to engage in dialogue with creators, the city, and the wider world, all while experiencing the unique sense of reality the theatre can bring.

From August 8 to September 7, 22 venues across the city will host 54 performances, featuring musicians from nine countries, including Finland, Jamaica, South Korea, the UK, and Japan. Genres range from golden melody hits and jazz to ACG soundtracks and handpan music, creating a vibrant intersection of generations, cultures, and styles. Taipei residents and visitors alike will be able to experience the rhythmic heartbeat woven into the city’s rich cultural fabric.

To increase accessibility, the festival is also releasing a special venue map along with a citywide treasure hunt to encourage festival-goers to explore different performance spaces, collect stamps, and collect prizes.

This event series marks the first collaboration between the Taipei City Government and Taipei music venue operators, creating a marathon-style performance schedule with over 50 events in a single month, setting a new record for the music industry!

“Taipei City boasts the highest density, quality, and diversity of music venues in the country,” said Taipei City  Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tsai Shih-Ping. “By bringing together 22 music venues and hosting over 50 performances, we want to let more people see Taipei nightlife truly shine!”

Night of Band Members’ Run every week! Don’t miss exciting upcoming performances!

This year’s Taipei Super Live! event series, which is running from August 8 to September 7, will involve 22 unique music venues. Every week brings exciting programs and unforgettable live performances.

On August 24 at the Corner House, popular percussionist S. White leads ten teenage drummers in their performance debut, using rhythm to resonate with the dreams and courage of youth.

Vicky Sun has returned to Taiwan from New York and   performs French chansons and classic New York jazz with a jazz band at SMEXY on August 27.

American rock musician Lieying  is  bringing his North-South Tour to PIPE Live Music on August 29, with special guests including the young and buzzworthy new band Resonance Effect, led by the prodigious musician Feng E.

On September 5, the founder of THEUUMOUTH   hosts a birthday event titled “We Survived!” to celebrate the venue’s tenth anniversary and twenty years of band life. It is a meaningful, passionate music gathering and celebration, to which old and new friends alike are warmly invited!

Music restaurant–style venues are also stepping up: EZ5 Live House, SMEXY, Sappho Live Jazz, China Pa Dining & Live Music, Oldie Goodie Live Bar, Super 346 Live House, Red Room RENDEZVOUS , Music Corner, Zentopia Taipei, and Familia.

Shows at popular venues such as Live House-style Being Music XinYi, Continue music studio, Lucky Cypher, Riverside, and Backstage Café are also in full swing. Audiences can choose their itinerary according to their musical preferences. Taipei is filled with music every night and surprises every week in August!

Taipei Super Live! is a spectacular event series which features a wide range of music genres and artists from the US, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and other countries, said Hsu Li-ping, chairperson of the Taiwan Live Music Industry Association.

On August 19, PIPE Live Music hosts world-class drummer Eric Moore in his first Taiwan performance, with up to 100 Taiwanese drummers coming along to join in the fun. Moore began playing in drum corps and church bands from a young age, which laid a solid foundation. After winning the Guitar Center Drum-Off championship in 2003, Moore gained widespread recognition. Now a highly influential educator and stage performer in the drumming community, Moore is renowned for his lightning-fast technique, solid chops, explosive power, and unique rhythms, all of which has earned him the admiration and respect of drummers worldwide.

On August 8, THEUUMOUTH  presents the “Underground Radio Story” series on a four-sided stage, creating a vibrant atmosphere of resonance between independent music frequencies and fans.

On August 10, Red Room RENDEZVOUS  features a performance by owner Aman, who is also a handpan musician, alongside yoga sound therapist KiKi. Together, they   create an immersive experience using meditation, chakras, and handpan music.

On August 12, YUPPY hosts the double-gold jazz band Plutato, guiding music enthusiasts into a surreal realm reminiscent of a medieval European music academy.

On August 16, Wild Lab hosts NOD TOWN x STABLE, a cross-genre performance blending BEATS and GRAFFITI. The event  begins with a DJ set, followed by the premiere of a documentary film by the graffiti team 8+9 CREW, and concluding with NOD TOWN Live Beats, bringing street culture into the music exhibition space.

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs personally experiences Taipei Super Live! Actively supporting local music venues 

Commissioner of the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs Tsai Shih-Ping personally visited Taipei Super Live! event venue EZ5 Live House to experience firsthand the vibrant atmosphere of the live performances. Tsai noted that this year’s Trendy Taipei series is centered on three key areas: the concert economy, industry trends, and urban action.

The series features over 150 music performances, 39 international-level professional forums, and city-wide participatory initiatives. Taipei City also boasts the highest density of music venues in the country, unrivalled for quality and variety. The Taipei Super Live! event series has brought together 22 music spaces to host over 50 performances to let more people see Taipei nightlife truly shine!

Commissioner Tsai also said that attending live performances has given him a deeper understanding that live houses are not just hubs for young people, but also a cultural melting pot that transcends generations and musical genres. This year’s Trendy Taipei series is focusing on the concert economy, industry trends, and urban action, from the JAM JAM ASIA Music Festival and the Taipei Music Expo to a range of performances across various venues, showcasing Taipei’s musical vitality and international connections.

2025 TRENDY TAIPEI: Life in Live, Live in Taipei!

Taipei Super Live! is a large-scale urban collaboration experiment that integrates performance culture and the local music scene. The city government hopes that this event will raise awareness of Taipei nightlife and enable more people to see that live houses are not only a base for young people, but also a place for cross-generational and cross-genre cultural integration. 

In September over 10 exciting performances are still programmed before the grand fibale on September 7. Join us in the music scene! 

For more information on Taipei Super Live!, visit the Trendy Taipei Facebook page or the Taiwan Live Music Industry Association Facebook page.

In an era marked by climate crisis, information overload, and a sense that reality is being eroded, Iceland-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson creates reflective perceptual environments that invite viewers to engage, to observe, and to be transformed.

A group of islands shaped by tectonic uplift and rich in natural resources yet vulnerable to environmental challenges, Taiwan faces pressure from urbanization, industrialization, earthquakes, climate change, water scarcity, energy procurement, and environmental ethics. Through his exploration of light, air, water, and color, Eliasson reinterprets Taiwan’s environmental and cultural context as a place for cross-cultural, multi-sensory, and cross-thematic “experimental perception.”

Born in 1967 and raised in Iceland and Denmark, Olafur Eliasson studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1989 to 1995. Deeply inspired by the natural world, his reflections on space and perception would shape his artistic trajectory. 

After graduating, he founded in Berlin the Studio Olafur Eliasson (SOE)—an interdisciplinary collective comprising artists, craftspeople, architects, archivists, researchers, administrators, chefs, art historians, and technical specialists. 

Since 1997, his works have spanned installation, painting, sculpture, and photography, and have been exhibited in major museums and public spaces worldwide. Celebrated for his perception-based works that emphasize environmental co-creation, Eliasson has gained global recognition. 

One of Eliasson’s iconic works, The Weather Project (2003), was created for the Tate Modern in London as part of the Unilever Series. After representing Denmark at the 50th Venice Biennale, the piece was installed in the Tate’s Turbine Hall. It featured a massive artificial sun composed of yellow lamps, fine mist, and a mirrored ceiling, immersing visitors in a surreal, light-filled atmosphere. 

People sat or lay on the floor, gazing up at the “sun” and their reflections overhead. The work explores our imagination of nature, the perception of climate, and collective behavior in public space, using art to spark reflection and dialogue around climate change and emotional response. 

The exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum features newly updated works, including The Last Seven Days of Glacial Ice (2024), a contemplative sculpture that weaves together science, temporal awareness, and cultural memory. 

Centered on the theme of “the velocity and stillness of time,” the piece captures a fleeting moment of natural glacial movement by “freezing” real ice in motion using cast bronze. It serves as a quiet tribute to the history and slow recession of glaciers. By transforming scientific phenomena into emotional symbols, the sculpture contrasts the shrinking volume of glass spheres with the growing solidity of bronze, visualizing material loss. 

The work’s data-driven, visual interpretation invites a perceptual shift—an ongoing dialogue between permanence and impermanence. Evoking a sense of “vanishing beauty,” the sculpture’s classical form conceals a quiet mourning for the disappearing ice, earning Eliasson a reputation as a “modern-day Da Vinci.”

The 12th edition of Taipei Fine Arts Museum’s Program X-site, featuring The Pore Landscape Project, officially opened on May 3, 2025. 

With sustainability the guiding theme, X-site 2025 invites participating teams to embed eco-conscious thinking into both concept and construction—championing circular design and low-carbon innovation to infuse the museum plaza with a blend of creativity and environmental responsibility.

As the urban heat island effect continues to intensify, heat has begun to infiltrate our everyday lives in increasingly subtle yet disruptive ways, changing how we move through and linger within public spaces. 

Confronting this environmental challenge head-on, architects Wei-En Kao and Yu-Hung Tan of the team Studio Superficial present The Pore Landscape Project, a landscape-art installation that has transformed the TFAM plaza into an experimental zone of climate awareness and spatial dialogue. 

Drawing from architecture, industrial design, urban studies, and sustainability, the interdisciplinary team explores the porous boundary between the built environment and the natural world to seek new ways to mediate the effects of climate change on urban life and public interaction.

At the heart of The Pore Landscape Project is a reimagining of the act of “occupation,” deconstructed into three dimensions: material transformation, porous intervention, and microclimate modulation. 

Inspired by the human body’s natural cooling mechanisms, the installation features a sprawling mesh embedded with 142 symbolic “pores” that evokes the texture of skin. The misting units simulate perspiration by releasing vapor that cools the scorched ground and dissipates heat. The result is an immersive, breathable climate bubble where mist kisses the skin, cooling sensations ripple outward, and visitors become acutely aware of how urban temperatures shape the way we coexist with our surroundings.

Breaking from past X-site conventions that often focused on a single architectural structure, this year’s project introduces a large-scale mesh system constructed from smaller modular units. The flexible ground plane shifts subtly underfoot, while the expanded mesh openings create moments of transparency, intimacy, and connection between body and space. In an effort to reduce environmental impact, the misting devices were cast using 3D-printed molds composed of recycled industrial and consumer-grade aluminum, thus advancing both sustainable material practices and local circular economies.

TFAM also offers a dynamic series of public programs designed around the themes of cooling the body and healing the senses. Activities explore sound as a climatic sensor and the body as an environmental barometer, featuring sonic meditations, yoga and mindfulness sessions, and herbal therapy workshops. These multi-sensory experiences invite the visitor to reflect on how their body responds to climate change and how new relationships with the city and its ecosystem might be imagined.

▍Program X-site 2025: The Pore Landscape Project

Date | Saturday, May 3–Sunday, July 13 

Venue | Taipei Fine Arts Museum Outdoor Plaza

Taipei Children’s Arts Festival

Affectionately known as “Children’s Arts Fest,” the Taipei Children’s Arts Festival is an annual celebration of creativity hosted by Taipei City Government

Since its inception in 2000, the festival has become a beloved summer tradition, offering affordable ticket prices and a wide array of free events. What sets it apart is its unwavering commitment to artistic quality, crafted with the same level of care as adult theater and never compromising on imagination or value.

Each July through early August, it’s as if a grand “castle of the arts” gently descends over the city. Inside this enchanting realm, artists from Taiwan and abroad present performances, workshops, and interactive experiences designed with heart and precision. Friendly staff—some smiling, some playfully mysterious—welcome children and families to step through the gates and discover the many faces of art.

Since 2018, the Taipei Performing Arts Center has curated and produced the festival, guided by the values of creative diversity and shared joy. Animated by a vision of shared joy in the arts and a commitment to diversity and innovation, the festival embraces the principle of “Imagination Only” and crafts a new theme each year. Through in-house productions, commissioned works, and curated international performances, it builds a magical castle of the arts for children and grown-ups alike. 

In 2019, the festival introduced two signature programs, Art Wonderland and LAB, developed in collaboration with artists to explore new forms and themes in family theater. The programs blur the line between play and art, embedding creativity into the rhythm of everyday life. 

The festival encourages everyone to engage with art in their own way—capturing moments through the senses, taking part in inclusive, interactive performances, and stepping into imaginative spaces where they can experience change, examine the bond between humans and nature, and venture into speculative futures.

Everyone is invited to create their own stage, participate in interactive installations, and move freely through spaces brimming with creative energy. Children and adults alike are encouraged to use their bodies to explore, respond to prompts, and move with the moment.

From outdoor parks and indoor venues to roving performances that weave through the city, the Taipei Children’s Arts Festival transforms every corner into a space for wonder. You can see with your eyes, listen with your ears, and feel with your heart. 

It’s also a rare opportunity for parents and caregivers to step into new roles—playing, imagining, and connecting with children in fresh and meaningful ways. Here is where the richest aesthetic education unfolds, and the most cherished memories take shape.

About the 2025 Taipei Children’s Arts Festival

Message from the Commissioner

We were all children once. Hold on to that, and you’ll carry tenderness with you for life.

As I wrote this, I was reminded of the many nights I spent telling my daughter stories. I can still see the light dancing in her eyes, her endless curiosity, and the way her imagination painted the world around her.

One day, our children will look back on those moments—the softness in our voice as we whispered bedtime stories, the warmth of our fingertips gently brushing their cheek. And more than that, I hope they’ll grow up to find that same tenderness in the world.

Yes, tenderness. It matters so deeply. When children feel it, they give it back. They reach out with their tiny hands to touch our faces, take unsteady steps toward us, and throw themselves into our arms. Thinking of this, I begin to understand what the Taipei Children’s Arts Festival saying “KIDS MODE ON!” means. It’s a mode that invites us to treat one another, and the world, with tenderness.

So, it’s no surprise that every year, a group of artists arrive, as tender and devoted as with their own children, to craft artistic experiences that embrace our own little ones. This year, 29 groups from Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Spain will present over a hundred performances across all 12 districts of Taipei. From exquisite theater productions and intimate community shows to colorful outdoor parties and full-day interactive exhibitions that stimulate both hands and minds, this festival is designed to awaken the childlike spirit in each of us.

This summer, let us meet in art—side by side with our children—as we step together into “Kids Mode.” As we lose ourselves in the magic of stories and creativity, may that shared joy and warmth settle in our hearts, turning into a lasting gentleness that becomes the most precious gift of this summer.

Shih-Ping Tsai, Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government

An Invitation to the Child Within Us All

In the “Open to All” spirit, the Taipei Children’s Arts Festival is throwing its doors open to every grown-up who still has a child-like spirit. This July, Taipei is turning into a vast city of adventure, inviting you to freely explore and engage in spaces filled with playfulness and creativity. That’s what “Open to All” means to us at the Taipei Performing Arts Center—a gateway to innocence and imagination, designed for each unique you.

Art is about taking part, not just looking on. This year, we shine a light on the poetic dance of shadow and light, the emotive storytelling of puppetry, and the immersive worlds of picture books brought to life. These enchanting forms open windows for children to discover the world. With programs from around the globe, we’ve curated a vibrant, interactive lineup that sparks meaningful conversations on topics such as the environment, technology, culture, and emotions. Through story and spectacle, art becomes a bridge for heartfelt dialogue between parents and children, an invitation to imagine the future together.

To help everyone stay in “Kids Mode,” we’re introducing new ways to play. This year’s program guide features a “children’s edition” that helps young audiences plan their own schedule. Two brand-new interactive exhibitions, “You Choreograph: Young Choreographers” and “Bat Night Market,” offer more flexible hours so families can better tailor their artistic adventures. Outdoor performances take place under the stars and moonlight, while community shows bring the magic of theater right to your neighborhood. In theaters and parks, from daylight to twilight, the Festival turns the city into one giant map of discovery.

These diverse forms of engagement guide audiences from play to reflection, from theaters to hidden corners of the city—encouraging wide-eyed wonder with every step. It’s not just about watching a show; it’s about embarking on a journey where art leads the way to rediscover the world with fresh, joyful eyes.

Taipei Performing Arts Center

AIR Taipei (Artist-in-Residence Taipei) offers residency programmes to contemporary artists and cultural practitioners, supporting both local projects in Taipei and outbound residencies in international cities.

AIR Taipei uses cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchanges to promote experimentation and innovation while deepening artistic and cultural connections between Taipei and other cities around the world.

The 2026 Open Call includes three categories: International Residency, Taiwan Residency, and Overseas Visiting Residency. Artists from Taiwan and abroad are invited to take part and explore new possibilities in their creative practice.

Taiwan Residency: Art and Heritage in Symbiosis

Located on the banks of the Xindian River, Treasure Hill Artist Village was designated Taipei’s first historical settlement in 2011. With its hillside alleys and irregular architecture, the site is rich in the living memories of various communities, forming a unique organic landscape. Within this setting, “Artists & Residents Co-Habitation” has become the village’s core philosophy, making it a vital hub for cultivating creative talent.

The Taiwan Residency programme takes place primarily at Treasure Hill Artist Village. By encouraging collaboration between resident artists, local communities, and various organisations within the settlement, the programme fosters interaction among various groups and continues to promote dialogue between art and society. It offers a broader platform for artistic development in Taiwan.

Overseas Visiting Residency: Artistic Dialogues Across Borders

Residency exchange programmes offer artists the opportunity to immerse themselves in different cultures and broaden their perspectives. Partner institutions span Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada. 

Each residency offers a unique focus—some are designed for interdisciplinary practice, others emphasize visual art, and a few are dedicated to supporting filmmakers in script development. The institutions build distinct residency environments according to their own missions and resources. The Overseas Visiting Residency encourages creators to work in different cultural contexts and reimagine their practices from fresh perspectives.

The 2026 AIR Taipei Open Call provides space and resources for artistic creation and also aims to spark new ideas through international collaborations with artists and researchers from a range of backgrounds. In this way, creation becomes more than an individual act; it becomes a dialogue with local cultures and communities.

	1 / Québec Exchange Programme (with artist Chia-yun Wu)	2 / Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA), Australia
	3 / Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS), Japan	4 / Apartment of Art Munich, Germany

Where does theatre truly begin? Where does it hide, and how does it rise from everyday life to take center stage? 

At the Bench Mini Stage (板凳小戲臺) in Home Village, the special exhibition Whispers from the Stage (舞臺悄悄話) presents a refined and intimate showcase that invites visitors to explore the origins and evolution of theatre. 

From ancient rituals to modern theatrical performances, this exhibition reveals the hidden secrets of the stage world.

Theatrical Traces in Everyday Life

When you hear the word “theatre,” you likely think of the dazzling spotlights of a grand theatre or the sweeping screen of a cinema. But in fact, traces of the theatre have long woven themselves into the fabric of our daily lives: a small stage adorned with red lanterns on a street corner, the rhythmic drums of a temple festival parade, or an impromptu performance during a family gathering: each is a vivid expression of drama. Theatre is not confined to the stage alone; it is a natural and seamless part of life.

In Whispers from the Stage, visitors are invited to revisit the roots of theatre and reflect on how a single ritual or a simple tale gradually has transformed into the cultural form we recognize today.

Origins of Theatre: From Ritual to Stage

The story of theatre stretches farther and deeper than we might imagine. In the West, it traces back to 6th century BCE, during the Dionysian festivals of ancient Greece. These rituals honored the god Dionysus with chants, performances, and dance—early forms that gradually evolved into tragedy and comedy, laying the foundation for modern Western theatre. 

Meanwhile in China, theatre finds its beginnings in the shamanic rituals of the 3rd century BCE, when shamans used dance and song to convey messages from the spirits. Over time, under the influence of Confucian culture, these practices gradually took shape as Chinese opera, a unique and vibrant form of performance art.

Whispers from the Stage centers on these Eastern and Western origins of theatre, using vivid displays and interactive models to enable visitors to witness how theatre transitioned from sacred ritual to public entertainment and became a timeless, cross-cultural art form. 

Interactive Zone: Build Your Own Stage

One of the most captivating highlights of the exhibition is the hands-on activity where visitors can assemble paper models of a traditional Chinese stage and an ancient Greek theatre. By crafting these miniature stages, visitors can experience the distinct aesthetics of Eastern and Western stage design. The tiny models carry immense histories, allowing people to physically engage with and vividly imagine the stories that could be played out on each stage.

A Small Exhibition, Big Insights

Every stage marks the beginning of a new story. Every play is a reflection of human life and connection. Though modest in scale, Whispers from the Stage uses intricate models and rich interactive content to guide visitors as they rethink the relationship between theatre and everyday life, highlighting the boundless charm of stage culture.

▍ Whispers from the Stage (舞臺悄悄話) Special Exhibition

Exhibition Dates | January 7 to November 9 

Location | Bench Mini Stage (板凳小戲臺), Home Village Storyeum (嘉禾故事館)

Opening Hours | Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am–6 pm (closed Mondays)

From May 10 to June 10, 2025, participants with the WMG Accreditation Card (digital or physical) can enjoy exclusive discounts on the following cultural and artistic activities.

•    Free entry to Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Puppetry Art Center of Taipei, Zhishan Cultural and Ecological Garden, Sun Yun-Suan Memorial Museum, Kwoh-ting Li’s Residence

•    Discounts at MOCA Taipei, 50% off general admission (NT$50 instead of NT$100); Main Building of Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence, 20% off full-price tickets (NT$80 instead of NT$100)

•    20% off audio guide rentals at Taipei Performing Arts Center 

•    30% off tickets for concerts by Taipei Chinese Orchestra between May 10 and June 10, 2025 (excluding the lowest-priced tickets)

•    Discounts on full-price tickets for the “MUSIC, ISLAND, STORIES: Pop Music in Taiwan” exhibition at Taipei Music Center (NT$250 instead of NT$350)

Free entry to many Taipei cultural venues: Beitou Heart Village, Beitou Hot Spring Museum, Beitou Plum Garden, Bopiliao Historical Block, Chien Mu House, Home Village, Huan Min Village, Kishu An Forest of Literature, Longshan Cultural & Creative Base, Mayor’s Residence Art Salon, The Red House, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Taipei 228 Memorial Museum, Taipei Cinema Park, and Taipei City Archives, Taipei Film House, Taipei Info Hub, Taipei Zhongshan Hall, Taipei, Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum, Treasure Hill Artist Village, Tsai Jui-Yueh Dance Foundation, Xinbeitou Historic Station, and Yong An Art Center.

With its fresh, unadorned lyrics and captivating melodies, folk music has become an important gateway to Taiwan’s popular music scene in the last 50 years, spurring the development of music spaces such as folk music restaurants and dance halls, and providing musicians with stages where they can perform and express themselves freely. 

Today, Taipei boasts a rich array of music venues, making it an essential hub for creativity, communication, and performance. The spirit of “singing your own song” continues to flow throughout the city, allowing the creative energy of different generations to resonate and be heard.

This event invites classic folk singers to recreate the emotional connection of the folk era, while also bringing together a new generation of creators and independent bands. Innovative interpretations and adaptations will showcase the vitality and diversity of contemporary folk music, bringing it into people’s daily lives and younger audiences alike, and shaping a musical landscape unique to the city of Taipei.

Taipei Folk New Wave

Date: May 1–June 8, 2025

Location: Various Taipei music venues 

Guidance: Ministry of Culture

Organizer: Taipei City Government, Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government

Execution: PIPE Live Music

For event details, visit: Trendy Taipei Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/trendytaipei

The military village is a unique historical phenomenon in Taiwan, originating in 1949 when millions of Chinese military personnel and civilians came to Taiwan when the Nationalists retreated to the island. 

The military villages served as temporary settlements. The residents brought with them nostalgia and cultures from across China and developed a distinct “military village culture” that adapted to the local environment. 

Over time, this culture became an integral part of Taiwan’s historical memory. Military village culture has many aspects, and traces can be found in various forms of popular culture, including architecture, food, literature, music, theater, and more.

Taipei Military Dependents’ Villages Festival is held annually from September to October and features a series of activities. For those who carry memories of military villages, the festival provides an opportunity to enjoy nostalgic recollections, enabling people with common experiences to share their stories. 

For younger generations, who may be unfamiliar with military village culture, the festival highlights the connection between this culture and contemporary society. It sparks curiosity among young people, encouraging them to engage with and learn about this cultural heritage, ensuring that military village culture is passed down through the memories of future generations.

All languages are abstract, but some are more abstract than others. 

“No Language” is not an artistic statement opposing linguistic classification. Rather, it reflects the artist’s search for spirituality in materiality, inspiration in interpretation, transcendence in reality.

Creativity in every era is marked by struggle. One of the challenges we face today stems from the overabundance of a highly media-saturated world. Algorithms cater to our preferences, showing us numerous possibilities but not necessarily allowing us to experience more. It’s like standing in a climbing gym in all our brand-new gear, gazing up at the towering, multicolored holds. We discuss each other’s climbing routes, analyze each challenger’s physical abilities, and imagine adventure through the act of watching—while the air is thick with the smell of sweat. Yet we still haven’t even cut the price tags off our high-performance clothing.

This sense of excess makes us feel perpetually behind, hesitant to act. We long for the sensation of sweat but treat passion like a microwave food, easy to reheat in the rush from one engagement to the next. We binge-watch without question, eventually becoming swept up in self-imagined narratives, reduced to models being trained by AI, rather than using AI for our own ends.

But what if we transformed unconscious browsing into conscious wandering? Perhaps we could see this “excess” as an opportunity to cultivate a new way of perceiving within the act of viewing. 

AI language models approximate the world by identifying correlations in vast datasets—using the “known” to predict rather than exploring the “unknown” as art does. In the same way, if we can establish new orders of meaning at the edges of awareness, then excess can still be generative. 

In this context, we might think that art has long strived to create “models of feeling” beyond the generative capabilities of mere language models. AI pursues efficiency, with clear objectives, whereas art seeks an existential value—one that, despite endless attempts at definition, remains forever abstract.

This exhibition represents a significant effort by Taiwan’s established and emerging artists to create resonance beyond issue-driven critique and intellectual gatekeeping. It offers a more humble form of insight, distinct from the endless accumulation of field research. These artists position themselves as outsiders within language systems, weaving visions of the distant even as they negotiate proximity and detachment from reality. What is distant remains abstract, and at its extreme abstraction leads to purity—a purity that, in turn, opens new possibilities for universality.

▍No Language

Dates | January 17 to May 4, 2025

Venue | Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei (No. 39, Chang-An West Road, Datong District, Taipei, Taiwan 103)

Erhu Virtuoso Ming-yu Wang

On June 1, the closing concert of the Traditional Arts Festival will feature A Summit of Erhu Virtuosi. The performance will bring together principal conductors from three renowned orchestras: Baoshun Li, Principal Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Chongxue Zhang, former Principal Conductor of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and Ming-yu Wang, Principal Conductor of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra. The concert will showcase classic erhu concertos, offering fans a musical feast.

This year’s artists also include conductor Chunquan Qu; flautists Zhen Li, Yung-ming Chan, Ya Tai, Yong-zhi Sun, and Hsin-ling Han; yangqin performers Ting-yu Chen and Wan-lin Du; as well as local Taiwanese art groups Taiwan Yangqin Development Association, Game Troupe (遊戲團), Shintrun Taiwanese Opera Troupe, Hsin-Music Chinese Orchestra, Jade Dance Theatre, Lui Im Theater, Lee Veng Aesthetics Theatre, PIPA-ensemble, Jinlin Drama Troupe (金麟戲劇團), ProHCO Ensemble (心籟絲竹室內樂團), Yi-Shin Taiwanese Opera Troupe, MHY-Huang Taiwanese Opera Troupe (明華園黃字戲劇團), Xin Le Yuan Drama Troupe (新樂園戲劇團), Junhan Music Troupe (君涵樂坊), Shadow Percussion, Song Kun Performing Art Group, and the Cantonese Music Assembly from overseas.

Pianist Meng-chieh Liu

The Affections: LIU Meng-Chieh & TCO concert will take place on May 9. Meng-chieh Liu made a remarkable debut on the international stage but at the peak of his career faced a health crisis. Now, through his unwavering willpower and deep belief in music, he has made a triumphant return to the global music scene. 

In this concert, Liu will premiere a piano concerto that Ming-hsiu Yen composed specially for him. Join us to witness how Liu captivates music lovers with his exquisite technique and profound musicality!

The Taiwanese opera My Mom Needs an Education, which made a splash in the music industry in 2019, will be staged again this May with the original grand ensemble and an exceptional cast. Written by Brady Yu and Ming-lun Wu, and directed by Chia-yin Cheng and Brady Yu, the production stars Hsueh-feng Lu, Fa-kai Tong, Grace Lin, Rios Li, Ming-yu Hsieh, Yu-jane Liu, Sheng-chun Yeh (Taiwan’s Legendary Street Vendor (寶島叫賣哥)), along with the renowned Puppet & Its Double Theater. For those who didn’t catch the original performance, don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see it live!

The World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City will take place from May 17 to 30, 2025. In addition to the excitement of competition, the exclusive, limited-edition WMG2025 FunPass allows you to craft your own flexible travel itinerary across Northern Taiwan. Discover iconic attractions, savor authentic local cuisine, and enjoy seamless transportation.

Introducing the WMG2025 FunPass

Exclusive to the World Masters Games! Limited Availability

The WMG2025 FunPass features the adorable official mascot “Strong” (壯寶), inspired by the Chinese character 北 (bei, meaning “north”), symbolizing the two host cities, Taipei and New Taipei City. The blue part represents trust, calmness, and unity, while the pink symbolizes passion and energy. Together, they form a fun and bouncy mascot. Only 3,000 cards are available—a must-have collectible! Take Strong with you as you compete and explore!

Unlimited Northern Taiwan Adventures with just One Card

The WMG2025 FunPass grants access to 20 famous attractions and experiences across Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Yilan. Choose any three attractions. Skip the ticket lines—just tap and enter. Save time and create unforgettable memories.

Explore Authentic Taiwanese Experiences

Experience the rich cultural charm of Taiwan through the most popular local activities: releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi, praying with red lanterns in Jiufen, and enjoying a personal DIY tea session in Maokong.

All-in-One Transportation Card

The WMG2025 FunPass serves as your Taiwan transportation card! Once you top up your card, you can use it for public transport and for payments at convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, just like an EasyCard.

Exclusive Shopping Perks

With  the WMG2025 FunPass, you can visit participating stores in the popular shopping districts of Yongkang, Maokong, Dadaocheng, and Ximending and get free gifts or discounts.

Adorable Limited-Edition WMG Mascot Design Strong—A Must-Have Collectible

Available for a limited time only—while supplies last!

Card valid from May 1 to June 15, 2025

March 5, 2025

Press Release

Department of Cultural Affairs, Taipei City Government

World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City Welcome Ceremony Set for May 17 at Taipei Dome
 Farewell Ceremony on May 30 at New Taipei City Art Museum, A Spectacular Finale to Remember!

Star-Studded Lineup & Ticket Information – Get Ready for an Unforgettable Show!

The World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City (WMG 2025) is set to take place from May 17 to May 30, 2025. A press conference was held today (March 5) in the atrium of Taipei City Hall, and attended by Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan, Taipei Deputy Mayor Lin Yi-hua, and Welcome & Farewell Ceremony Executive Producer Lin Kun-ying. The event marked the 73-day countdown to the Games and unveiled exciting details about the highly anticipated Welcome and Farewell ceremonies. The public is invited to join this grand international celebration that combines culture, technology, sports, and tourism, taking place at Taipei Dome and New Taipei Art Museum this May.

Welcome Ceremony Tickets Start at NT$300, with Sales Beginning at Noon on March 20: Mark Your Calendar for May 17 at Taipei Dome!

The Welcome & Farewell Ceremonies will feature over 600 performers, including students from elementary to university levels in Taipei and New Taipei, cross-cultural performance groups, musicians of various genres, street dance and sports stars, and even cheerleaders from the Chinese Professional Baseball League. The Welcome Ceremony will take place at Taipei Dome on May 17, with tickets officially going on sale at noon on March 20!

Seating will be available on L4 and L5, with tickets priced at NT$300, NT$400, and NT$500 based on seating areas. These affordable prices allow fans to witness an international sports spectacle up close. In addition to special promotions, ticket holders will have the chance to enter a lucky draw to win one of ten round-trip tickets to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Group Stage. For ticket details, visit the official WMG 2025 website under “Games Activities – Ticket Information – Welcome Ceremony Ticket Purchase” to access the ticketing platform. The Farewell Ceremony will be held on May 30 at New Taipei City Art Museum in Yingge District, offering free admission for all attendees. Everyone is invited to join this grand finale and celebrate the conclusion of this premier international sporting event.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an attended the event today and stated that with only 73 days remaining until the opening of the World Masters Games 2025, he sincerely appreciates the dedicated efforts of all the experts and teams involved in planning and curating the highlights of the Welcome and Farewell ceremonies. He expressed his gratitude to every partner who has contributed to this process. Mayor Chiang noted that careful consideration was given to the selection of the venue for the Welcome ceremony. Since this is not only Taiwan’s first time hosting the World Masters Games but also the first time it is being held in Asia, and with current registration numbers ranking as the third highest in the event’s history, it was only fitting to choose Taipei Dome—one of the most beloved and premier sports venues. He also extended his appreciation to the New Taipei City team for working hand in hand with Taipei City to ensure the highest standards for both the ceremonies and competitions, aiming to present Taiwan’s best to international guests. Mayor Chiang concluded by stating that "Taipei Dome serves as an open invitation to the world, showcasing Taiwan’s values of diversity, inclusivity, and shared prosperity. WMG2025 is an opportunity to present the charm of Taipei and New Taipei City to our international guests, and I am confident that both the Welcome and Farewell ceremonies will be truly spectacular."

New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan stated in his speech that this event is not only a grand international sports competition but also a cross-generational and cross-cultural exchange. As a co-host city of the WMG 2025, New Taipei City aims to showcase Taiwan's vibrancy and cultural diversity through the Welcome & Farewell Ceremonies. The Farewell Ceremony will be held at New Taipei City Art Museum, symbolizing the fusion of art and sports. Athletes from around the world and local citizens are invited to gather for this special moment, as New Taipei brings this extraordinary international event to a spectacular conclusion.

Welcome Ceremony at Taipei Dome on May 17: Join the “Parade of Dreams “ and Cheer for the Athletes Up Close!

Welcome & Farewell Ceremony Executive Producer Lin Kun-ying introduced the highlights of the ceremonies, which will include not only official protocol segments but also a diverse lineup of cultural performances. The star-studded cast features Golden Melody-winning Indigenous singer Abao, hit band Accusefive, the trendsetting mother-son duo Billie and Nick Chou, street dance icons Marcus Lin, Chrissy Chou, and Yaobai, along with the Chinese Professional Baseball League cheer squad and table tennis champions Chuang Chih-yuan and Chiang Hung-chieh. The event will showcase traditional culture, musical theater, acrobatics, and dance performances, incorporating Indigenous, disabled, new immigrant, gender equality, and senior communities, truly embodying the inclusive spirit of the World Masters Games. With over 30,000 attendees expected, spectators are encouraged to purchase tickets and witness the grand Welcome Ceremony at Taipei Dome, cheering on the athletes as they deliver their best performances.

The Welcome Ceremony will take place at 7 PM on May 17 at Taipei Dome, themed “We Share the Same Sky.” Inspired by the sun’s energy as a symbol of unity and inclusivity, the ceremony goes beyond sports—it's a global cultural celebration uniting Taipei, New Taipei, and the world. Showcasing a dynamic fusion of traditional arts and contemporary performances, the event embodies the cities' vision of connecting with the world, welcoming everyone to join in the grand Welcome of the World Masters Games 2025. Leading up to the ceremony, a special prelude event, the “Parade of Dreams,” will set the stage for the excitement. Kicking off at 5 PM on May 17, the parade will start from Shifu Road in front of Taipei City Hall and make its way to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The procession will feature vibrant performance groups, corporate cheer squads, and over 10,000 participating athletes, team staff, and coaches. Citizens are invited to be part of the celebration, soak in the lively atmosphere, and cheer on the athletes up close as they embark on their journey in this remarkable international sporting event!

Farewell Ceremony on May 30 at New Taipei City Art Museum with Free Admission for All! Join Us to Celebrate the Grand Finale of the World Masters Games 2025!

The Farewell Ceremony will take place at 7 PM on May 30 at New Taipei City Art Museum, under the theme “We Are the World.” As the final curtain call of the World Masters Games 2025, this event is a heartfelt expression of gratitude and well wishes, filled with the warmth and friendship of Taipei and New Taipei. The goal is to ensure that athletes and visitors from around the world depart with lasting memories of this incredible journey. Unlike the indoor Welcome Ceremony, the Farewell Ceremony will take place in an open-air venue, embracing the spirit of adventure and global unity that defines the World Masters Games. The program will feature performances that highlight local character and unique experiences, promising a one-of-a-kind celebration. The star-studded lineup includes Taiwanese hip-hop duo Caotun Boyz, World Masters Games theme song “Non Stop” vocalist Kasiwa, world-renowned DJ RayRay, drag queen champion Nymphia Wind, and legendary pop-dance group Energy. From traditional folk arts to contemporary performances, the show is set to showcase the cultural diversity and charm of Taipei and New Taipei. As multiple performance groups take the stage to bid a festive farewell, the torch will officially be passed to the next host city—Kansai, Japan. The Farewell Ceremony is free and open to the public, and all are invited to gather and be part of this historic moment of friendship between Taipei City, New Taipei City, and the world.
 

Watch the Ceremonies Live on TV & Online: Cheer for the Athletes from Anywhere!

The Welcome & Farewell Ceremonies of the World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City will feature a star-studded lineup in a spectacular production, aligning with this year’s theme: “SPORTS beyond AGE, LIFE without LIMITS.” Through the energy and passion of elite performers, the ceremonies will set the perfect stage for the Games’ grand Welcome and bring the event to a memorable close, showcasing Taipei and New Taipei’s cultural strength to the world. This is an invitation for all citizens to join the celebration and make history together! For those unable to attend in person, the ceremonies will be broadcast live on TV (FTV, Videoland Sports) and streamed online via multiple platforms, including the official World Masters Games YouTube channel, 4gTV, CTI News, and ETtoday News. Fans from around the world are welcome to tune in and experience the excitement in real time, cheering on the athletes as they take center stage!

Stay updated on all event Information:

For the latest updates on the World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City, be sure to follow:

Official WMG 2025 Website: https://wmg2025.tw/

Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WMG2025

Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/taipeicultural

Download News Information：

The Taipei Performing Arts Center was named the most innovative building of the year by CNN, praised by The Guardian as the best building of the year, and was included in Time magazine’s 2021 list of the world’s 100 greatest places. 

This world-class landmark was designed by an international team. Following a global design competition, the project was awarded to the Rotterdam-based Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), led by co-founder and Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate Rem Koolhaas. Koolhaas’s design elevates the center’s ground level, creating a sense of wonder and even fantasy.

The building’s façade features 1,200 curved glass panels that strike a unique balance between transparency and opacity. The panels allow light to pass through, creating a sense of openness, while their curved structure obscures what is inside, adding a layer of intrigue and privacy. Two of the three theaters can operate independently or be combined into a grand theater with 2,300 seats. Another highlight is the rooftop garden, known as the Stargazing Rooftop Garden. As the name suggests, here visitors can gaze at the stars or take in panoramic views of Jiantan and the entire Taipei Basin.

No. 1, Jiantan Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City

Jiuzhuang was once one of the eight major villages in Nangang District. During the Qing Dynasty, many immigrants from Anxi settled here, the majority of them tea farmers, with Shui-chin Wang and Ching-shih Wei considered the most prominent tea masters of the time. The Laoliao area of Nangang was also the birthplace of Taiwan’s Paochong tea.

This area was once an important industrial route for tea, mining, and osmanthus flower production in Taiwan. Along the road, you can still see traditional red-brick houses, a reminder of the prosperity the tea industry once enjoyed. While it may evoke nostalgia, it has also transformed Laoliao into an isolated paradise, a hidden gem.

When you enter the tea demonstration site, you can listen to the tea master describe the history and culture of tea planting and production during the Qing Dynasty. Once transported from Nangang Wharf to Dadaocheng for export, tea played a significant role in driving the economic prosperity of Taipei.

In this peaceful setting, the restless mind slows down. Sip a cup of warming Paochong tea, open up your senses, savor the distinctive flavor of Chin-Shin-Oolong. With each sip, you feel a sense of tranquility and fulfillment, knowing that everything is “in the bag”.

No. 336, Jiuzhuang St. Sec. 2, Nangang Dist., Taipei City

The city government has used ecological engineering to revitalize Neigou Creek and restore the local ecosystem. The area has been transformed into a lush, vibrant space filled with greenery, insect sounds, and birdsong. A scenic walking trail now runs along the creek, allowing visitors to enjoy the natural beauty. Alongside the natural charm, the creekside also features a cultural gem that is worth visiting: the Wufen Upper Creek Mosaic.

Stretching for 200 meters, this mosaic captures the essence of the past. As you admire this grand artwork, you can imagine the daily lives of farmers from a century ago—spring plowing, summer weeding, autumn harvesting, and winter storage. The mosaic also depicts coal being transported along Wufen Suspension Bridge to Nangang. 

Artist Sung-tao Yen, who made his debut as a comic artist, disappeared from the scene for ten years. On making a comeback, he turned to oil painting to depict Taiwan’s rural landscapes. This mosaic, created by Yen on a voluntary basis, took extensive research and several revisions. He spent six months developing the base design, which was then passed on to students from Neihu Community College, Donghu Junior High School, and the University of Kang Ning. Working together, these students added color to the mosaic, thus completing this collective effort.

Kangle St., Neihu Dist., Taipei City

When you think of a mine, you might picture the isolated villages in old movies, with winding mountain roads, trolleys, and year-round mist. It’s hard to believe any such mine could exist in the bustling Xinyi District!

Just a 20-minute bike ride or a 40-minute walk, followed by a short uphill climb, will take you to Hexing Mine. Established in the late Japanese colonial period, the mine was abandoned in the 1970s when mining operations ceased. Following renovation and development by the city government, it has been transformed into a theme park. Nearby, you’ll find a bat cave, offering a chance to get up close to these mammalian relatives hanging from the ceiling. Nature enthusiasts can also admire the stalactites inside the mine and the various erosion control methods used on the surrounding slopes.

Although small, this mine offers a glimpse into the once-thriving mining industry. After exploring the mine, you can also take a stroll along the nearby Four Beasts Hiking Trail for a scenic adventure!

Aly. 471, Ln. 150, Xinyi Rd. Sec. 5, Xinyi Dist., Taipei City

It’s a short walk from Beitou metro station to Xinbeitou station, where you’ll find a number of hot spring hotels and a public bathhouse favored by locals. Each winter, this area is the top choice for Taipei residents seeking refuge from the cold.

Already in the Japanese era, people had fallen in love with the experience of soaking in Beitou’s hot springs. Today, Beitou Park Playground serves as an extension of the old public bathhouse, allowing adults to enjoy the hot springs while their children play in the nearby park. Young children who once slid down the stone slides long ago are now grandparents, yet the slides remain in the park, faithful playmates to each new generation.

Also boasting a century-long history are the tropical plants that surround the park, originally planted by the Japanese. These lush plants reflect the colonial imagination of a “southern land”. Though the colonizers have long since departed, the reek of sulfur still lingers in the air.

 No. 2, Zhongshan Rd., Beitou Dist., Taipei City

Nan-jung Cheng played a vital role in Taiwan’s democratic movement. Cheng founded the magazine Liberty Times (⾃由時代), which frequently published articles criticizing government policies, called for the lifting of martial law and the disbandment of the Taiwan Garrison Command, and advocated for Taiwanese independence. 

These articles crossed the government’s line in the sand, so to protect journalists and contributors from persecution, Liberty Times often omitted the bylines, stating instead, “All articles in this publication are the sole responsibility of editor-in-chief Nan-jung Cheng.”

On the morning of April 7, 1989, Nan-jung Cheng was charged with “rebellion” for publishing in Liberty Times a draft constitution by legal scholars, which the government deemed unacceptable. When the police forced their way into the magazine’s offices, Cheng doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire. The third floor of No. 11 houses the Nan-jung Cheng Foundation, where the editor-in-chief’s office can be seen as it was at the time of that tragic event.

Aly. 3, Ln. 106, Minquan E. Rd. Sec. 3, Songshan Dist., Taipei City

In 1927, a group of intellectuals including Wei-shui Chiang, Hsien-tang Lin, and Ying-chang Li founded Taiwan’s first political party, the Taiwan People’s Party. They were driven by their lofty dreams of three major freedoms—political, economic, and social—and they fought against the authoritarianism of colonial powers and advocated for economic fairness for farmers and workers, while also campaigning to eradicate social ills such as opium use.

At first, the Government-General of Taiwan allowed the party to be set up. But less than four years later, they reversed their decision, sending police to break up a party meeting and arrest the leadership. The ground on which you are standing is the very site where sixteen members of the Taiwan People’s Party were taken away by the police. Party leader Wei-shui Chiang died six months after being arrested, at the young age of 40.

Although the headquarters of the Taiwan People’s Party have been demolished, as you stand here you can reflect on Wei-shui Chiang’s famous saying: “The country must unite. Unity is truly powerful.”

 
No. 45, Tianshui Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City

Majestic, vibrant, luxurious: whether viewed from afar on Sun Yat-sen Freeway or up close from Jiantan Shan, the Grand Hotel Taipei leaves a lasting impression. 

The hotel’s location was suggested by Mei-ling Sung (Madame Chiang) and was used to host foreign dignitaries and esteemed guests of Taiwan’s First Family. It was initially run through the Dunmu Club (now the Yuan Shan Club). 

At a time when Taiwan had strict bans on dancing and singing, the Grand Hotel Taipei was one of the few places where nightly festivities were allowed. To ensure the safety of President Chiang and high-profile guests in the wartime climate, two secret tunnels were constructed to enable emergency evacuation, one running east and the other west. The tunnels are now open for tourists to explore.

Ling-wei Kung, Madame Chiang’s niece and the actual administrator of the hotel, stood out in the conservative society of the time as she favored men’s suits, enjoyed cigars, and remained unmarried throughout her life. Born into a powerful family, she was one of the few women to present a nontraditional gender expression in the public eye.

No. 1, Zhongshan N. Rd. Sec. 4, Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City

Hai-kuang Yin was a philosopher who embraced liberalism and taught at the nearby National Taiwan University. In 1960, his writings in the dissident magazine Free China, and his calling with Lei Chen and others for the formation of an opposition party, led to his being blacklisted by the government. Not only was he unable to continue teaching at university, his works were also banned, and he was under constant surveillance for the rest of his life. Despite these challenges, Yin continued to be a serious thinker and writer in this little house until his death in 1969.

The article that led to Yin’s ban is titled “The Great River Flows On” (大江東流擋不住). In it, he argued that reasonable aspirations for freedom, democracy, and human rights would inevitably be realized and could not be obstructed by a few individuals. Although Yin did not live to see his wishes come true, today we are free to walk down this quiet, narrow alley to his former residence without surveillance to pay tribute to this freedom fighter.

No. 1-1, Aly. 16, Ln. 18, Wenzhou St., Da'an Dist., Taipei City

As you enter the alleys of Jinjiang Street, you’ll discover a temple dedicated to the Earth God (Tudigong), known as Changqing Temple. Behind the temple stands an ancient banyan tree with a circumference of ten meters, believed to be over 250 years old. This temple serves as the historical center of Guting Village, established during the Qing Dynasty by immigrants from Quanzhou, Fujian, who settled here.

Originally, Guting Village was not large in scale, but the excavation of canals and irrigation ditches, such as the Liugongzun, stimulated development in the Jingmei area and led to an increase in the population of nearby Guting. 

This temple became the spiritual center for the pioneers and is also a testament to ethnic cooperation and coexistence. A group of immigrants from other provinces also initially settled in the Nanjichang area. As their children grew up, some chose to purchase properties in nearby Guting, thus becoming devotees of Changqing Temple. Residents from all ethnic groups in the area can seek shade beneath the ancient banyan tree and receive blessings at Changqing Temple.

No. 34, Jinjiang St., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City

The emergence of art has never followed a fixed pattern. Whether natural or fantastical, drawn from personal experience or historical events, or expressed through sound or movement, all forms belong to art. Regardless of the approach, the most important foundation is an attitude of boundless freedom.

The Taipei Fringe Festival continues the diverse and open spirit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, using various urban spaces as performance venues. This summer, hundreds of performances will spark across the city’s corners, infusing Taipei with vibrant energy.

The 2024 Taipei Fringe Festival is themed “Standby, GO!” Each person harbors tremendous energy, eager to run and dance at the sight of the stage. The festival channels this enthusiasm throughout the city, inviting us to explore our boundless possibilities and creativity, all while waiting for the stage lights to shine.

Every year, the Taipei Fringe Festival embodies the spirit “The city is a stage,” exploring unconventional performance spaces. This year’s new venues include the enchanting taxi lane at Taipei Performing Arts Center, Bcoas Art Studio in Beitou, Grassland (Ho-Sng House, a tea space during weekdays, a hidden gem within a historic residence), and two new additions: NTU Center for the Arts, University Players Theatre and the National Taiwan Science Education Center—Small Black Box immersive theatre.

Entering its 16th year, the Taipei Fringe Festival continues to transform our familiar cityscape with diverse, open, and imaginative creations. Sometimes the changes are subtle, sometimes bold, but always fearless and forward-moving. This is why so many festival enthusiasts eagerly await each year’s guidebook, clutching tickets as they step into extraordinary corners, ready for the surprises to come.

Starting August 24, join us for three consecutive weekends, bringing long-held energy to shine brightly when the stage lights come on. We invite everyone to explore the city’s excitement and passion with us this summer.

The live competition and singing in the performance are Warlop’s carefully chosen metaphors that show how seemingly unrelated individuals can form a community through song, highlighting the vitality of theater and its social significance.

“Black Lights” is adapted from the German-French public television series H24, which exposes the various forms of violence women endure in everyday life. Mathilde Monnier, former director and choreographer of the Centre National de la Danse in France, selected nine real-life stories and translated the language of the camera into different forms of expression, including body, music, and language. This adaptation conveys women’s anger and trauma while striving to find a ray of hope in each story.

In his classic work “The Sun”, Japanese playwright Tomohiro Maekawa explores a scenario where the Sun, essential for human existence, ironically becomes a polarizing issue that divides humanity into opposing factions, prompting deep philosophical inquiries into survival and choice against a backdrop of political dysfunction.

Japan’s Butoh troupe Dairakudakan Butoh Workshop, led by Akaji Maro, has collaborated with contemporary French choreographer François Chaignaud to present the dance piece “Gold Shower.” 

Inspired by Greek mythology and intertwining two mythologies and distinct dance styles, this transcultural dialogue will lead the audience into an exchange of bodies that transcends nationality, culture, and age. Subverting mainstream societal aesthetic experiences, the two dancers appear as embodiments of the Sun God and Love God, initiating various encounters, explorations, and interactions, performed with curiosity. Not merely a dance, it resembles an exploration of the sacred rituals of the human body, delving into the infinite possibilities of human nature, bodies, and disguise.

“Baan Cult, Muang Cult,” a remake of the classic work by emerging Thai director Wichaya Artamat, is a unique metaphorical exploration of Thailand’s societal blind faith and worship. The performance features a double-sided stage, telling the story of two apartments and four people and weaving their parallel lives into a sharp reflection on social structure. It offers a profound portrayal of contemporary Thai society and examines the three untouchable pillars of Thai society: religion, the military, and the monarchy.

“Leftover Market” is the latest dance work by Taiwanese feminist artist Pin-Wen Su, co-produced by the Taipei Performing Arts Center and the Centre National de la Danse in France. Building on the themes from her previous works “Girl’s Rehearsal” and the “Girl’s Notes” trilogy, this piece takes aim at societal expectations of “female” appearances, focusing on exploring the cultural and economic significance of the concept of “leftover women” and market-driven consumerism. It addresses social labels such as “older women” and “leftover women,” offering a fresh perspective that leads the audience to engage in a dialogue transcending language and cultural background in a collective reflection on contemporary gender power relations.

Rong-Yu Wang was nominated for the Best Director and Best Performance Group Awards at the 32nd Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music with his work “Matinee in the Rain”. 

Now, together with the Golden Bough Theatre, Wang presents “Xilaian”, a new work set against the backdrop of the 1915 armed anti-Japanese uprising by Han Chinese and Pingpu Aborigines that recreates a breathtaking battle by the righteous army. 

The story revolves around the themes of brotherhood and resistance against Japanese colonial rule, delving into a lesser-known, yet more thrilling side of Taiwanese history through intricate character portrayal and intensely vivid scenes, exploring a legendary tale of heroism that rivals official historical accounts.

The Party Theatre Group’s “Father Mother” spans half a century of historical and political change. Protagonist Wen is approaching fifty when he discovers an old photo of his possible biological father among his adoptive father’s belongings, revealing long-hidden family secrets and prompting a journey to uncover his roots. 

This play mirrors the development of local Taiwanese puppet theater, illustrating the struggles of the Taiwanese people to survive under different regimes, and addressing a range of issues, such as national identity, individual identity and gender identity.

The theme of the 2024 Taipei Arts Festival is “Embodying Theirstories.” Participating artists from Japan, France, Belgium, Thailand, and Taiwan will showcase diverse perspectives and approaches to viewing and handling history through various forms and perspectives. 

This year, the festival features several prominent artists and their remarkable works, such as Huan-Hsiung Li, the director who won the Grand Prize at the 20th Taishin Arts Award; Rong-Yu Wang, a National Award for Arts recipient; Mathilde Monnier, former director and choreographer of the Centre National de la Danse in France; and Akaji Maro, the legendary Butoh master from Japan. 

The inclusion of both mid-career and emerging artists brings different dimensions to the historical narratives symbolized by “Embodying Theirstories.” 

Theatre can be a medium for retelling history, a reflection on life, or an imaginative re-creation of history. These storytelling methods represent the most captivating and essential moments in theatre, much like the most valuable artifacts stored in a museum. This year’s Taipei Arts Festival presents its program within the context of “Embodying Theirstories.”

Let’s meet in various corners of Taipei and experience a wide variety of activities. Whether you are a food lover, music enthusiast, or explorer passionate about culture and art, you will create countless beautiful memories at these events. Summer in Taipei!—let’s make sure not to miss each other this summer!

▍Taipei Friendly Store

Date: June 27–September 17

Location: Various locations across Taipei

▍Taipei Children’s Arts Festival

Date: June 29–August 1

Location: Various performance venues across Taipei

▍SongYan Summer Festival

Date: July 1–September 1

Location: Songshan Cultural and Creative Park

▍2024 Keep Loving Street Food

Date: July 1–November 5

Location: Various night markets across Taipei

▍2024 Beitou Summer Magic Festival

Date: July 5–28

Location: Beitou (Qihu Park, Qixing Park, and Beitou Park, etc.)

▍Taipei Summer Festival

Date: July 17–August 10,

Location: Dadaocheng Wharf

▍Beitou Cooling Summer Festival

Date: July 19–August 4

Location: Beitou Hot Spring Museum

▍Tianmu Beer Festival

Date: July 20–21

Location: Tianmu Sports Park

▍August 1 Indigenous Peoples’ Week Series

Date: July 27–August 4

Location: Xinzhongshan Linear Park, Taipei Expo Park, Taipei City Hall 1F Atrium

▍2024 Mix East District Summer Fun Party

Date: July 27–28

Location: Taipei East District

▍Shilin Night Market Shopping Festival

Date: August 2–17

Location: Shilin Night Market

▍Taipei Arts Festival

Date: August 2–September 8

Location: Various performance venues across Taipei

▍Taipei Fringe Festival

Date: August 24–September 8

Location: Various performance venues across Taipei

Whether it’s stress from studying and exams,

exhaustion from work and the commute,

or juggling kids on all sides,

how long has it been since you last released all that pressure?

Do you want to let go of everything and just shake it off?

Open the links! Break the chains! Let’s shake it!

The Oh, Shake It! music festival, combined with the black and white keys of the piano as a musical motif, aims to have you release your energy and sway with the rhythm! 

Whether you love the unique charm of indie music, the powerful beats of rock, or the familiar vibes of pop, the Oh, Shake It! Music Festival is all about the spirit of ultimate relaxation. It’s an unrestricted, free-spirit festival that satisfies all the city’s souls who want to shake it off without a care.

Combining music, a marketplace, and interactive elements, the entire event is free. Come join us for the most carefree and groovy Oh, Shake It! music festival, autumn 2021!

❙ Event Dates: October 16 & 17

❙ Event Location: South Base Outdoor Plaza, Taipei Music Center

In response to the impactful waves and hidden currents of #MeToo, the Interested Persons exhibition has been meticulously crafted over a half-year period to delve into the profound insights offered by this movement. The exhibition posits that, since no one remains unaffected by societal events, everyone is an “interested person”, emphasizing our interconnectedness and shared experiences. Within the complex web of relationships, the exhibition uncovers the profound effects of power dynamics, exploring, responding to, and seeking to redress these imbalances through three core themes.

[Exploration]

Guiding viewers to explore their bodies and emotions to establish autonomy and recognize the traces of oppressive power 

Chun-Yuan Hung’s “Reconciliation” presents portraits of interested persons, delving into their presence in front of the camera as a form of resistance and contemplating how the gaze of lenses serves as a form of advocacy and depiction.

The “A Letter to Daughter” team, led by Jun-honn Kao, collaborated to create “A Letter to Daughter”, exploring Taiwan’s #MeToo-related events and responses and analyzing their power dynamics. Simultaneously, they examine how people of different generations can discuss such sensitive issues.

Val Lee’s “Sudden Disappearance of Context” adopts a transparent visual vocabulary to directly address power extremes, presenting scenarios such as the military-industrial complex under the U.S.–Mexico geopolitical relationship, collusion between police and local forces with impunity, border problems, and misogyny.

[Response]

Offering a simulated safe space where participants can experiment with and assess the effectiveness of various potential responses

TransA PLAY’s “Self Amusement Park” provides a range of games that simulate different life scenarios, spanning explorations of the body and external interactions, defending against sexual violence, and recognizing and reversing power dynamics.

Xiang Ni’s “Work Stoppage” grants humor a special authority, putting the high and mighty on pause, and allowing the justice anticipated by the #MeToo movement— manifesting through ostracism, cancelling, snubbing, and low ratings—a chance to pause and catch its breath.

[Repair]

We aim to heal ourselves and others, seeking training and support to improve our physical, mental, and environmental well-being for future generations

Hsin-Ning Tsou and Jun-Honn Kao’s “Your Tree Ally” seeks partners to become each other’s “significant others,” fostering a deeper connection with trees, nurturing empathy, and expanding communication spaces, allowing unspoken thoughts to gradually find voice.

The Women’s Self-Representatives collective, led by Chien-Chung Liao, collaboratively created the space work “Everyday Learning Cinema”. Drawing inspiration from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the collective focuses on disadvantaged women and women of different ages, marital status, and education levels. This cinema is filled with collective memories from daily life, showcases curated films, engages in practices such as participant appearances, spatial ideation, film selection, viewing, discussion, visual storytelling, seeing and being seen, and meticulously identifying power dynamics.

Through these efforts, the Interested Persons exhibition creates meaningful contexts, embraces opportunities, reimagines individual and societal roles, and fosters empathy for all interested persons

▍Interested Persons

Duration: June 1–September 8

Location: Main Exhibition Areas 1, second floor, MOCA Taipei (Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei)

This year, the Taipei City Archives is hosting a creative genealogy competition as part of the Dragon Judy exhibition. In addition to showcasing the 58 award-winning works from the 2024 Creative Genealogy Design Competition in the Graphic and Three-Dimensional categories, which include special prizes, excellence awards, and outstanding works, the exhibition also features many scheduled exhibitions.

Visitors, for instance, will learn about the origins of family names, tribe names and given names and the characters that accompany them at the “Exploring Surnames” exhibit. Topics like compound surnames, rare surnames, gender equality in surnames, and the origins and structure of generational names will also be covered. 

At the “Ancestral Traces” exhibit, visitors learn how to collect data and create a family tree. Meanwhile, the “Indigenous Names, deciphering Tribal Names” exhibition explores the  naming traditions of the 16 indigenous tribes. 

Finally, the “Family Spread Across the World” exhibit gives visitors an understanding about the origins of ancestral halls and how ancestral halls are sacred places for tracing roots. The Chen Dexing Ancestral Hall—the most complete ancestral hall for worship in Taipei and the largest ancestral hall for the Chen surname in the Taipei area, is specially featured at the exhibition area. The exhibition will screen traditional, solemn ancestral worship videos of Chen Dexing Ancestral Hall. Through this Ancestral Heritage Exhibition, it is hoped that more people will understand the multifaceted meaning of family genealogy.

The exhibition area also features an intriguing ancestral heritage treasure hunt game where you can follow on-site clues to uncover a secret password. Visitors who complete the challenge will win a small prize! Meanwhile, the various interactive experiences within the exhibition area educate children and adults alike about how family trees are created through simple games and an engaging approach. You’ll also find interactive activities like phonetic stickers for uncommon surnames. Visit the Dragon Judy Creative Ancestral Heritage Exhibition, explore the exhibits, play and win!

▍Creative Ancestral Heritage Treasure Hunt Ancestral Heritage Exhibition

Date: April 19 to June 9

Time: 10 am to 5 pm (closed Mondays)

Venue | Shuxin Hall  

(No. 174-2, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City) 

Admission｜Free

The literature-centered annual Taipei Literature Film Festival is back this May! Featuring adaptations of novels and re-creations of masterpieces, this year’s festival features two key figures: Latin American literary master Gabriel García Márquez and Spanish film maestro Luis Buñuel Portolés. As we seamlessly transition from literature to film art, the festival pays homage and guides audience through the experience of the wide-ranging, rich artistic expressions of cinematic masters.

Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez is one of the most important novelists in post-war Latin America. His works consistently intertwined reality and fantasy in his uniquely magical, realist style. On one hand, he deeply delved into the portrayal of poverty, vulnerability, and authentic human nature, and on the other, his works reflected the internal complexities and external pressures South American societies experienced, earning him the distinction of being an eminent Spanish-language novelist. 

One Hundred Years of Solitude, Márquez’s magnum opus, was published in 1967 and set the bar for Latin American magical realism. The story offers insights into human desires and human nature, and details the rise and fall, joy and sorrow, machinations, eccentricities and vicissitudes of the Buendía family. Indeed, Márquez masterfully crafted an epic life story that traverses history, mythology, war, politics, and love.

In commemoration of the tenth anniversary of Márquez’s death, the documentary Gabo: The Creation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez has been specially selected to offer viewers a glimpse into Márquez’s authentic writer persona. The festival also features the adaptation Farewell to the Ark directed by Japanese avant-garde filmmaker Shuji Terayama who openly acknowledged Márquez’s deep influence on him. Terayama also adapted One Hundred Years of Solitude into a stage play that was staged multiple times and also directed the stylistically eerie magical classic Farewell to the Ark. From Latin American literature to Japanese poetry, this cross-cultural visual transformation enriches the cultural dialectics within One Hundred Years of Solitude.

The other focal point of this year’s festival is Luis Buñuel, a director, screenwriter, actor, composer, writer, and poet. Destined for a life of extraordinary creativity, Buñuel was acclaimed as the “father of surrealist cinema” (超現實主義電影之父), who astounded the film industry with his first short film Un Chien Andalou. 

Although Buñuel led a tumultuous life which saw him moving between Spain, Mexico, and France and facing censorship and bans owing to societal rejection of his works, he persevered in his creative journey and produced outstanding works that amazed the world. 

Buñuel’s friendship with Salvador Dalí also imbued his works with elements of surrealism and psychological analysis which constantly broadened the viewer’s perspective and transcended the limits of reality. 

Alongside the avant-garde classic Un Chien Andalou which was completed in collaboration with Dalí, several digitally restored iconic works including Le Fantôme de la liberté, Belle de Jour, Le Charme discret de la bourgeoisie, and El ángel exterminador, will also be screened, allowing the audience to appreciate the artistic prowess of this surrealist cinematic master.

▍2024 Taipei Literature Festival - Taipei Literature Film Festival

Date | May 24 to June 6

Venue | SPOT - Taipei Film House, Taiwan

The 2024 Taipei Literature Festival exhibition “Editor Wanted: Perspectives, Techniques, and Dialogues”, scheduled from 4 to 26 May 2024, will feature as its main attractions five periodicals from different times: “Theater”, “Echo of Things Chinese”, “Human World”, “ISLE Magazine”, and “Stir”. As well as historical archives, these publications also serve as lenses through which we can view past and present, sparking intellectual discussion.

In line with the 2024 Taipei Literature Festival’s theme of “wildness”, literature has embraced diverse forms of cross-cultural integration, and no compelling reasons against it can be offered nowadays. The sophisticated narrative in cultural publications continue to offer readers much food for thought. These publications witness leaps and bounds in technology and shifts in social dynamics, and their editorial techniques and perspectives provide readers the keys to understanding each historical period accurately. Magazine editors play pivotal roles, not merely content producers but also catalysts for discussion of important issues. Their interpretations shape the aesthetic appeal of magazines and influence public perception. Each project that is undertaken represents a reimagining of traditional paradigms and a relentless pursuit of innovation.

The exhibition is divided into four sections, Select, Explore, Interpret, and Amplify, each of which encourages visitors to engage in the editor recruitment process: select your preferred editorial style, explore the ideological evolution of past publications, and, under the mentorship of esteemed editors like Chia-Chi Chen, Ching-Wei Tung, Jung-Hsing Ho, Chu-Chung Li, and Wan-Yun Chang, learn the art of interpreting a magazine. Visitors are invited to customize content according to their interests and amplify contemporary voices. We aim to take you on a journey through history, showcasing and interpreting its waves, enabling you to grasp the past and find inspiration for areas of future content production.

2024 Taipei Literature Festival Theme Exhibition

Dates: May 4 to 26, closed Mondays

Location: Bopiliao Historic Block (No. 173-35, 37, 39, Kangding Rd., Wanhua Dist., Taipei City)

Home Village—Celebrate the New Year in Home Village!

During the Lunar New Year festivities in Home Village, create your own dragon-themed spring couplets and experience a different New Year atmosphere. Home Village has specially prepared six limited-edition dragon year stamps that will add instant color to your spring couplets. Everyone, whether calligraphy experts or beginners, can unleash their creativity. 

As you stroll through Home Village, take a moment to write some spring couplets, then stamp them with the special stamps, and turn your couplets into unique gifts! 

Don’t let your Lunar New Year be ordinary: take part in the Dragon Year Spring Couplets DIY event and use your creativity to add vibrant color to the New Year. Come to Home Village and enjoy the deep New Year vibe!

The Dialogue Across Time and Space (跨時空對話) creative submissions event is open to participants of all ages, nationalities, and genders to encourage participation from a diverse range of teams. 

Entries are welcome in any medium or form of presentation. The organizers have assembled a panel of professionals from relevant fields to judge submissions based on creativity (45%), local relevance (35%), and clarity of expression (20%). Submissions should: embrace free creative forms, engage in cross-temporal dialogue, express emotional memories, address issues of gender diversity, and establish connections with local communities.

While undergoing renovation, National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is planning to launch a public art installation project, and the 10-hectare park with its lush greenery will remain open to the public. The Dialogue Across Time and Space creative submissions event has been organized to ensure continued engagement during the renovation period and invite members of the public to express their deepest imagination and future hopes for National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in their own unique way.

Let’s use this interweaving dialogue across time and space to dream up an unforgettable journey together.

During the Lunar New Year holiday from February 11 to 14 (the second and fifth days of the lunar calendar), Red House will host a four-day New Year–themed market event which will enable everyone to welcome the new year with energy and vitality in a joyful atmosphere. 

On February 12 (the third day), well-known Taiwanese lion dance troupe Taipei Ching Ho Kuang Lion Dance Troupe will perform at Red House, bringing good luck and prosperity for the entire year. Join us in as we usher in the Spring Festival and receive blessings!

The Prosperous Dragon Always Comes—New Year’s Gift (好運龍總來新春小禮): From now until March 3, visit the Red House in Ximen, complete a Facebook check-in inside the venue, and receive a “Prosperous Dragon Always Comes” Commemorative Card (好運龍總來 斗方賀卡). Availability is limited, so be sure to come to Red House during the Lunar New Year and enjoy a relaxed itinerary of lantern viewing while you explore cultural and creative exhibits.

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, in collaboration with ECHO of Things Chinese magazine, presents 2024 Dong-Long-Dong-Long-Ciang, for which the public is invited to collect auspicious dragons and usher in a vibrant Year of the Dragon! 

From February 6 to 25, the New Year Stories Exhibition (年節故事展) will showcase captivating tales from ECHO of Things Chinese’s classic “Chinese Fairy Tales” (中國童話), including the Kitchen Goddess, dumplings, and ingots. 

The exhibition will give participants a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese New Year customs and culture. At the same time, lectures have been scheduled for the Master’s Lecture Series: Dragon Stories (大師講堂：龍的故事), which focuses on dragons stories and symbolism in Chinese culture. 

At the Search for Divine Dragons Stamp Collection (尋找神龍集章) event, participants can collect all the divine dragon stamps and exchange them for an Azure Dragon tattoo sticker, which symbolized the protection of the divine dragon for a year of peace and prosperity. 

At the Photo Check-in for Golden Prizes (拍照打卡送黃金) promotion, all you have to do is take photos and check in on Facebook at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park for a chance to win Longshan Temple—Praying for Golden Lucky Red String (龍山寺-祈願黃金幸運紅繩) and A Golden House in the Book—Happy New Year of the Dragon (書中自有黃金屋- 大過龍年), bringing home blessings and prosperity!

The exhibition is scheduled to showcase a series of 14 video works, consisting of over 10 video pieces. As an artist who creates with both visual and auditory elements, Bek Hyunjin (白鉉眞) sometimes feels that commonly used mediums—such as sound, language (oral and written), drama, painting, photography, installation, and performances—are insufficient to express certain ideas or experiences. For this exhibition, his chosen mode of expression is video. 

The works presented in this exhibition are the results of this process. Among them, Light was shot by director Bong Joonho (奉俊昊) of Parasite (寄生上流), in collaboration with other crew members and actors, and another was captured accidentally through surveillance cameras. 

Another piece, The End, was produced with the participation of several Korean film stars, including Moon Sori (文素利), the female lead in Queenmaker (造后者). We hope this exhibition will introduce Taiwanese audiences to Korean video works that have never been exposed in Taiwan before.

By tradition, the living spaces of emperors and empresses were meticulously planned out and constructed. The government offices involved in the planning had well-defined roles: surveying, measuring, making designs, estimating materials, construction, and inspection.

During the Qing Dynasty, imperial residences showcased unique architectural features, following Han architectural traditions and incorporating Manchu customs. Every aspect was carefully controlled, from the planning of the palace for governance and the management of gardens for leisure to the construction of temples for worship and blessings and the building of mausoleums for eternal resting places.

The exhibition is divided into three sections. Imperial Architectural Drawings highlights selected files with imperial architectural patterns from the museum’s Qing Dynasty collection. Imperial Architects—The Lei Style introduces important members of the Lei family and their architectural designs.

Classical Architecture in Modern Taiwan explores the continuation of traditional classical architecture in Taiwan, providing insights into significant works of cultural representation.

“Giselle”, a representative 19th-century, romantic ballet, premiered at the Opéra Garnier in Paris in 1841. The first act tells the story of a young woman named Giselle and a nobleman named Albrecht who fall in love. However, Giselle discovers that Albrecht is already engaged, which causes her immense emotional pain, and ultimately, she succumbs to her overwhelming sorrow and dies.

The second act portrays the “Wilis”, ghosts of unmarried women who died after being betrayed by their lovers, led by their ghostly queen, Myrtha. The Wilis dance at night and roam through the forest taking revenge against anyone they encounter, compelling their victims to dance until they die from exhaustion. Following her demise, Giselle also becomes a ghostly Wili, but she forgives Albrecht and saves his life.