TAF embraces Taipei’s artistic spirit

2015/07/28

Taipei Arts Festival gets underway July 31, serving up a wide variety of dance and theater performances in keeping with the city’s emergence as a global hub for innovative, avant-garde culture.

A total of 11 works by artists from eight countries and territories are featured at the 17th edition of the annual event during its six-week run. These include “The Metamorphosis, Android Version” and “eXchange,” Taiwan co-productions with artists from France and Australia, respectively.

TAF Artistic Director Keng Yi-wei said theatrical performances reflect a city’s spirit, and the all-embracing spirit of Taipei reflects a fertile cultural landscape filled with stunning examples of creativity.

“Each summer, TAF provides a stage for the spirit to run free. It brings the world’s foremost artists to the metropolis, forming connections between international and local performers via visionary productions in which extraordinary young talents mingle and show off their chops.”

New Co-Choreographer Project is the realization of such a collaborative initiative, Keng said. Substantially expanded this year, the project brings back after a seven-year hiatus two-time Isadora Duncan Dance Award nominee Lin Hsiang-hsiu, who will unveil a joint number with California-based sjDANCEco.

“Through this project, up-and-coming local theater star Yang’s Ensemble gets the opportunity of collaborating with Daniela Kranz of Schauspielhaus Wien to stage ‘Monsun’ by famed German dramatist Anja Hilling,” Keng added.

Other standout features in the festival include the Taiwan debut of Berlin’s Deutsches Theater, two-time recipient of the prestigious Faust Theater Award, performing its celebrated play “Diebe.” Nanjing University Yesoo Company from mainland China, meanwhile, brings its controversial comedy “President’s Invitation,” presenting a fresh look at the plague of intellectuals during the Cultural Revolution.

According to Keng, a common thread of these shows is the theme of humanity. “We hope to explore the human condition as it interacts with culture, daily life, politics, technology, urbanity and this generation as a whole.

“Through the prism of theater, every facet of the inexhaustible struggle with the meaning of existence will be probed in utmost honesty.”

TAF programs will be staged until Sept. 6 at Taipei City’s Metropolitan Hall, Wellspring Theater and Zhongshan Hall on a rotating basis.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=233053&ctNode=413)