Theater
Alone in the World's Room (在世界的房間), a poetic play by up-and-coming women director Ma Zhao-chi (馬照琪), inspired by French novelist and playwright Eric-Emmanuel Schmittby. National Experimental Theater (國家實驗劇場).
● Tickets NT$400, through NTCH
● Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
What Are You Doing Mr. Jiang? (蔣先生你幹什麼?), a Chinese stand-up comedy by Comedians Workshop (相聲瓦社).
Novel Hall (新舞台) at 3-1 Sungshou Rd, Taipei (台北市松壽路3-1號).
● Tickets NT$300 to NT$1,200, through ERA ticketing.
● Tonight at 7:30pm; tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
A Magical Box (魔幻寶盒), a play for children. Hsinchu County Cultural Affairs Bureau (新竹縣文化局), 146, Xianzheng 9th Rd, Chubei City, Hsinchu County(新竹縣竹北市縣政九路146號).
● Tickets NT$300 to NT$700, through ERA ticketing.
● Sunday at 2:30pm and 7:30pm
Riverdance (大河之舞) Tainan Municipal Cultural Center (台南市立文化中心), 332, Chunghua E Rd, Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號) for shows on Monday and Tuesday. Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center, Kaohsiung City (高雄中正文化中心), 67, Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號) on Thursday.
● Tickets NT$600 to NT$3,600, through ERA ticketing.
● All shows begin at 7:30pm
The Twelfth Night -- First Taste of Love (第十二個夜 -- 愛的初體驗), a Shakespearean comedy as part of the Playing with Classics Art Festival (玩弄經典藝術節). Drama Club Company (劇樂部劇團戲劇場), B1, 9, Ln 101, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路二段101巷9號B1).
● Tickets NT$150, through NTCH.
● Tonight at 7:30pm; tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
Assassinate Q2 ... GO! (暗殺Q2...GO!) by the Performance Workshop Experimental Theater Group (OFFPW, 外表坊時驗團).
Tainan Human Theater Factor (台南人戲工場), 85, Shengli Rd, Eastern District, Tainan City (台南市東區勝利路85號).
● Tickets NT$350, through ERA ticketing.
● Tonight at 7:30pm; tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
NTU Corridor Cafe (迴廊咖啡館) presents Middle Eastern Belly Dancing. NTU Sports Center 1F (台大綜合體育館1樓) at the intersection of Xinhai Rd and Xinsheng S Rd (台北市辛亥路與新生南路交叉口).
● Tickets NT$350 with one drink included. Call (02) 8369 5656.
● Tomorrow at 7pm
Classical
Eifman Ballet of St. Peterburg -- Tchaikovsky: The Mystery of Life and Death (聖彼得堡艾夫曼芭蕾舞團 -- 全本芭蕾劇'柴可夫斯基 -- 生死之謎'). National Theater (國家戲劇院)
● Tickets NT$600 to NT$4,800, through NTCH.
● Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm; Sunday at 2:30pm
A Night of Piano Trio (布拉姆斯的狂想鋼琴三重奏之夜), featuring music from Brahms, Paul Juon and Reinhold Gliere. Forum Auditorium (十方樂集), 4, Ln 187, Minzu W Rd (台北市民族西路187巷4號). Call (02) 2593 5811.
● Tickets NT$250. Call (02) 2593 5811.
● Tonight at 7:30pm
Hu Nai-yuan vs. Academy of Taiwan Strings (胡乃元與台灣絃樂團), featuring music from Bach and Vivaldi among others. National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳).
● Tickets NT$300 to NT$1,500, through ERA ticketing.
● Tomorrow at 7:30pm
The Piano Player, Maksim -- Solo Concert (玩家新世界 -- 邁可森鋼琴演奏會). Taipei International Convention Center (台北國際會議中心), 1, Xinyi Rd, Sec 5, Taipei (台北市信義路五段1號).
● Tickets NT$800 to NT$3,600, through ERA ticketing.
● Tomorrow and Sunday at 8pm
Yan Jun-jie Piano Recital (嚴俊傑鋼琴獨奏會), with the award-winning pianist performing works by Beethoven and Chopin among others. Taichung County Seaport Art Center (台中縣立港區藝術中心), 21, Chungchen Rd, Chingshui Township, Taichung County (台中縣清水鎮忠貞路21號) for tomorrow; Hualien County Cultural Affairs Bureau (花蓮縣文化局), 6, Wenfu Rd, Hualien City (花蓮市文復路6號) for Sunday.
● Tickets NT$100 for Taichung, through NTCH; Free admission for Hualien.
● Tomorrow and Sunday at 7:30pm
NSO Shostakovich Cycle V (NSO發現蕭斯塔可維奇系列五 -- 智慧的發跡) with guest violinist Robert McDuffle from the US. National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳).
● Tickets NT$300 to NT$1,500, through NTCH.
● Sunday at 2:30pm
Peter Aidu Piano Recital Concert (他隨北風來 -- 彼得艾杜鋼琴獨奏會), featuring music from Strauss, Liszt and Gershwin among others. National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳).
● Tickets NT$200 to NT$400, through NTCH.
● Monday at 7:30pm
The 9th Art Festival by the Visually Impaired in Taiwan (第九屆台灣視障藝術季), a series of musical performances including classical, pop, folk, rock and aboriginal music. Novel Hall (新舞台), 3-1 Sungshou Rd, Taipei (台北市松壽路3-1號).
● Tickets NT$300 to NT$800, through NTCH.
● Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm
Vox Gaudiosa and Formosa Singers (東京市內與福爾摩沙合唱團 -- 島國的旋律), performing choral music from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and other Asian countries. National Concert Hall in Taipei (台北國家音樂廳) on Tuesday; Hsinchu Municipal Auditorium (新竹市立演藝廳), 17, Tungta Rd, Sec 2 Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號) for Wednesday.
● Tickets NT$300 to NT$1,000 for Taipei; NT$200 to NT$400 for Hsinchu.
● Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm
2005 Year-End Musical Prayer by Moment Musical (樂興之時2005年終祈福音樂會), featuring Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and aboriginal songs. National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳).
● Tickets NT$300 to NT$2,800, through NTCH.
● Thursday at 7:30pm
Resonanzen I -- Duo Dialog (共鳴 -- 二重奏的對話). German Cultural Center, Taipei (台北德國文化中心), 12F, 20 Hoping W Rd, Sec 1, Taipei (台北市和平西路一段20號12樓).
● Free admission. For more information, visit http://www.dk-taipei.org.tw, or call (02) 2365 7294
● Thursday at 7:30pm
Rock, Pop and Jazz
Hakka Live featuring Hohak Band (好客樂團). National Traditional Arts Center (國立傳統藝術中心), 26, Hangzhou N Rd, Taipei (台北市杭州北路26號).
● Free admission. Call (02) 2341 1200.
● Tomorrow at 2:30pm
The Living Room (小客廳) features Lily C and Fresh Air (新鮮空氣) tonight; Hip-hop party with Fluent tomorrow.
● 3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Entrance NT$100 for tonight; NT$200 for tomorrow. Call (02) 8787 4154.
● Tonight and tomorrow at 10pm
Witch House (女巫店) features Tom and Huck (湯姆與哈克) on Sunday. 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號).
● Entrance NT$300. Call (02) 2362 5494.
● Show begins at 9:30pm
Blue Note (藍調) features Uno Quartet (烏野薰爵士四重奏) every Tuesday; New Decision Quartet (爵心爵士樂團) every Thursday; Metamorphosis (變形蟲爵士樂團) every Friday; Jive Stakes and Gu Hao every Saturday. 4F, 171, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段171號4樓).
● Entrance NT$300 on weekdays and NT$350 on weekends.
Call (02) 2362 2333.
● All shows begin at 9:30pm
The Wall (這牆) presents Jagermeister Music featuring MC HotDog, Witness, Free Night, Joy Topper (豬頭皮) and Ma Nian-xian (馬念先) tonight; Strolling on the Grass featuring A Company, My Little Airport and On the Grass (在草地上) tomorrow; Hate Rock 'n' Roll featuring Maho (馬猴), BB Bomb (BB彈) and Digihai on Sunday. B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 4,Taipei (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1).
● Entrance NT$400 for tonight; NT$600 for tomorrow; NT$300 for Sunday. For more information, visit http://www.the-wall.com.tw
● All shows begin at 8:30pm
Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) features JEG Jazz Band tonight; Braces (牙套) and Backquarter (四分衛) tomorrow; Lily C and Fresh Air (新鮮空氣) on Sunday; IRIS and Surviving Force (存活勢力) on Tuesday; Jie Jin (捷進) and Higher (亥兒) on Wednesday; Dong Yun-chang and Friends (董運昌 and Friends) on Thursday. B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1).
● Entrance NT$350 for weekends; NT$300 for weekdays.
Call (02) 2368 7310.
● All shows begin at 9:30pm
Exhibition
The Art and Life of Music (跨世紀名琴名弓大展), an exhibit of 30 famous Italian classical violins and more than 30 French bows. 4th floor of National Concert Hall(國家音樂廳4樓交誼廳)
● Open Sunday from 2:30pm to 8pm. Monday to Wednesday from 12 noon to 5pm. Call (02) 2719 0408
Aerial Photography Exhibition on Africa (非洲空中攝影展) by photographer Robert Hassa. National Museum of Natural Science (國立自然科學博物館), 1, Kuanchien Rd, Taichung (台中市館前路一號).
● Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (04) 2322 6940.
● Until May 31, 2006
Group Exhibition by the Members of the Ceramics Association (中華民國陶藝協會會員聯展). Taipei Railway Station Culture Gallery (台北火車站文化藝廊), 1F, 3, Beiping W Rd, Taipei (台北市北平西路3號1樓).
● Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call (02) 2381 5226.
● Until Dec. 23
In the Future or In the Past, a collage of memories on display. Nowhere (所在), 1, Ln 60, Xinsheng S Rd, Sec 3,Taipei (台北市新生南路三段60巷1號). Call (02) 2362 5241.
● Open Monday to Friday from 2pm to 2am, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 2am.
● Until Jan. 31, 2006
The Beauty of Silence and Emptiness by Szeto Lap (寧靜空靈之美), an exhibition of oil paintings. Asiart Center (亞洲藝術中心), 177, Jianguo S Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (台北市建國南路二段177號).
● Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30pm to 6:30pm. Call (02) 2754 1366.
● Until Dec. 27
Twenty Years of Art Play (游藝二十年 -- 雙溪六人展), a joint exhibition by six local artists displaying art works ranging from paintings to sculptures. Lin and Keng Gallery (大未來畫廊), 1F, 11, Ln 252, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 1, Taipei. (台北市敦化南路一段252巷11號1樓).
● Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Call (02) 2750 8811.
● Until Dec. 26
Exhibition for Metalsmith, Ceramic and Textile Artists Selected to Visit Australia and "Talente 2005" in Germany (10考記 -- 工藝師赴澳洲研究實作計劃暨慕尼黑Talente競賽入選者作品成果聯展) and Metal Crafts and Visual Images by Zhou Li-lun (等四方 -- 周立倫金屬工藝物件及影像創作展). National Taiwan Craft Research Taipei Crafts Center (國立台灣工藝研究所台北工藝設計中心), 9F, 20, Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路20號9樓).
● Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (02) 2356 3880.
● Until Dec. 24
Illustrations on the Jungle -- Solo Exhibition by Cao Xiao-ping (插畫叢林 -- 曹筱苹個展). Art Space of Life Science Library, Academia Sinica (中央研究院生圖美學空間), 128, Yanjiuyuan Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (台北市研究院路二段128號).
● Open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 9pm and Saturday from 8:30am to 5pm. Call (02) 2653 5663.
● Until Jan. 8, 2006
General History of Chinese Cultural Artifacts: Enshrine Show (中華文物通史特展 -- 典藏常設展). National Museum of History (國立歷史博物館), 49, Nanhai Rd, Taipei (台北市南海路49號).
● Open 10am to 6pm.
Call (02) 2361 0270.
● Until Dec. 31
La Vie Moderne, Paris 1925 to 1937 -- La Collection de Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (美好年代 -- 巴黎市立現代美術館收藏展), the most representative collection in the Modern Arts Museum of Paris showcasing the essence of Parisian art from the beginning of the 20th century. Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181, Zhongshan N Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段181號).
● Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. Call (02) 2595 7656.
● Until Feb. 5 2006
The Model House -- Huang Ya-chi Solo Exhibition (私的建築藝術 -- 黃亞紀個展), a series of blurred imagery on the history of contemporary architecture. And Minutiae: An Exhibition of Works by Kao Hsiu-li (瑣碎 -- 郭秀莉影像個展).
Taiwan International Visual Arts Center (台灣國際視覺藝術中心), 1F, 29, Ln 45, Liaoning St, Taipei (台北市遼寧街45巷29號1樓).
● Open Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 7pm; Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Call (02) 2773 3347.
● Until Dec. 21
In the mainstream view, the Philippines should be worried that a conflict over Taiwan between the superpowers will drag in Manila. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr observed in an interview in The Wall Street Journal last year, “I learned an African saying: When elephants fight, the only one that loses is the grass. We are the grass in this situation. We don’t want to get trampled.” Such sentiments are widespread. Few seem to have imagined the opposite: that a gray zone incursion of People’s Republic of China (PRC) ships into the Philippines’ waters could trigger a conflict that drags in Taiwan. Fewer
March 18 to March 24 Yasushi Noro knew that it was not the right time to scale Hehuan Mountain (合歡). It was March 1913 and the weather was still bitingly cold at high altitudes. But he knew he couldn’t afford to wait, either. Launched in 1910, the Japanese colonial government’s “five year plan to govern the savages” was going well. After numerous bloody battles, they had subdued almost all of the indigenous peoples in northeastern Taiwan, save for the Truku who held strong to their territory around the Liwu River (立霧溪) and Mugua River (木瓜溪) basins in today’s Hualien County (花蓮). The Japanese
Pei-Ru Ko (柯沛如) says her Taipei upbringing was a little different from her peers. “We lived near the National Palace Museum [north of Taipei] and our neighbors had rice paddies. They were growing food right next to us. There was a mountain and a river so people would say, ‘you live in the mountains,’ and my friends wouldn’t want to come and visit.” While her school friends remained a bus ride away, Ko’s semi-rural upbringing schooled her in other things, including where food comes from. “Most people living in Taipei wouldn’t have a neighbor that was growing food,” she says. “So
Whether you’re interested in the history of ceramics, the production process itself, creating your own pottery, shopping for ceramic vessels, or simply admiring beautiful handmade items, the Zhunan Snake Kiln (竹南蛇窯) in Jhunan Township (竹南), Miaoli County, is definitely worth a visit. For centuries, kiln products were an integral part of daily life in Taiwan: bricks for walls, tiles for roofs, pottery for the kitchen, jugs for fermenting alcoholic drinks, as well as decorative elements on temples, all came from kilns, and Miaoli was a major hub for the production of these items. The Zhunan Snake Kiln has a large area dedicated