HIGHLIGHTS
Wokai (我開) co-founder and CEO Casey Wilson will be in Taipei on June 12 to give a lecture entitled Can My Career Be Socially Responsible? for the Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation (龍應台文化基金會) as part of its YouthVision Taiwan (青年論壇) series.
Established in November 2008, Wokai, which means “I start” in Mandarin, raises funds to be distributed via microloans in rural China. Over the past two years, the group has raised almost US$200,000, which was used to improve the lives of 350 people.
■ Youth Forum (青年論壇), Can My Career Be Socially Responsible? The lecture and discussion take place at Yue-han Hall (月涵堂), 110 Jinhua St, Taipei City (台北市金華街110號). The lecture will be conducted in English. Admission is free, but those attending must pre-register online at www.civictaipei.org or by calling (02) 3322-4907
■ June 12, from 2pm to 4The Kronos Quartet performs tonight in Taipei at Zhongshan Hall with Chinese pipa (�? virtuoso Wu Man (吳蠻). The concert, part of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra’s Silk Road series, promises an evening of cutting-edge contemporary chamber and Chinese music.
The quartet, which formed in 1973 and is considered one of the most influential groups in modern chamber music, has been celebrated for its unorthodox and adventurous repertoire, which ranges from Bartok and Thelonius Monk to avant-garde saxophonist John Zorn and Jimi Hendrix. Wu Man, who was born in Hangzhou, China and lives in the US, has been hailed as the West’s foremost exponent of the pipa and is best known for her collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma (馬友友) and Philip Glass.
Tonight’s program includes Ghost Opera by composer Tan Dun (譚盾), who created the experimental multimedia work especially for Kronos Quartet and Wu.
■Kronos Quartet and Wu Man at Zhongshan Hall (台北市中山堂), 98 Yanping S Rd, Taipei City (台北市延平南路98號)
■Tonight at 7:30pm
■Tickets are NT$200 to NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Stand-up comedian Hartley Pool returns for his first show in 10 months at the Comedy Club’s new location on Zhongxiao East Road (忠孝東路) near Taipei City Hall MRT Station (市政府捷運站). The English comedian — who’s performed in the UK, Central and Eastern Europe, Singapore and Taiwan and now lives in Abu Dhabi — will headline the show, which is called “Abu Daddy” and revolves around the theme of becoming a father. Also on the bill are funnymen Tom Levene and S.T. Ross and guitarist Dawid Vorster, who will collaborate with Pool on a couple of comic songs. Sammi the Psychic Camel will be a last-minute stand-in in for longtime Pool collaborator Sammi the Psychic Cat.
■Abu Daddy, tomorrow from 10pm at the new Comedy Club, 20, Ln 553, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段553巷20號). Tel: (02) 2369-3730
■Admission is NT$350 at the door and includes a drink
■On the Net: www.comedy.com.tw/english, or search for “Hartley Pool presents ‘Abu Daddy’” on Facebook
THEATER
Part of the 2010 International Theatre Festival, Dulcinea’s Lament by Montreal-based theater group Dulcinea Langfelder & Co is a multimedia performance that explores feminism through Dulcinea del Toboso, a character derived from Cervante’s novel Don Quixote.
■ Experimental Theater, Taipei City
■ Tickets remain for tomorrow’s 2:30pm performance. All other performances are sold out
■ Tickets are NT$800, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company’s (台原偶戲團) latest production Black Child (黑色小孩) revives the tradition of paper puppet theater that was popular in 19th century Europe to tell the story of a child who embarks on a journey to find what’s meaningful in life. The show is suitable for children aged 4 and up.
■ Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧北路79號).
■ Tomorrow at 2pm
■ Tickets are NT$200, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
In Sun Son Theatre’s (身聲劇場) The Drango Chasers (尋龍記), three young warriors follow a dragon into a world of myths, legends and magic. Like the company’s previous productions, the piece is a captivating fusion of modern theater, dance, chant and world music.
■ Bamboo Curtain Studio (竹圍工作室), 39, Ln 88, Jhongjheng E Rd Sec 2, Tamsui Township, Taipei County (台北縣淡水鎮中正東路二段88巷39號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Dark Eyes Performance Lab’s (黑眼睛跨劇團) Jump! Big Girl. (跳舞吧!胖女孩!) is composed of three comic pieces by three theater directors including Hung Hung (鴻鴻). The heroines in the plays are a girl from outer space, a nicotine-addicted mother played by film actress Lu Yi-ching (陸弈靜) and a big girl who dances to find love.
■ Wenshan Theater (文山劇場), 32 Jingwen St, Taipei City (台北市景文街32號)
■ Tonight at 7:30pm, tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$600, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
2010 Step In — Soy House Artist Club (2010足in.豆油間) is Scarecrow Contemporary Dance Company’s (稻草人舞團) third attempt to establish a dialogue between its performers’ bodies and the interiors of old buildings and architecture.
■ Soy House Artist Club (豆油間俱樂部), 20, Ln 161, Dongmen Rd Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市東門路二段161巷20號)
■ Tonight and tomorrow at 2:30pm and 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:30pm
■ Tickets are NT$150, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
CLASSICAL MUSIC
2010 Young Stars Series — Shih-Wei Huang Piano Recital (2010兩廳院樂壇新秀系列 — 黃時為鋼琴獨奏會) presents the highly acclaimed pianist Huang Shih-wei (黃時為), winner of the Mauro Paolo Monopli Prize for young pianists in 2002. The program will include Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major Op. 110 and Chopin’s Mazurka Op. 59, Ballade No.3 in A-Flat Major Op. 47 and Polonaise-Fantasie in A-Flat Major, Op. 61.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Recital Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
NSO German Music Series — For Joachim, Sincerely yours, Lake Thun (NSO狂飆日耳曼 — 1887年8月 杜溫湖畔給姚阿幸) continues the National Symphony Orchestra’s exploration of German music in a program that includes Brahm’s Academic Festival Overture and Double Concerto in A Minor, Op. 102 and Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra. The concert will feature cellist Amit Peled and violinist Joseph Lin (林以信). The orchestra will be conducted by Derrick Inouye.
■ Today at 7:30pm
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,500, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
CONTEMPORARY
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tonight features three established indie bands that have been nominated for this year’s Golden Melody Awards (金曲獎), hip-hop groups Daximen (大囍門) and Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤) and Aboriginal rockers Totem (圖騰樂團). On Wednesday the venue hosts two French indie bands, geek-chic electro-rockers The Teenagers and folk rock duo Cocoon.
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight, NT$1,200 on Wednesday (NT$800 in advance). Tickets available through ERA ticketing, online at www.ticket.com.tw or www.legacy.com.tw, or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
The Wall (這牆) hosts Japanese metalcore and thrash band Metal Safari tonight, with local metal favorites Infernal Chaos and Forgiveness (恕) also on the bill. Tomorrow night British art rock band These New Puritans makes an appearance. The four-piece has released two albums filled with post-punk/electronica collages and has earned high marks from music publications such as Pitchfork and NME. Garage-rock favorites The White Eyes open the show. Later tomorrow night Bounce Girlz presents the Damn Damn party featuring DJ Aonami of Japan. On Sunday it’s baroque pop band The Tic Tac, young rockers Hi Jack and post-punk group The Clearance Puppy (特價小狗). On Wednesday the venue hosts Hakka rock band Zenkwun (神棍) and Mafianjo (瑪菲安喬).
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Music shows start at 7pm tonight, 8pm tomorrow, and 8pm on Sunday and Wednesday. Tomorrow’s dance party starts at 11:30pm tomorrow
■ Admission is NT$700 tonight, NT$1,400 for tomorrow’s music show (NT$1,200 in advance), NT$350 (NT$250 in advance) for tomorrow’s dance party, and NT$300 on Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.thewall.com.tw or tickets.books.com.tw
Acoustic indie rockers Silverbus (銀巴士) and rockers Silent Sign perform tonight at Witch House (女巫店). Tomorrow it’s Puyuma Aboriginal singer Leo Chen (陳永龍) and HE (有激人), a singer-songwriter duo on electric guitar and bass. The venue hosts a special show on Wednesday featuring Totem frontman and lead vocalist Suming
(姜聖明). On Thursday it’s acoustic duo A-san (阿三) and Eric, and solo act Cheshire Cat (柴郡貓).
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net:
www.witchhouse.org
■ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays, 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
■ Entrance fee for music shows is NT$300
Tonight Riverside Live House (西門紅樓展演館) hosts indie bands Chemical Monkeys (化學猴子), Love Manana (愛的大未來) and the Fever Cats. Tomorrow evening features singer Kuo Shao-hsuan (郭少軒), known for her appearances on the Super Idol (超級偶像) TV reality show.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號). Tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight and 8:30pm tomorrow
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight, NT$500 tomorrow. Tickets available online at www.riverside.com.tw/livehouse or tickets.books.com.tw
Indie-electronica outfit Heartones (心電樂) performs tonight at Underworld (地下社會), opening for Tip Toe Topic of Belgium. Tomorrow night, noise band Sunset Rollercoaster (落日飛車) and Green!Eyes take the stage.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.upsaid.com/underworld
■ Music shows run from 9:30pm to 11:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Underworld is open daily from 9pm, closed on Mondays. Happy hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays before midnight
■ Admission for music shows on Fridays and Saturdays is NT$300, which includes one drink
Sappho de Base hosts Flaneur Daguerre, a jazz quartet that plays everything Bach to Bjork and Ornette Coleman to the Ramones, tonight. Tomorrow is the Coromandel Express, which performs a “musical masala” of jazz, classical and world music. Piano, drums and bass ensemble Yohei Jazz Trio appears on Tuesday. The Open String Quartet performs on Wednesday. Fusion group DD Quartet plays on Thursday.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net:
www.sappho102.biz
■ Music shows begin at 10pm
■ Admission for music shows is NT$150 tonight and NT$100 tomorrow
The Wall (這牆) started programming regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區) last month. Appearing tonight is folk rocker Lin Sheng-xiang (林生祥) and his accompanist, Japanese guitarist Ken Ohtake (大竹研). Comedic indie-rockers Won Fu (旺福) play tomorrow night.
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號). On the Net: pier-2.khcc.gov.tw, www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start at 7pm
■ Admission is NT$400
The Mercury (水星酒館) hosts punk group Rascal Men (無賴男) tomorrow.
■ 46 Liwen Rd, Zuoying Dist, Kaohsiung City (高雄市左營區立文路46號).
Tel: (07) 550-8617. On the Net: mercurybar.blogspot.com
■ Show starts at 9pm
■ Admission for music shows is NT$200, includes one drink
A few weeks ago I found myself at a Family Mart talking with the morning shift worker there, who has become my coffee guy. Both of us were in a funk over the “unseasonable” warm weather, a state of mind known as “solastalgia” — distress produced by environmental change. In fact, the weather was not that out of the ordinary in boiling Central Taiwan, and likely cooler than the temperatures we will experience in the near-future. According to the Taiwan Adaptation Platform, between 1957 and 2006, summer lengthened by 27.8 days, while winter shrunk by 29.7 days. Winter is not
A sultry sea mist blankets New Taipei City as I pedal from Tamsui District (淡水) up the coast. This might not be ideal beach weather but it’s fine weather for riding –– the cloud cover sheltering arms and legs from the scourge of the subtropical sun. The dedicated bikeway that connects downtown Taipei with the west coast of New Taipei City ends just past Fisherman’s Wharf (漁人碼頭) so I’m not the only cyclist jostling for space among the SUVs and scooters on National Highway No. 2. Many Lycra-clad enthusiasts are racing north on stealthy Giants and Meridas, rounding “the crown coast”
March 25 to March 31 A 56-year-old Wu Li Yu-ke (吳李玉哥) was straightening out her artist son’s piles of drawings when she inadvertently flipped one over, revealing the blank backside of the paper. Absent-mindedly, she picked up a pencil and recalled how she used to sketch embroidery designs for her clothing business. Without clients and budget or labor constraints to worry about, Wu Li drew freely whatever image came to her mind. With much more free time now that her son had found a job, she found herself missing her home village in China, where she
In recent years, Slovakia has been seen as a highly democratic and Western-oriented Central European country. This image was reinforced by the election of the country’s first female president in 2019, efforts to provide extensive assistance to Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with Taiwan, all of which strengthened Slovakia’s position within the European Union. However, the latest developments in the country suggest that the situation is changing rapidly. As such, the presidential elections to be held on March 23 will be an indicator of whether Slovakia remains in the Western sphere of influence or moves eastward, notably towards Russia and