Flawless (無缺) is a solo exhibition of wood sculptures by Miaoli County native Chiu Shih-fu (邱仕福). Chiu learned to chisel at age 13 as a child laborer and has worked in the industry for 47 years. He specializes in figures of humans and animals, styled in lyrical lines that echo western Romanticism. They typically appear in pairs so as to keep each other company, according to the gallery notes.
■ Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum (三義木雕博物館), 88 Kuangsheng Hsincheng, Kuangsheng Village, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County (苗栗縣三義鄉廣盛村廣聲新城88號), tel: (037) 876-009. Open Mondays to Saturdays from 9am to 5pm. Admission: NT$80, NT$50 for Miaoli residents
■ Until Nov. 30
Photo Courtesy of Metaphysical Art Gallery
Sound State (聲態) collects new experiments by sound art pioneer Wang Fu-jui (王福瑞). Five pieces explore the possibilities of sound: One converts audio vibrations to visuals on a TV set, while another uses false computing protocols to generate true random noise that is emancipated from the machine. Wang is head of the Trans-Sonic Lab of the Taipei National University of the Arts and founder of Noise, the first noise/experimental music label in Taiwan.
■ Digital Art Center (台北數位藝術中心), 180 Fuhua Rd, Taipei City (台北市福華路180號), tel: (02) 7736-0708. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm, except Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. Free admission
■ Until Dec. 28
Photo Courtesy of DAC, Taipei
The Sun Never Sets (日不落) is a career retrospective for acclaimed oil painter Wang Pan-youn (王攀元). Born in 1911 in Jiangsu (江蘇), the artist immigrated in 1949 to Yilan County, where he still lives today. Wang’s war-shaped life story has appeared in his work as an inflammatory color palette and the use of negative space to create an aura of isolation.
■ Metaphysical Art Gallery (形而上畫廊), 7F, 219, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段219號7樓), tel: (02) 2771-3236. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 6:30pm, closed on Mondays
■ Opens tomorrow. Until Dec. 20
Coordinated with Switzerland’s Kindermuseum Creaviva at the Zentrum Paul Klee, Get Rhythm with Paul Klee is an interactive exhibit and workshop series for children aged 4 to 15. The program introduces youth to Swiss-German artist Paul Klee via game stations, painting studios and dance workshops led by the Cloud Gate Dance School. Klee is known for his striking use of color, lines, symbols and musical themes on the canvas, which help make his catalog accessible to children. To register for activities, visit www.tfam.museum/kid.
■ Children’s Art Education Center at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市中山北路三段181號), tel: (02) 2595-7656. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:30am to 5:30pm and until 8:30pm on Saturdays. Admission: NT$30
■ Opens tomorrow. Until April 12
Greater Kaohsiung native Huang Hua-chen (黃華真) presents From Now On (全新的你), a mixed media solo exhibition inspired by the artist’s study abroad trip to Finland last year. In new paintings, installations and video work, Huang depicts seemingly sentient plants and gem-like carved rocks that exude warmth.
■ VT Art Salon (非常廟藝文空間), B1, 47 Yitong St, Taipei City (台北市伊通街47號B1), tel: (02) 2516-1060. Open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1:30pm to 9pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 1:30pm to 10pm
■ Until Dec. 6
My New Eros (我的新愛神EROS!) is a group show of photos themed on love (戀愛) or sexuality (性感). Contributors include professional photographer Jimmy Ming Shum (沈平林) from Hong Kong, as well as amateur shutterbugs such as talk-show host Huang Tzu-chiao (黃子佼). All proceeds from sales go to charity.
■ Little MOCA (微當代文創), 17, Ln 17, Chengde Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (臺北市承德路一段41巷17號), tel: (02) 2558-1787 Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 6pm
■ Until Dec. 27
Late last month Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro told the Philippine Senate that the nation has sufficient funds to evacuate the nearly 170,000 Filipino residents in Taiwan, 84 percent of whom are migrant workers, in the event of war. Agencies have been exploring evacuation scenarios since early this year, she said. She also observed that since the Philippines has only limited ships, the government is consulting security agencies for alternatives. Filipinos are a distant third in overall migrant worker population. Indonesia has over 248,000 workers, followed by roughly 240,000 Vietnamese. It should be noted that there are another 170,000
Hannah Liao (廖宸萱) recalls the harassment she experienced on dating apps, an experience that left her frightened and disgusted. “I’ve tried some voice-based dating apps,” the 30-year-old says. “Right away, some guys would say things like, ‘Wanna talk dirty?’ or ‘Wanna suck my d**k?’” she says. Liao’s story is not unique. Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics show a more than 50 percent rise in sexual assault cases related to online encounters over the past five years. In 2023 alone, women comprised 7,698 of the 9,413 reported victims. Faced with a dating landscape that can feel more predatory than promising, many in
“This is one of those rare bits of TikTok fitness advice with a lot of truth behind it,” says Bethan Crouse, performance nutritionist at Loughborough University. “Sometimes it’s taken a bit too literally, though! You see people chugging protein drinks as they’re scanning out of their gym.” Crouse recommends the athletes she works with consume 20-30g of protein within 30-60 minutes of finishing a resistance training session. “The act of exercising our muscles increases the breakdown of muscle proteins,” she says. “In order to restore, or hopefully improve them — and get gains such as increased muscle mass or strength —
“Far from being a rock or island … it turns out that the best metaphor to describe the human body is ‘sponge.’ We’re permeable,” write Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie in their book Slow Death By Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things. While the permeability of our cells is key to being alive, it also means we absorb more potentially harmful substances than we realize. Studies have found a number of chemical residues in human breast milk, urine and water systems. Many of them are endocrine disruptors, which can interfere with the body’s natural hormones. “They can mimic, block