Nobel Literature Laureate Gao Xingjian (高行健) yesterday expressed his amicability toward Taiwan upon his arrival in Taipei. Invited as a resident writer by Taipei City's Cultural Affairs Bureau (文化局), Gao said that Taipei "feels like home" and "there is no taboo."
But the exiled Chinese writer still declined to answer any questions involving Chinese politics or Chinese literature, and especially on China's official response to the awarding of Gao's literature prize as being "highly political."
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
"There is no need to talk much about their reactions," he said. Gao also avoided questions concerning his family members living in China.
As the first Chinese writer awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, Gao was even more warmly received than on his previous seven visits.
He was welcomed by Lung Ying-tai (
During the hour-long press conference, the modernist writer, painter and playwright expressed his views on freedom of expression and his emphasis on individuality, reiterating themes from his "The Case of Literature" lecture, delivered at the Nobel Prize award ceremony.
He said freedom is a basic necessity for artistic creation. That means an objective environment of political freedom and social freedom. "Some might say [being] under pressure can also be a source of creation. But for me, I have [already] tried to keep writing secretly during the Cultural Revolution. I would not want to have the experience again."
He later said that is why he feels more at ease and carefree being in Taiwan. "Because Taiwan is not like Hong Kong, under the so-called one country/two systems," he said.
When asked about where he finds his cultural roots, Gao said the question of identity is a false and unnecessary one. "The most valuable thing about a writer is that he or she has something to say. And identity is usually a heavy and redundant burden," he said.
Gao also quoted exiled Polish writer Witold Gombrowic's famous words, "Poland is in me, I am Poland" to express himself, saying, "My cultural roots are in me. Chinese culture is inside me, and under my pen."
Gao said he saw China's negative comments following his Nobel win as a natural response, but he felt any further comment was unnecessary.
"I did not even really read those reports and comments," he said.
After he was awarded the Nobel Prize last October, the Chinese Writers' Association in Beijing claimed that the Nobel committee had revealed its ignorance of Chinese literature in giving Gao, a virtual unknown, the prize.
The group also claimed that there were at least 200 Chinese writers with superior literary achievements.
Gao's response regarding Chinese literature was also evasive. He said he has been reading many recent works of mainland Chinese writers. "But I do hope more and more Chinese writers write better works than mine," he said.
Facing constant questions concerning his "China relations," Gao showed slight impatience.
"China is a remote memory to me, but today, right now, here in Taipei, is more interesting than nostalgia," he said.
"People have asked me if I want to recollect my old manuscripts that I was forced to burn during the Cultural Revolution," he said. "But for me, those burnt are long gone. I think writing is a constant process of saying good-bye to the past. Finding a writing impulse in the moment is most important."
Apart from his writings, Gao will also express his other artistic endeavors to Taiwan readers. During the trip, he will be discussing the preparation of his drama August Snow (
Gao will give two speeches in Taipei on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 and a speech in Tainan on Feb. 9. For more information call the Cultural Affairs Bureau at (02) 2345-1556.
ROLLER-COASTER RIDE: More than five earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 5.5 on the Richter scale shook eastern Taiwan in rapid succession yesterday afternoon Back-to-back weather fronts are forecast to hit Taiwan this week, resulting in rain across the nation in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration said yesterday, as it also warned residents in mountainous regions to be wary of landslides and rockfalls. As the first front approached, sporadic rainfall began in central and northern parts of Taiwan yesterday, the agency said, adding that rain is forecast to intensify in those regions today, while brief showers would also affect other parts of the nation. A second weather system is forecast to arrive on Thursday, bringing additional rain to the whole nation until Sunday, it
CONDITIONAL: The PRC imposes secret requirements that the funding it provides cannot be spent in states with diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Emma Reilly said China has been bribing UN officials to obtain “special benefits” and to block funding from countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a former UN employee told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. At a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into “international relations within the multilateral system,” former Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) employee Emma Reilly said in a written statement that “Beijing paid bribes to the two successive Presidents of the [UN] General Assembly” during the two-year negotiation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Another way China exercises influence within the UN Secretariat is
LANDSLIDES POSSIBLE: The agency advised the public to avoid visiting mountainous regions due to more expected aftershocks and rainfall from a series of weather fronts A series of earthquakes over the past few days were likely aftershocks of the April 3 earthquake in Hualien County, with further aftershocks to be expected for up to a year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. Based on the nation’s experience after the quake on Sept. 21, 1999, more aftershocks are possible over the next six months to a year, the agency said. A total of 103 earthquakes of magnitude 4 on the local magnitude scale or higher hit Hualien County from 5:08pm on Monday to 10:27am yesterday, with 27 of them exceeding magnitude 5. They included two, of magnitude
Taiwan’s first drag queen to compete on the internationally acclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nymphia Wind (妮妃雅), was on Friday crowned the “Next Drag Superstar.” Dressed in a sparkling banana dress, Nymphia Wind swept onto the stage for the final, and stole the show. “Taiwan this is for you,” she said right after show host RuPaul announced her as the winner. “To those who feel like they don’t belong, just remember to live fearlessly and to live their truth,” she said on stage. One of the frontrunners for the past 15 episodes, the 28-year-old breezed through to the final after weeks of showcasing her unique