The world’s biggest water screen will make its debut during the upcoming New Year’s eve countdown celebration at Taipei’s Dachia Riverside Park (大佳河濱公園), the organizers said, but little else was revealed about the event, which is being cloaked in mystery.
Details of the show are “confidential” because of the desire to push the art and the audience’s experience to a whole new level, Lin Hwai-min (林懷民), a renowned choreographer and founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, said on behalf of all the artists participating in the program.
Described by creative director Lin Keh-hua (林克華) as the largest New Year’s celebration ever to be held in Taiwan, the celebration in the park along the Keelung River will include fireworks, a flower exhibition and visual arts.
One of the highlights will be when the audience gets to enjoy Alishan’s famous sunrise on a 200m wide water screen, which will be set to Aboriginal music, the creative director said.
The event, which is being organized by the Council for Cultural Affairs and is sponsored by the Taiwan Centenary Foundation, will also kick off celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China (ROC), founded in 1911.
Emile Sheng (盛治仁), who heads both organizations, said the program will showcase Taiwan’s diversity and creativity to the international community, and evoke a sense of national spirit that will help Taiwanese launch the country’s next 100 years.
Artists from different parts of the world have been invited to contribute their ideas to the program, including US-based contemporary artist Cai Guo-qiang (蔡國強), Hong Kong lighting designer Leo Cheung (張國永) and Bruno Schnebelin of Ilotopie, a French theater.
Everyone is invited to come to the plaza in front of the Presidential Office for a flag-raising ceremony after the countdown, Sheng said.
The Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and eight other musical groups have been invited to perform the national anthem, to be sung by Taiwanese soprano Hong Yu-jing (洪郁菁), who finished fourth in the first Singapore International Vocal Competition this year.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will preside over a group wedding ceremony to be held for 100 couples, Sheng said.
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