In the burgeoning cultural environment of Asia, bringing together young performance artists for a joint show in which everyone is restricted to the same props and a 10-minute performance time has been extremely successful. It stimulates creativity and the winners are the audience.
It's the first time that a production of this type has been brought to Taiwan, although it has been well-tested in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. The concept was created by Asia Art Net, formed in 1997, and now includes a membership from 14 Asian cities. The event this year is called One Table and Two Chairs, a reference to the props that are permitted to the artists.
This year in Taipei, 10 performers will present their work. The presentations range across video, drama and dance. It is a great chance to see the currents of modern theater in Asia.
There will be evening and matinee performances from Oct. 26 to Oct. 28 at the Crown Theater (皇冠小劇場) located at 50, Ln. 120, Tunhua N. Rd., Taipei (台北市敦化北路120巷50號). Tickets cost NT$300 and can be booked by calling (02) 2514-8486 or purchased at the door.
The performances are part of a larger event called the Asia Art Net International Conference, which will include an International Forum on NGOs and Cultural Development to be held in the Eslite B2 basement, located at 245 Tunhua S. Rd., Sec.1 (敦化南路一段245號), from Oct. 25 to Oct. 27.
A dramatic adjunct to this is City on a Table, also to be held in the Eslite basement from Oct. 25 to Nov. 4, in which artists will create performance works to represent the cities in which they live.
For more information about any of these events, contact the Taipei International Arts Association at (02) 2392-5322 ext. 23.
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