Taiwan Uncovered

When visiting an exhibition, one doesn't always think of the planning and organizing that goes on behind the scenes. Today, we are joined by Michael - Head of the Exhibition Department at MoCA, Taipei - to share his insights on exactly this. He runs us through what his role entails and how he helps implement the artists' vision. He also shares the differences between working in a commercial and public space. Tune in now!

England-based artist Banksy is famous for his graffiti art that pops up in alleyways and public spaces in the UK; art that now goes for millions of pounds despite his critique of the art world and anti-establishment ideals. His identity remains a mystery but the prices of his work continue to soar - to some a walking paradox - to others a daring figure of the 21st-century art world. Love is in the Bin, one of his most iconic pieces, is now on show at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in Taipei.  For this episode of Uncovered, I am joined by MoCA's Head of the Exhibition Department Michael to tell us more about this piece and how it came to be in Tapei.  Banksy's Love is in the Bin is on show until August 13 at MoCA, Taipei.  (Photo: MoCA, Taipei)

Tune in for today's episode of Uncovered where we discuss the new Taiwanese political drama Wave Makers (人選之人—造浪者). The series which centers on the lives of political campaigners in the run-up to a presidential election has been said to spark Taiwan's #MeToo movement and has been reported on by international media including the Washington Post and the Economist. Not only does Wave Makers create a very vivid portrayal of the life-changing impact of sexual abuse, but it also touches on other important modern-day themes - from sexuality and diversity - to balancing work-life balance and generational conflict. Hit play to listen why Sharon and I were big fans, and what we thought of the influential show. Be warned - there may be spoilers!

For today's episode of Uncovered, I will be bringing you part 2 of my interview with independent documentary filmmaker Diana Shih. In this episode we discuss her storytelling style, the documentary scene in Taiwan, and her vision for the future. You can check out Media Ape's website here and Shih films' Youtube here.

Today’s guest on Uncovered is Diana Shih, a Taiwanese independent documentary filmmaker with a background in psychology and neuroeconomics. After dropping out of her PhD program in 2019, she decided to pursue filmmaking and along with her husband set up a video production company in Taiwan. In this episode, we discuss Diana’s untraditional route to filmmaking, how her academic background assists her projects, and what drives her work.  You can check out Media Ape’s website here and Shih films’ Youtube here.

Today I will be bringing you part two of my interview with artist, Su Hui-yu. For this episode of Uncovered, Su tells us about the impact that martial law had on film, his creative process, and his current solo exhibition The Trio Hall at MoCA Taipei.  Find out more about The Trio Hall exhibition here. It is showing until July 17. 

For today's episode of Uncovered I speak to internationally acclaimed video artist, Su Hui-hu. He explores themes relating to mass media, violence, dreams, body politics and the martial law period. Mainly focusing on the medium of film and performance, Su has recently been focusing on the method of 're-shooting,' where he recreates past events and works to offer different interpretations to how they were originally portrayed.  Su has exhibited all over the world from California to Bangkok and at the 2017 International Film Festival Rotterdam, a retrospective was dedicated to Su's video works. In 2019, Su was awarded the 17th Taishin Visual Arts Award and the Kaohsiung Short Award. Su's multimedia exhibition and project The Trio Hall is now showing at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei. In this episode, Su tells us what draws him to video and performance art and how technological developments have allowed him to explore new ideas. We'll also be discussing his work The Women's Revenge. Find out more about The Trio Hall exhibition here. It is showing until July 17. 

For today's episode of Uncovered, I am bringing you part two of my interview with Sasha Dees. Sasha is the curator of NEXUS - Video and New Media Art from the Caribbean, currently showing at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei until July 16. In this episode, we talk about the significance of NEXUS, the connections that the Caribbean and Taiwan share, and the changes that need to be seen in art institutions.  You can find out more about NEXUS - Video and New Media Art from the Caribbean here. 

I sat down with Sasha Dees - an independent writer, producer and curator from the Netherlands. In 2021, Sasha published Entangled Species. Conversations on Contemporary Art in the Caribbean which was a cumulation of research from 16 countries in the Caribbean that she visited between November 2017 and May 2019. Through this work, she brought attention to the plurality and nuance of art and artists in the Caribbean. Sasha is now in Taipei, for the opening of NEXUS - Video and New Media Art from the Caribbean which she curated at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei. In this episode, we’ll be focusing on Sasha's book including her approach, art accessibility in the Caribbean, and how she enables her creative pursuits. NEXUS - Video and New Media Art from the Carribean is showing May 6 until July 16. You can find out more here.  You can hear Sasha and the featured artists talk about the exhibition on Sunday May 7 at MoCA; details are provided here. 

We've all been there. It's a Friday evening and you want a quiet night in. After flicking between various options you can't quite decide what to settle on. Well, look no further. We've selected some of our favorite binge-worthy shows just for you to watch this April.  What makes a show good for you - is it the thrilling suspense or the sarcastic humor? Would you ever rewatch a television series? Sharon and I will be sharing our thoughts and more, so hit play! I'd also love to hear what you're watching this April. Reach out and let us know if these recommendations would make your list at isabellawells@rti.org.tw.