Taiwan Uncovered

On today’s episode, we have a very exciting guest, Taiwanese filmmaker Leo Chiang, whose latest short film “Island In Between” has been nominated for an Oscar. His documentary, which centers around Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Islands, gives a glimpse into the nuanced experience of those living in Kinmen and their relationship with China. Leo, who moved to the US when he was fifteen years old, shares his own experience of navigating China, Taiwan, and U.S. government narratives, and how, like those in Kinmen, he is still grappling with questions of identity and belonging. 

In this episode we delve deep into “Island in Between” and Kinmen’s unique history. We discuss Leo’s approach to the project, how those in Kinmen and the rest of Taiwan feel about the possibility of war, and how using English terms to describe identity in this situation can be limiting.

You can watch Leo's documentary on YouTube here.

Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I will be bringing you part two of my interview with Taipei's top nail tech Peggy Chen. If you haven't tuned in to part one yet - go stream it now! Peggy's work has been featured by Taiwan's Hypbeast, 混著MIXFITmag, and has even graced a Taiwan Vogue cover. Last week we dove deep into Peggy's journey, inspirations, and tight-knit community, and in this episode, we’ll be getting to know Peggy on a deeper level - from her biggest fears to her proudest moments. 

You can check out Peggy's Instagram here.

For today’s Lunar New Year’s Eve episode, we have a very special and exciting guest – Peggy Chen. Peggy is a nail tech based in Taipei, who takes nail art to a whole other level. From cat-eye claws to designs based on a Memphis-style teapot and a 1970s pajazzo glass vase, Peggy doesn't just do nails – she transforms them into works of art. Her work has caught the eyes of Taiwan's Hypbeast and 混著MIXFITmag and has graced the cover of Taiwan Vogue.

In this episode, we're diving deep into Peggy's journey, inspirations, and tight-knit community. Get ready to experience the magic of getting your nails done by Peggy Chen herself, as she takes us through the process. Plus, she'll be sharing invaluable tips on running and building your own business. Hit play now!

You can check out Peggy's Instagram here. 

Today I am bringing you the final part of my interview with Cuban artist Humberto Diaz and Taiwanese artist Esther Lin. To learn more about the artists and their work, and the exchange that took place, I would recommend listening to parts one and two first!

In this episode, we discuss how the political climate impacts making art in Cuba and Taiwan, how significant identity is to both Esther and Humberto in their work, and lastly what their biggest takeaways are from this exchange.

You can follow Humberto and Esther on Instagram, and you can also check out their websites below:

Humberto's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/humbertodiaz75/

Humberto's website:

https://www.humbertodiaz.com/

Esther's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/estlinher/

Esther's website:

https://www.linyichun.studio/

Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I am bringing you part two of my interview with Cuban artist Humberto Diaz and Taiwanese artist Esther Lin. Both have been part of a wider exchange between artists and creatives from Cuba and Taiwan. 

The exchange loosely started with Taiwanese writer Huang Chong-kai's (黃崇凱) novel 'The Formosa Exchange'. Humberto went on to host both Chong-kai and Esther in Cuba. Humberto then came to Taipei and did an installation called 'Parallel Universes 2023' that was part of the exhibition 'Mirroring Now - the Southern Image' at Waley Art, in mid-November. Both Esther and Humberto also featured as speakers in the discussion hosted by Artgong (藝術宮) on November 28, titled: 'We Both Have a Big Neighbour:  the Mirrored Geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan'.

In today's episode, we discuss: how mirrored is the geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan? Just how communist is Cuba? And how do attitudes and funding toward artistic careers differ in Cuba and Taiwan? 

Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I am joined by Cuban artist Humberto Diaz and Taiwanese artist Esther Lin. Both have been part of a wider exchange between artists and creatives from Cuba and Taiwan.  In this episode, we will be shedding some light on what this exchange has involved, learn more about the art scene in Taiwan and Cuba, and find out just how much Cuba and Taiwan have in common culturally and geopolitically.

Check out Taiwanese writer Huang Chong-kai's (黃崇凱) novel 'The Formosa Exchange' here.  Humberto's installation 'Parallel Universes 2023' that we discuss was part of the exhibition 'Mirroring Now - the Southern Image' at Waley Art, held in mid-November. You can watch the livestream of the discussion that Artgong (藝術宮) hosted on November 28, titled: “We Both Have a Big Neighbour:  the Mirrored Geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan" on Instagram here. 

For Taiwan Uncovered's first episode of 2024, I am joined by TAI Body Theatre's (TAI 身體劇場) Producer Lin Chih-yu. If you haven't come across TAI Body Theatre yet - you're missing out. Made up of around ten dancers from Taiwan's Indigenous tribes, the dance group explores the relationships between modernity, traditions, and Indigenous culture. Recent performances include 'Forest' and 'Flying Betel Nut,' with the former drawing on the group's founder Watan Tusi's own childhood experiences, and the latter inspired by folklore from the Pinuyumayan people. 

In this episode, we discuss how TAI Body Theatre started, the meaning behind its name, and the inspirations behind some of the recent performances.

This episode was recorded at the end of 2023, so any references to 'this year' by the guest, refers to 2023. 

You can stay up to date with TAI Body Theatre on Facebook. 

Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I will be bringing you the second part of my interview with Tawei and Amber from @TheCaveTW . In this episode, Tawei and Amber take us through some of the history of the underground music scene in Taiwan, why they hold “mask” events, and what upcoming artists to look out for. We’ll also be getting to know Tawei and Amber’s music tastes even better as they tell us what three artists - alive or dead - they’d have at their dream event. You can check out the Cave on Instagram (@thecave.tw) and Tawei and Amber's podcast on YouTube (@TheCaveTW). You can also follow Tawei (@ftksiskillingit) and Amber (@kerkeramber) on Instagram to keep up with the latest Cave-related news and events. You can also get this episode on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and our website. The artists that Tawei and Amber reference in this episode: Mandidextrous: https://www.instagram.com/mandidextro... SoniaCalico : https://linktr.ee/SoniaCalico?fbclid=... KITrust: https://on.soundcloud.com/Gi2o5PwX1cN... HIHater: https://on.soundcloud.com/rGLQR8vgW3h... Troy Lin: https://on.soundcloud.com/S6t4LKRudNj... Rain Liou: https://rainliou.bandcamp.com/album/m... FTK : portaly.cc/FTKBEATS

Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I speak with Co-founder Tawei and Marketing Director Amber, from @TheCaveTW. The Cave doesn't just organize events or produce music with Cave Records, it also has its own zine, Minerzine, and podcast. Its goal - 'a movement dedicated to elevating the dance music experience.'

In this episode, Tawei and Amber tell us where it all started for the Cave, what makes their events different, and whether Taipei or Taichung would win in an underground events battle. They'll also share some of the highs and lows of organizing some of Taiwan's most 'radical' events. Find out about the Cave's ethos, community, and more - hit play now!

You can check out the Cave on Instagram here, and Tawei and Amber's podcast here. You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

On today's episode of Taiwan Uncovered, I bring you part two of my interview with artist Jorge González Santos. Jorge has come all the way from Borikén, also known as Puerto Rico, and was recently in Taiwan to give a two-day sol-lace workshop at Tainan National University of the Arts. 

In this episode we discuss some of Jorge's past and ongoing projects, the growing inclusion of Puerto Rican artists into the discourse of American art, and the progress that has been made to preserve and recover Boricua Indigenous culture and language. 

Today’s guest has come all the way from Borikén, also known as Puerto Rico. Jorge González Santos is an artist who aims to preserve and recover Boricua material culture, in an attempt to create narratives between the Indigenous and the modern. His work has been presented in solo shows at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and at the Embassy, San Juan, and he has contributed to exhibitions at LACE, Los Angeles; the Whitney Museum of American Art; Chicago Architecture Biennial, and documenta 14. Jorge was recently in Taiwan, on an invite from Tainan National University of the Arts, to give a two-day sol-lace workshop.

In this episode, we learn more about Borikén and Jorge's practice. Hit play to discover the diversity of Boricua material culture, how Puerto Rico's dark history informs Jorge's practice, and what narratives between the Indigenous and the modern look like for him.

This week on Taiwan Uncovered, I'm back with filmmaker Rex (Hsia Jui-chien). In this episode we discuss how Rex found his passion for filmmaking, the importance of a good script, how filmmaker Edgar Wright has influenced his work, and insights into his other past-and-upcoming projects. 

You can stay up to date with Rex on Facebook here. Watch Rex's short film, Unexpected Passenger, that screened at 2023 Sundance Film Festival Asia on Youtube here.

Unexpected Passenger was shortlisted for Best Short Film at this year's Sundance Film Festival Asia. In this episode of Uncovered, I am joined by the filmmaker Rex (Hsia Jui-chien) to discuss the making of his short film. Hit play to hear how Rex managed to secured big-name actors in his film on a tight budget, what draws him to the horror-comedy genre, and some of the references to Taiwan's belief system that you may have missed. 

You can watch Unexpected Passenger on Youtube here.

On this episode of Uncovered, I made it to Art Taipei to speak with Taiwanese American abstract artist, Gabrielle Mar. Art Taipei is one of the leading art fairs in the Asia-Pacific region, and Gabi was exhibiting her work at the 30th anniversary of the fair. 

In this episode, we discuss Gabi's journey to becoming an artist after her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Gabi also shares with us what draws her to abstract art and what it is that she loves about acrylic paints. 

You can follow Gabi on Instagram here and check out her website here. 

Mark and Marichka Marczyk met during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. Their first dates were on burning barricades. It was from this backdrop and a love of Ukrainian traditional folk music, that Balaklava Blues then emerged. 

This year, Balaklava Blues was among the performers at Taiwan's World Music Festival which took place in mid-October. I had the pleasure of watching them perform and speaking with Mark and Marichka about their story and their efforts to ensure the Ukrainian experience is heard. Hit play to learn more about the duo, how they fell in love with Ukrainian folk music, and their experience in Taiwan.

The music included from Balaklava Blues' performance was kindly provided by World Music Festival, Taiwan. 

On this episode, I'm back with part two of my interview with Pien A.K.A. DJ Toilet Alien. Hit play to hear Pien's top areas to DJ at and the spaces she likes to go to on a night out. Pien also shares what success as a DJ means to her and what the underground events are like in Malaysia. 

Keep up to date with Pien and her brands on Instagram, here. Feel free to also check out Mulan Theory and Lucky Strike on Instagram, whom Pien references in this episode.    

Today’s guest on Uncovered has always had a natural curiosity to explore a plethora of music genres in her sets, from pop remixes to Asian Disco. Pien A.K.A. DJ Toilet Alien's language is music, and when she's on the decks, you never know what to expect next! Hit play to hear Pien discuss the community she found from DJing, how she's always trying to learn, and how her Taiwanese-Malaysian roots have influenced her sets. 

Keep up to date with Pien on Instagram here. 

Filmmaker Edward Yang is known as one of the pioneers of Taiwan's New Wave Cinema movement of the 1980s. His works are world-renowned and continue to influence directors from Taiwan and around the world. The exhibition A One and A Two: Edward Yang Retrospective is the cumulation of a three-year-long research project of archive documents currently showing at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM). Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI) is simultaneously showcasing all of Yang's films.

In today's episode of Uncovered, I speak to TFAM Director Wang Jun-jieh who was also one of the curators of this exhibition. Why is Yang regarded as such an influential director in Taiwan? How is he so unique to other Taiwanese filmmakers? What were the main themes of his work? Hit play to hear Director Wang answer all this and share his favorite Yang film!

A One and A Two: Edward Yang Retrospective is on at TFAM until October 22. 

On today's episode of Uncovered, I speak to Frank Havermans about his art project and exhibition at Waley Art, titled Trolley 0504. Frank, who was inspired by the constant motion of Taipei City and the bustling markets on a previous visit, returned from the Netherlands, to carry out this two-month project. What is the relation of the Dutch Fort Zeelandia to Frank's piece? Why was Wanhua the best location for the project? What were the expressions of those watching a foreigner from the Netherlands drive a trolley around traditional markets? Hit play to hear us discuss Frank's project from start to finish!

Check out more information and pictures of Trolley 0504 on Franks' website, here. 

For today's episode of Uncovered, I continue my conversation with the winner of this year's Best Short Film Jury Award at Sundance Film Festival Asia, An Chu. In this episode, we speak about An's journey to filmmaking, his inspirations, and what draws him to film as a medium. 

You can watch An's winning short film Tuo Tuo (陀陀) here. Follow An on Instagram here.

How do Teresa Teng's fans honor her memory to this day? How will this memory live on? In today's episode, I continue my conversation with Columbia University postgraduate student, Kaitlin Hao, who is carrying out research on Teresa Teng and her fans. Hit play to hear more about the stories of Teresa's fans and the significance she has to them. 

If you want to find out more about this research, you can follow Kaitlin's TikTok account @happyendingmessage which teaches East Asian art history and media studies.

Despite having passed away over 25 years ago, pop icon Teresa Teng (鄧麗君) still has an active fanbase all over the world.  Many of those fans flock to her memorial park in New Taipei City annually on May 8, to pay their respects on the anniversary of her death. 

In today's episode, I am joined by Columbia University postgraduate student, Kaitlin Hao who is carrying out research on the singer and her fans. Hit play to hear us discuss Teresa's life, her music, and how she is commemorated not just in Taiwan, but all over the world. 

You can follow Kaitlin's TikTok account @happyendingmessage here, which teaches East Asian art history and media studies.

Today I will be bringing you part 2 of my interview with sculptor and multimedia artist, Ni Hao.  How does the constantly changing digital world influence art? How do geopolitical tensions affect the art landscape in Taiwan? Is art, as a field, respected in Taiwan? We'll be getting into all that and more in this episode, so hit play!

You can check out Ni Hao's Instagram here and website here. 

Today’s guest on Uncovered is sculptor and multimedia artist, Ni Hao. Ni Hao received a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. His work often focuses on reworking familiar, ordinary, and everyday objects which alludes to social commentary or provokes personal memories. 

Ni Hao’s work has been exhibited and featured all over the world, from Taipei to Rome, Shanghai, Beijing, Basel, LA, Chicago, and Berlin. Hit play to hear how Ni Hao ended up back in Taiwan, how he defines sculpture, and how he intends for his art to be consumed.

You can check out Ni Hao's Instagram here and website here. 

In part two of my interview with Ukrainian artist, sound producer, and researcher Mariana Savchenko, we continue our discussion of the exhibition ‘When Temporary Becomes the Ordinary: _/_ Days of War for Ukrainian Women’. In this episode Mariana shares her experience of relistening to audio memories that she recorded following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how Taiwan is standing with Ukraine. 

The exhibition is showing until November 21 2023. 

Today’s guest is Mariana Savchenko. Mariana is a performance artist, sound producer, and researcher. She recently co-curated the exhibition ‘When Temporary Becomes the Ordinary: _/_ Days of War for Ukrainian Women’ at the National Human Rights Museum in New Taipei. Mariana’s performance piece 'Inner Shelter' was also featured as part of the exhibition, which drew on her own personal memories of war. In this episode, Mariana discusses her experience as a Ukranian living in Taiwan, what we can expect from the exhibition, and the significance of sharing the stories of Ukranian women. 

The exhibition is showing until November 21 2023. 

Today I will be bringing you part 2 of my interview with underwater photographer, Wesley Oosthuizen. In this episode, we discuss the best diving spots in Taiwan, cute sea slugs, and the state of pollution in Taiwan. 

Want to see more of Wesley's photographs? Check out Wesley's photography Facebook page and Instagram. 

(Photo: Wesley Oosthuizen)

Today's guest on Uncovered is underwater photographer, Wesley Oosthuizen. With years of diving experience under his belt, Wesley dives off of Taiwan's coasts to capture fascinating underwater macro-organisms. His photographs open your eyes to the marine life that you had no idea existed. In this episode, we discuss how Wesley got into this field, the preparations that have to be taken before a dive, and the beautiful organisms he has captured. 

Want to see more of Wesley's photographs? Check out Wesley's photography Facebook page and Instagram. 

(Photo: Wesley Oosthuizen)

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. 

For today’s episode of Uncovered, I will be bringing you part 2 of my interview with British curator, Tory Turk. Join us as we discuss some of Tory’s favourite projects, her goals for the future, and HYMAG’s role in the exhibition ‘Sneakers Unboxed,’ that was recently here in Taipei.

To see more of Tory's work, you can check out her instagram here. To find out more about HYMAG click here. 

Tory Turk is an independent curator who specialises in style and popular culture. She has worked on several major exhibitions in the UK including ‘The Jam: About The Young Idea’ and ‘No Comply’ at Somerset House. Tory has also managed key archive projects for renowned make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury and hair-stylist Sam McKnight. She has even curated exhibitions for the Korean Culture Centre in the UK. Tory is currently co-founder and creative lead at HYMAG formerly known as the Hyman Archive which is the world’s largest magazine collection. In today's episode we talk about how Tory got into curation, how it has developed as a field, and the power exhibitions have to turn stereotypes on their head. 

For today's episode of 'Uncovered,' I had the pleasure of sitting down with Wendy Xie, also known by her artist name as 'Wendy is dead'. Wendy is a Taiwanese illustrator and tattoo artist based in Taipei. She draws inspirations from emo, grunge and kawaii imagery to create unique and colorful tattoos and illustrations. She has gathered a following of almost 20k on Instagram and her illustrations have been used in publications, on album covers and even clothing. Hit play to hear us talk about her artwork, inspirations and the tattoo culture in Taiwan.

For part two of our interview with artist and anthropologist - Marcel Reyes-Cortez - we discuss pieces in his exhibition at VT Artsalon, and the symbolism in his work. Have a listen to learn about some of the key figures in the Chilean protests including Negro Matapacos and La Mimo (the mime). Trigger warning: mentions of suicide, sexual abuse and violence. 

If you missed part one or want to find the piece 'The Front Line' that we discuss, click here. 

For today's episode of 'Uncovered' we will be talking to artist and anthropologist, Marcel Reyes-Cortez. Marcel combines his concern for social and political issues with his background in anthropology and art to create powerful commentary on current events. Marcel recently launched a new solo exhibition at VT Artsalon: 'Join All Your Tears Until You Make Them Metal'.  This exhibition was inspired by recent civil unrest across the world, particularly the uprisings that broke out in Chile during 2019. Hit play to listen to part one of our interview with Marcel, where we talk about his background, inspirations, and the power in protest. 

For our Friday 13th 'Uncovered' episode, we'll be discussing Taiwanese hit horror film 'Incantation'. Hit play to hear us share what we think is unique about this film and Asian horror. We'll also be drawing on our diverse backgrounds to share our views and experiences related to supersitions, taboos, and religion in Taiwan. If you're interested in film, horror, or belief systems - this one is for you!

This episode was originally aired on Friday, January 13.