Taiwan Uncovered

Today I will be bringing you the second part of my interview with Taiwanese Director S. Leo Chiang. Last week we delved into Leo's Oscar-nominated short documentary “Island In Between," which focuses on Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Islands, and offers a nuanced view of identity and belonging amid cross-Strait tensions. We covered Leo’s approach to the documentary, how those in Kinmen and the rest of T...

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...

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 thi...

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...

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 Hu...

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...

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 cultural...

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 &#39...

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 th...

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 ma...

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 Ric...

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 LA...

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...

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&#...

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...

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 speak...

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 Theor...

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-Malays...

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)....

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 th...

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 .

Sundance Film Festival Asia came to Taipei this August. In today's episode of Uncovered, I speak to An Chu, the winner of this year's short film competition. An's winning piece, Tuo Tuo (陀陀), centers around the protagonist, Hai, who returns to help out at his family deer farm while he's on break from military service. What's An's connection with deer farming? What does An share with the protagon...

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 r...

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...

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 ...