National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) Keeps the Arts Rolling

Since the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) opened in southern Taiwan in 2018, it has accumulated immense potential energy for arts activities. The sudden changes and impacts caused by COVID-19 pandemic has also stimulated many new art forms and new opportunities for artists, audiences, performing groups and the centre itself.  

In April, the General and Artistic Director of Weiwuying, Chien Wen-pin initiated the Music Playing of Musical offering project, which centers around Musical Offering (BWV1079) by Johann Sebastian Bach. The project hoped to inspire cohesion throughout the performing arts sector and positivity amongst the public. Within one and half months, about 100 artists from all around the world participated in the project. If you would like to see the exciting performances, please search for “#musicalofferingweiwuying” or “#衛武營接力聯演音樂的奉獻” on Facebook.     

An official demonstration by Chien Wen-pin can be viewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=uIYky3bHqTk&feature=emb_logo

In the meantime, with the aim of keeping the arts rolling, supporting performance groups, and providing art lovers with opportunities to enjoy the performing arts, Weiwuying worked with local institutions and groups to present performances through a digital channel. During the months of April and May, Weiwuying × KSAF Digital Concert Hall was presented by Weiwuying and Kaoshiung City Government Bureau of Cultural Affairs every Saturday night; as well as Theater 6 series every Sunday night.  

To get a teaser of these performances, you may visit Weiwuying’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/weiwuyingfilm/. 

Apart from connecting through digital channels, Weiwuying also held some outdoor performances and exhibitions for the public. In May, EUREKA! 2.0 Rediscovering Weiwuying was presented in Weiwuying’s public space. This is a four-year collaborative project with Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (PQ) and between eight partners namely Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Norway, Cyprus, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, and Taiwan. Weiwuying, as the representative of Taiwan, was the only Asian partner in this collaborative project.  

Take a moment to see what you have missed at EUREKA!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQbbt5DABHp6USRZWNdbs-qd9EVXHs1fH

Looking forward to the second half year of 2020, Weiwuying will continue to provide performing stages and encourage connections through different forms and channels. Throughout June and July, performances and exhibitions such as Island Invisible, Pink Smile, and a new edition of Reed Unbroken will take place at Weiwuying. Island Invisible, which was exhibited at the PQ Taiwan Exhibition in 2019, narrates the issue of climate change as well as reflects Taiwan’s obscure global status. The exhibition built an “AR path” to imitate the way that people are communicating within the world. The infinity of AR somehow reflects the borderless communication when people connect through the Internet, and the gray zone of reality and the virtual world.  

Island Invisible