Website:http://www.read2us.com.tw
The Hanyu Reading Festival, the first of its kind to be held concurrently at Taipei and Kaohsiung, will take place from Sept. 5 through 9.
The concept of the Hanyu Reading Festival revolves around a "recital theater” designed by stage production professionals. Such a platform enables best-selling writers and celebrities to read literary works to a large audience.
Those who will host reading sessions this September include: novelist Wang Wen-hsing, playwright Wang Chi-mei, veteran TV hostess Chang Hsiao-yen, astrophysicist Sun Wei-hsin and three other scientists, singer William Wei as well as film director Wei Te-sheng.
They will read either their own literary works, books they recommend, classic literature or film scripts, followed by a session in which they will share with the audiences their personal stories or thoughts on the Chinese-language, i.e. Hanyu, works.
More reading programs, storytelling episodes and lectures on literature, publishing and social issues will also be held at the festival's "Recital Salon” section.
The festival will also include two book exhibitions, which will be held at venues designed like a dining room, with books from dozens of local publishers being displayed on plates on a long white table. Visitors will be able to casually grab a book and plop down on the nearby couches to read.
In addition, the Taipei venue will feature two outdoor installation artworks - a larger-than-life sculpture of a book by Taiwanese designer Xiao Qing-yangand a penguin statue by the Bone Collection.
The Kaohsiung venue, on the other hand, will be decorated with red paper cut in the shape of Hong Kong lyricist Lin Xi's classic lyrics.
Venues at the both ends of the island will offer food, hand-made products and independent publications to add to the variety and excitement of the first-ever Hanyu Reading Festival.
Kaohsiung / The Pier-2 Art Center
- Warehouses B6, B7, C1, C2 and C4, and outdoor park
Taipei / Huashan 1914 Creative Park
- E2, M4B 1st and 2nd Floors, and outdoor park