To introduce Taiwan literature to Southeast Asia readers, a Taiwan pavilion will once again be held at the Singapore Book Fair and Bookfest Malaysia, which will respectively run from May 25 through 31 in Singapore, and June 9 through 17 in Kuala Lumpur.
Organized by the Ministry of Culture, the Taiwan pavilion will offer over 1,500 books and 100 publishers to promote outstanding works from Taiwan. The pavilion will also invite organizations such as the Taiwan Digital Publishing Forum (臺灣數位出版聯盟) and Taiwan E-Book Association (臺灣電子書協會) to present reading materials on digital devices.
This year, the pavilion will organize a special session for cultural exchange among Taiwanese, Malaysian, and Singaporean authors. Taiwan authors including Su Wei-zhen (蘇偉貞), Chang Kuo-li (張國立), Badai (巴代), and Lai Bo-wei (賴伯威) will participate in the Singapore Book Fair to discuss literary topics with local readers.
Authors including Zhang Xi (張西), Ahronglong Sakinu (亞榮隆•撒可努), Ruan Guang-min (阮光民), and Wang Hao-yi (王浩一), on the other hand, will participate in the Malaysian session and hold dialogue with local authors.
In addition, the Ministry will hold two forums titled "The Publishing Industries of Singapore and Taiwan" and "Taiwan-Malaysia Publishing & Copyright," which will invite professionals from publishing houses and copyright agencies based in Malaysia and Singapore to exchange ideas with representatives from Taiwan.
Moreover, the Singapore Book Fair will also screen four dramas ― "Rose, Rose, I Love You (玫瑰玫瑰我愛你)," "Alluring Woman (妖精)," "Life Is Sweet (生活是甜蜜)," and "The Doctor's Mother (先生媽)" ― from the Ministry's "Reading Time II," a program to promote reading through TV dramas adapted from literary works.
The four TV dramas will offer insights into the lives of Taiwanese people in different eras from a historical perspective while introducing classic Taiwan literature to readers in Singapore at the festival’s newly launched daily film screenings section.
Singapore and Malaysia are not only two major partners of the New Southbound Policy but have become important trading partners of Taiwan for original works in recent years. Through actively participating in the book fairs to introduce diverse literary works of Taiwan to readers in Southeast Asia, the Ministry aims to expand international recognition of Taiwan's literary wealth.
‘Singapore Book Fair’
- Date: May 25 –31, 2018
- Venue: NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore Exhibition Hall
- Address: Block 43 Malan Road Gillman Barracks Singapore 109443
- Website: 2018 Singapore Book Fair
‘Bookfest Malaysia’
- Date: June 9 – 17, 2018
- Venue: Kuala Lumpur Convention Center
- Address: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Stall 7, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Website: 2018 Bookfest Malaysia