Taiwan will showcase its emphasis on the values of openness, freedom, and diversity through a wide range of literary works at the Frankfurt Book Fair through a special pavilion running from Oct. 10 through 14 at Hall 4.0 of Messe Frankfurt.
Under the banner "Open Taiwan," the pavilion will feature two recommended authors and showcase a total of 115 publishers as well as 934 print and digital publications this year.
Chi Ta-wei (紀大偉) ― an award-winning novelist, scholar, and translator who explores the topics of feminism, LGBTQ+, postmodernism, and fantasy ― will showcase his latest work "A Queer Invention in Taiwan: A History of Tongzhi Literature (同志文學史：台灣的發明)," which reviews Taiwan history dating from the 1950s to the early 21st century from the perspective of queer literature.
Lin Yu-li (林育立), who works as a foreign correspondent stationed in Berlin for Taiwan's Central News Agency, will reframe German contemporary history from a Taiwanese perspective through his book titled "Heart of Europe: How Germany Is Transforming (Die Macht in der Mitte Europas : Wie sich Deutschland neu erfindet)."
The book consolidates Lin's decades-long experience of living and working in Germany since 1998, offering his observations on German development in different eras from a Taiwan-born journalist's perspective, including the impact of post-World War II, eastern and western blocs, and reunification and the aftermath.
Emblazed with a stylized image of Taiwan by prominent designer Lin Pang-soong (林磐聳), this year's pavilion will offer a new section titled "Formosan Depictions" to introduce books on Taiwan culture. Some highlights include a collaborative work between pastry enthusiasts and a publishing house that presents Taiwan's folk festivals and traditional desserts, and a photography volume that showcases the landscapes and hospitality of southern Taiwan from the lens of an American reverend.
The "Exhibitors" section will include the "Guide to Creating Pop-up Books (立體書創作手冊)" by master paper-cutting artist Hung Hsin-fu (洪新富). Having taken six years to complete, the book offers a comprehensive and systematic guide for readers to create their own original pop-up books.
The "Digital Publications" section will include a selection of educational interactive robots co-created by AMPUS Technology Co., Ltd (安譜國際股份有限公司) and Reading & Rhythm Co., Ltd (英閱音躍研創) to show the innovative progress of interdisciplinary projects combining publishing with the sciences.
Additional matchmaking events will also be held to offer a platform for Taiwan's licensing professionals to promote their Taiwanese clients to publishing representatives from Argentina, Germany, Indonesia, and Mexico.
Through participation in the world's largest book fair, the Ministry of Culture hopes to promote Taiwan's cultural brands and values and deepen the nation's global partnerships through publishing and reading.
‘Open Taiwan’ at Frankfurter Buchmesse
The "Open Taiwan" pamphlet can be downloaded from here or below.