Internationally-renowned Taiwan-based Malaysian director Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮) and Taiwanese queer writer and scholar Chi Ta-wei (紀大偉) are invited to speak at the two events scheduled for May of the "Taiwan in Dialogue" lecture/dialogue series, which feature eight online events from February to November.
With support from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles partners with UCLA’s Center for Chinese Studies (CCS), launching the "Taiwan in Dialogue" lecture/dialogue series in February. Leading practitioners from a variety of Taiwan’s creative areas, including film, literature, theater, and art are invited to expound on contemporary Taiwanese culture.
Following the two acclaimed events in February and April, two more events will be held consecutively in May. Queer writer Chi Ta-wei (紀大偉) and translator Ari Larissa Heinrich are invited to discuss queer literature in Taiwan through his landmark queer speculative fiction, "The Membranes (膜)," in the 3rd event at 6pm PDT on May 6, followed by a dialogue with Michael Berry, director of UCLA Center for Chinese Studies.
Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮) is invited to the 4th event, to share his classic works and artistic convictions in an discussion with Michael Berry at 7pm PDT on May 19.
Chi Ta-wei is a renowned writer and scholar from Taiwan. His scholarly work focuses on LGBT studies, disability studies, and Sinophone literary history. He is an associate professor of Taiwanese literature at the National Chengchi University (國立政治大學) of Taiwan. Ari Larissa Heinrich, who translated "The Membranes" into English, is a professor of Chinese literature and media at the Australian National University, and he is also the translator of Taiwanese lesbian writer Qiu Miaojin’s (邱妙津) novel, "Last Words from Montmartre (蒙馬特遺書)."
Director Tsai has created some most enduring masterpieces over the past 30 years, including "Vive L’Amour" (1994), "The Hole" (1998), "Goodbye, Dragon Inn" (2003), and "Days" (2020). He has been awarded numerous top prizes for his works at the Venice International Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, and the Cannes Film Festival. Known for Slow-Cinema, he is adept at depicting true emotion through long fixed shots and minimalist dialogues. Tsai stands out from the cinematic world for his works that are usually pensive and moody, characteristic of modern loneliness and urban alienation.
For those interested in registering for the 3rd event, please visit https://ucla.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aMA3Q746TxuKBqou_dooKA
For the 4th event, please visit
https://ucla.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f4-JDurgQh-ZiQnAVbikVw.
For further information on "Taiwan in Dialogue" lecture/dialogue series, please follow CCS’s website here, Facebook link here, and YouTube link here.