The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, in collaboration with INXO Arts and Culture Foundation, hosted a series of sharing sessions titled "Tea Philo (哲學茶席)." These sessions aim to introduce various aspects of Taiwanese humanities, philosophy, culture, and artistic trends. Director Tsai Ming-liang (蔡明亮) was invited to deliver a talk at the Eslite Bookstore in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 3 to share insights from his journey, including his experiences and practices in the film industry.
Born in Malaysia in 1957, Tsai relocated to Taiwan in 1977 to pursue studies and advance his career. In 1994, his film "Vive L'Amour (愛情萬歲)" received the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, establishing his position in the international film industry. In recent years, he has been invited to various important art festivals and museums worldwide, exploring ways to bring film into the art world through live performances, virtual reality (VR), painting, installations, and other forms of creative expression. In 2009, his film "Face (臉)" became the first film to be collected by the Louvre Museum, setting a new milestone in the world of visual art.
In 2015, his work "The Monk from Tang Dynasty (玄奘)" received the Taishin Arts Award and it was praised for breaking boundaries between action, installation art, painting, and theater.
This marks his first public lecture in Malaysia in many years, during which he shared insights into his work over his 30-year career. The session was hosted by Usen Leong (梁友瑄), a lecturer in the Department of Drama and Visuals at New Era University College in Malaysia.
“Tea Philo” commenced in 2017 and as of now, a total of 61 sessions have taken place. Every year, distinguished Taiwanese individuals or groups are invited to share their insights and engage in discussions with audiences from various sectors in Malaysia, thereby establishing a channel for cultural exchange between Taiwan and Malaysia.