With different cultural backgrounds, artists often face many challenges during the process of working together, but embracing these trials can also spark a lot of innovative, cross-cultural works. The Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Thailand aims to specifically focus on the collaboration experience and working methods between Taiwan and Thailand artists, and thus the "No Name Project (a.k.a. Dashing Call)" was born.
The "No Name Project" series comprising workshops and a keynote lecture on Dec. 6 and 7 was led by Taiwanese new media artist Huang Ding-yun (黃鼎云) and Thai artist Henry Tan, who have been working together for the past three years. They come from different cultures and training, but have dedicated themselves to interdisciplinary performances.
The two artists first met at the ADAM Project — Asia Discovers Asia Meeting for Contemporary Performance — a networking meeting for artists and presenters across the Asia-Pacific region hosted by the Taipei Performing Arts Center in 2017. The following year, they became guest curators for ADAM's "Artist Lab," and then co-creators for the Taipei Arts Festival's "Island Bar: Sweet Potato Affair" in 2019.
"Blind Date and Cocktail," the first "No Name Project "workshop, was based on their aforementioned joint venture "Sweet Potato Affair." Together with workshop participants, they explored personal stories and the processes of storytelling through cocktail making.
The second workshop was themed "Future Tao: Songs from the Naga Cave" to explore and experience interdisciplinary co-creations through "sound" and "scent."
The keynote lecture looked back on the evolving process of their three-year partnership. Huang and Tan shared their ideas and observations on cultural contexts and creative methods, pointing out how collaborations can open up new possibilities for future cooperation between Taiwan and Thailand in the field of contemporary performing arts.
Moderated by well-known Thai curator Wayla Amatathammachad, the event was enthusiastically received and attracted the active participation of the local Thai art community. Through events like these, creative synergy stemming from exchanges between the two countries will further enrich both Taiwanese and Thai artistic circles.