The Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris held three performances of contemporary Taiwanese poetry and music in response to the annual "Semaine des Instituts Cultures Étrangers à Paris" event by the Forum des Instituts Culturels Étrangers à Paris' (FICEP). These shows were launched at Théâtre de la Ville, one of the most important theaters in France, on Oct. 15 and 16, to introduce Parisians to the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Taiwanese poetry.
FICEP is an international arts organization based in Paris, founded in 2002 and composed of 55 cultural centers in Paris, aiming to create a network of sharing and promoting the culture and arts of various countries. As one of the founding members, the Taiwan Cultural Center in France actively participates in activities organized by FICEP every year to promote various art forms such as Taiwanese films, literature, comics, and music.
"Harmonies Poétiques de Taïwan—Je préfère que tu ne sois pas la Lune" is directed by Yang Yi-lin (楊宜霖), an actor who has lived in France for many years, with performances by Antonin Chalon, a famous French actor of the new generation, Wang Ya-ping (王雅平), a Taiwanese dulcimer player, and French violinist Jean-Michel Susni. These performances will reinterpret the brilliant works of Taiwanese poets such as Chen Yu-hung (陳育虹), Luo Chi-cheng (羅智成), Luo Fu (洛夫), among others. To incorporate a visual aesthetic into the performance, this production has also invited Taiwanese multimedia artist Tsai Hsin-yun (蔡欣芸) to design the video and stage aspects, giving the audience both a visual and auditory feast.
The Théâtre de la Ville de Paris has partnered with Taiwan for many years. Its artistic director Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota's works "Rhinocéros" and "L'État de Siège" have been performed in Taiwan, and he has collaborated with the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) as an artistic consultant. The presentation of "Harmonies Poétiques de Taïwan—Je préfère que tu ne sois pas la Lune" at this theater will deepen the friendship between the two nations and facilitate different modes of cooperation for the future.