Taiwan Uncovered

Issy Wells, RTI
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Taiwan Uncovered

From tattoo artists to photographers, sculptors to musicians, Issy Wells speaks to the people who are forming Taiwan's vibrant creative scene every Friday.

  1. Island In Between: reclaiming a Taiwanese narrative ft. S. Leo Chiang

    03/01/2024

    Island In Between: reclaiming a Taiwanese narrative ft. S. Leo Chiang

    Today I will be bringing you the second part of my interview with Taiwanese Director S. Leo Chiang. Last week we delved into Leo's Oscar-nominated short documentary “Island In Between," which focuses on Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Islands, and offers a nuanced view of identity and belonging amid cross-Strait tensions. We covered Leo’s approach to the documentary, how those in Kinmen and the rest of Taiwan feel about the possibility of war and the limitations of using English to define a Taiwanese identity. In today's episode, we'll touch on how Leo’s transnational background has impacted the way he feels about cross-Strait tensions, how this documentary has resonated with people all over the world, and what Leo has coming next. If you haven't already, you can watch Leo's documentary on YouTube ⁠here⁠.

    20 min
  2. Island In Between: belonging and identity in Kinmen ft. S. Leo Chiang

    02/24/2024

    Island In Between: belonging and identity in Kinmen ft. S. Leo Chiang

    On today’s episode, we have a very exciting guest, Taiwanese filmmaker Leo Chiang, whose latest short film “Island In Between” has been nominated for an Oscar. His documentary, which centers around Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Islands, gives a glimpse into the nuanced experience of those living in Kinmen and their relationship with China. Leo, who moved to the US when he was fifteen years old, shares his own experience of navigating China, Taiwan, and U.S. government narratives, and how, like those in Kinmen, he is still grappling with questions of identity and belonging.  In this episode we delve deep into “Island in Between” and Kinmen’s unique history. We discuss Leo’s approach to the project, how those in Kinmen and the rest of Taiwan feel about the possibility of war, and how using English terms to describe identity in this situation can be limiting. You can watch Leo's documentary on YouTube here.

    23 min
  3. Claw culture: get to know Taipei's top nail tech ft. Peggy Chen

    02/16/2024

    Claw culture: get to know Taipei's top nail tech ft. Peggy Chen

    Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I will be bringing you part two of my interview with Taipei's top nail tech Peggy Chen. If you haven't tuned in to part one yet - go stream it now! Peggy's work has been featured by Taiwan's Hypbeast, 混著MIXFITmag, and has even graced a Taiwan Vogue cover. Last week we dove deep into Peggy's journey, inspirations, and tight-knit community, and in this episode, we’ll be getting to know Peggy on a deeper level - from her biggest fears to her proudest moments.  You can check out Peggy's Instagram here.

    15 min
  4. Claw culture: a peek into Peggy's artistry ft. Peggy Chen

    02/09/2024

    Claw culture: a peek into Peggy's artistry ft. Peggy Chen

    For today’s Lunar New Year’s Eve episode, we have a very special and exciting guest – Peggy Chen. Peggy is a nail tech based in Taipei, who takes nail art to a whole other level. From cat-eye claws to designs based on a Memphis-style teapot and a 1970s pajazzo glass vase, Peggy doesn't just do nails – she transforms them into works of art. Her work has caught the eyes of Taiwan's Hypbeast and 混著MIXFITmag and has graced the cover of Taiwan Vogue. In this episode, we're diving deep into Peggy's journey, inspirations, and tight-knit community. Get ready to experience the magic of getting your nails done by Peggy Chen herself, as she takes us through the process. Plus, she'll be sharing invaluable tips on running and building your own business. Hit play now! You can check out Peggy's Instagram here.

    19 min
  5. Is art in Cuba and Taiwan inherently political? ft. Humberto Diaz and Esther Lin

    02/02/2024

    Is art in Cuba and Taiwan inherently political? ft. Humberto Diaz and Esther Lin

    Today I am bringing you the final part of my interview with Cuban artist Humberto Diaz and Taiwanese artist Esther Lin. To learn more about the artists and their work, and the exchange that took place, I would recommend listening to parts one and two first! In this episode, we discuss how the political climate impacts making art in Cuba and Taiwan, how significant identity is to both Esther and Humberto in their work, and lastly what their biggest takeaways are from this exchange. You can follow Humberto and Esther on Instagram, and you can also check out their websites below: Humberto's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humbertodiaz75/ Humberto's website: https://www.humbertodiaz.com/ Esther's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/estlinher/ Esther's website: https://www.linyichun.studio/

    17 min
  6. How mirrored is the geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan? ft. Humberto Diaz and Esther Lin

    01/26/2024

    How mirrored is the geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan? ft. Humberto Diaz and Esther Lin

    Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I am bringing you part two of my interview with Cuban artist Humberto Diaz and Taiwanese artist Esther Lin. Both have been part of a wider exchange between artists and creatives from Cuba and Taiwan.  The exchange loosely started with Taiwanese writer Huang Chong-kai's (黃崇凱) novel 'The Formosa Exchange'. Humberto went on to host both Chong-kai and Esther in Cuba. Humberto then came to Taipei and did an installation called 'Parallel Universes 2023' that was part of the exhibition 'Mirroring Now - the Southern Image' at Waley Art, in mid-November. Both Esther and Humberto also featured as speakers in the discussion hosted by Artgong (藝術宮) on November 28, titled: 'We Both Have a Big Neighbour:  the Mirrored Geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan'. In today's episode, we discuss: how mirrored is the geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan? Just how communist is Cuba? And how do attitudes and funding toward artistic careers differ in Cuba and Taiwan?

    17 min
  7. Cuba and Taiwan's parallel universes ft. Humberto Diaz and Esther Lin

    01/19/2024

    Cuba and Taiwan's parallel universes ft. Humberto Diaz and Esther Lin

    Today on Taiwan Uncovered, I am joined by Cuban artist Humberto Diaz and Taiwanese artist Esther Lin. Both have been part of a wider exchange between artists and creatives from Cuba and Taiwan.  In this episode, we will be shedding some light on what this exchange has involved, learn more about the art scene in Taiwan and Cuba, and find out just how much Cuba and Taiwan have in common culturally and geopolitically. Check out Taiwanese writer Huang Chong-kai's (黃崇凱) novel 'The Formosa Exchange' here.  Humberto's installation 'Parallel Universes 2023' that we discuss was part of the exhibition 'Mirroring Now - the Southern Image' at Waley Art, held in mid-November. You can watch the livestream of the discussion that Artgong (藝術宮) hosted on November 28, titled: “We Both Have a Big Neighbour:  the Mirrored Geopolitics of Cuba and Taiwan" on Instagram here.

    20 min
  8. Stepping into forests and folklore: the movements of TAI Body Theatre ft. Chih-yu

    01/15/2024

    Stepping into forests and folklore: the movements of TAI Body Theatre ft. Chih-yu

    For Taiwan Uncovered's first episode of 2024, I am joined by TAI Body Theatre's (TAI 身體劇場) Producer Lin Chih-yu. If you haven't come across TAI Body Theatre yet - you're missing out. Made up of around ten dancers from Taiwan's Indigenous tribes, the dance group explores the relationships between modernity, traditions, and Indigenous culture. Recent performances include 'Forest' and 'Flying Betel Nut,' with the former drawing on the group's founder Watan Tusi's own childhood experiences, and the latter inspired by folklore from the Pinuyumayan people.  In this episode, we discuss how TAI Body Theatre started, the meaning behind its name, and the inspirations behind some of the recent performances. This episode was recorded at the end of 2023, so any references to 'this year' by the guest, refers to 2023.  You can stay up to date with TAI Body Theatre on Facebook.

    27 min
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About

From tattoo artists to photographers, sculptors to musicians, Issy Wells speaks to the people who are forming Taiwan's vibrant creative scene every Friday.

Information

  • Creator
    Issy Wells, RTI
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Issy Wells, RTI
  • Show Website
    Taiwan Uncovered

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