衛武營國家藝術文化中心 National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

By CHANG Hsin-yi｜2021 Weiwuying Circus Platform Curator

As one of the most dynamic and flexible performing arts in contemporary society, the circus has been wandering between mainstream values and the fringe of society since the 18th century.

With the curatorial theme of "Circus - Life," the 2021 Circus Platform has been gaining momentum since its inception in 2016, inviting more than 100 circus performers and video artists across Taiwan and the five continents to showcase their responses to the social conditions during the pandemic through their creative works. The program features two Circus Live Shows, three online Circus Workshops, 4 Circus Marathon physical performances, 4 Circus Insider Talk cloud lectures, 7-day Open Studio Cloud-Based Training by the Department of Acrobatics of the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, the 40-hour Circus Artist Cloud Residency Program Dance and Circus Stunt Creation 2.0, and the 30-day Short Film Festival and Photo Exhibition.

FOCA has been creating and living in Shezidao, located on the outskirts of Taipei City, for many years. These FOCA artists' competing relationship between human and superhuman is documented in CHEN Kuan-ting's Circus As Folks. In Disappearing Island, we see them present a circus performance about the defense of housing rights for the inhabitants evicted due to urban renewal.

In the rapidly growing and bustling cities of Taipei and Taichung, the Street Act Lab's rising stars, HSU Kai-hsuan, On. P. Young's CHEN Hsin-da and director HSU Han-chung, Dua Shin Te Productions featuring LIU Yen-cheng, travel through the streets, public areas, theater, and virtual spaces to rethink the live-ness of performance and recreate theatrical scenes for a new life. By diving into the female wardrobe, Eye Catching Circus #Since1994 explores the definitions of aesthetics, bodily autonomy, stereotypes, and moral standards in society and the relationships between people.

South of Zhuoshuei River, follow Thunar Circus to Syuejia, Tainan, a major town of din-tao culture, to learn traditional techniques with local masters and bring out the spirit of learning and sharing. LIT ART traveled south to Kaohsiung to visit Weiwuying, a century-old military fortress, and went into the community to record the stories of how different generations of residents made Fengshan their home. 

The first-ever short film festival presents circus creations worldwide. From Seto Inland Sea, Japan to Siem Reap, Cambodia, see how circus can promote social change, life education, and local creativity. South of the equator, in Brisbane, Australia, follow circus artists as they learn to accept themselves, respect each other's differences, and co-exist. Travel east along the equator to Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, where circus can create humor and hope amidst the anxiety of a spreading pandemic and experience their cultures' unique creative aesthetics and revolutionary thinking. Further east to Ethiopia, Africa, we marvel at the resilience of local circus performers and circus in its original form under the sky. In affluent and prosperous Britain, France, and Canada, we see the humanitarian care of artists in times of hardship, exploring the meaning of life concerning the environment, pursuing aesthetic practice, and the power of creativity after rebirth.

The Taiwanese circus and acrobats artists of different generations are actively evolving through technical exchanges, dialogues, and fieldwork. They have gone into cities, towns, and communities to trace their roots. Between their residency and travels, they have reversed Taiwan's unique physical aesthetics and brought new excitement and imagination to cities, communities, and residents, creating unique local landscapes and leaving indelible marks.

We hope to present these stories of hope, courage, critique, and vitality through the platform to whoever is still striving for life and persevering to realize your ideas under the sun.

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2021 Weiwuying Circus Platform