by Jean He
Unlike in many parts of the world, in Taipei museums and galleries still operate mostly as usual. While carefully following the government’s public health protocols, they welcomed visitors with exhibitions by both local and internationally renowned artists. Here are three exhibitions carefully curated to provoke thought and wonder for the explorer with an artistic bent, or just those who wish to sate their curiosity.
The weekend festival features a lineup mainly made up of punk rock, hard rock and indie bands, including Wayne’s So Sad (傷心欲絕), The Murky Crows (昏鴉), Molly in Mountain (荒山茉莉), SADOG, and Modern Cinema Master (當代電影大師). Advertised as “the music festival with an emphasis on human connections,” Breaking Mud attracts a sizable audience for its fun and liberating atmosphere — perfect not only for concert-goers, but also for people who enjoy having a beer with friends and meeting people. An avid fan of The Murky Crows, John Mo, said, “Even though I can see most of these bands in Kaohsiung where I’m from, I come to Taipei for the festival because this is the perfect setting for people to let loose and have fun, even with people they’ve never met before.” For the organizers of the event, holding a music festival is not just about the musical performances, but to bring people who have similar tastes together and spark interactions among them. Therefore, aside from live musical performances which would require audiences to show their tickets to enter, the event will also feature many amenities open to all, even those who did not purchase a ticket. These include a karaoke competition, food stalls, beer vendors, a flea market, tattoo stations, and even a boxing ring.
Since the music festival’s debut in 2017, Breaking Mud has been held at the WenZiZhen warehouse complex right here in XinZhuang, setting up entire stages in vacant factories and sheet metal houses. This rustic style and setting of the festival became one of its unique characteristics, which is why the festival proudly promotes itself as “the only industrial music festival in Taiwan.” However, the warehouse complex may no longer be available to host the event next year as the New Taipei City government has implemented the XinTaiYuan WenZiZhen City Redistricting Project for the coming November. Not only will this project affect the music festival, but, according to XinYu Chen at Liberty Times, also the livelihoods of 30,000 workers, as well as the factories, temples, and several municipal historic sites in the area.
Since the announcement of this project in late 2020, residents, factory owners, and social activists have established the WenZiZhen Anti-Eviction Cooperative to voice their opposition and advocate for their residential and working rights. The cooperative is now in the preliminary steps of reaching a consensus with city planners, but a solution is yet to be announced. As the title of Breaking Mud Music Festival is different each year, the title of 2021, “Will There Still Be Breaking Mud in Taipei?” reflects the organizers’ concerns about the festival’s future plans and the preservation of this community. In spite of grieving that Breaking Mud may have to leave behind the venue that has hosted the event since its very beginning, the main founder of the event, Yolong Li, remains optimistic: “Our main focus has always been about the people who come to our event and the connection between them. We will continue our spirits and do our best to give the audience a memorable experience.” Organizers welcome all to walk around the festival and its surrounding area as they for what seems to be the last time Breaking Mud will be held here in XinZhuang.
Event Information
Date : July 17th - 18th, 2021.
Location : No. 175-3, Minsheng Road, Taishan District, New Taipei City
Tickets available online at : KKTIX.com and Familyport.
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/3138700
Since the music festival’s debut in 2017, Breaking Mud has been held at the WenZiZhen warehouse complex right here in XinZhuang, setting up entire stages in vacant factories and sheet metal houses. This rustic style and setting of the festival became one of its unique characteristics, which is why the festival proudly promotes itself as “the only industrial music festival in Taiwan.” However, the warehouse complex may no longer be available to host the event next year as the New Taipei City government has implemented the XinTaiYuan WenZiZhen City Redistricting Project for the coming November. Not only will this project affect the music festival, but, according to XinYu Chen at Liberty Times, also the livelihoods of 30,000 workers, as well as the factories, temples, and several municipal historic sites in the area.
Since the announcement of this project in late 2020, residents, factory owners, and social activists have established the WenZiZhen Anti-Eviction Cooperative to voice their opposition and advocate for their residential and working rights. The cooperative is now in the preliminary steps of reaching a consensus with city planners, but a solution is yet to be announced. As the title of Breaking Mud Music Festival is different each year, the title of 2021, “Will There Still Be Breaking Mud in Taipei?” reflects the organizers’ concerns about the festival’s future plans and the preservation of this community. In spite of grieving that Breaking Mud may have to leave behind the venue that has hosted the event since its very beginning, the main founder of the event, Yolong Li, remains optimistic: “Our main focus has always been about the people who come to our event and the connection between them. We will continue our spirits and do our best to give the audience a memorable experience.” Organizers welcome all to walk around the festival and its surrounding area as they for what seems to be the last time Breaking Mud will be held here in XinZhuang.
Event Information
Date : July 17th - 18th, 2021.
Location : No. 175-3, Minsheng Road, Taishan District, New Taipei City
Tickets available online at : KKTIX.com and Familyport.
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/3138700