Starting this month, there will be a few changes to my Patreon report. First, the report will now be published consistently in the middle of each month. Second, as I’ve started producing more creative works, the reports will focus on sharing interesting highlights rather than providing a detailed, day-to-day account of my activities. And with that, here is this month’s supporter report.
The New Course: A Journey into the Arts
After steering the course of my life toward artistic development, I’ve found this path to be full of challenges and surprises—and, of course, a lot of sweat. Through creating and brainstorming, I’ve engaged in self-dialogue and gradually discovered the stories and emotions I want to express. The process of bringing my work to life has also been a journey of self-healing.
In August, I caught the tail end of the “Taipei Fringe Festival,” where I saw works by three different artists, including an immersive theater piece, a stage play, and a deaf theater production. It was amazing to see how artists and creators from different backgrounds use various venues and methods to create such stunning and surprising stories and scenes. Besides being in awe, I also learned a few techniques that I can apply to my future work.
A Fruitful September: My Debut as an Artist
After a continuous period of artistic immersion, I finally arrived at a crazy September. I can truly say that my identity as an artist has officially set sail! This month, I have two very important achievements to share with you.
The Nameless Place: A Staged Reading Debut
The rehearsals for our theater troupe’s production, The Nameless Place, continued into late August, and we decided to present a staged reading at the Thinker’s theatre in Taipei in mid-September.
This staged reading series is typically an event for early-stage works, allowing artists to share a piece under simplified stage conditions. The previous troupe in this series presented a monologue performed by one actor. However, our troupe, oops! theatre, took a more formal approach. Even though the actors read from their scripts, our presentation included stage blocking, props, sound, and lighting.
This was my first time directing an event as a theater director. From entering the theater to getting on stage to share the work, it was an incredibly special and nerve-wracking experience. During the event, I first introduced our troupe and the origins of the play. I also discussed the themes with the audience, exploring the struggles of modern minority groups who face societal oppression, leading to a rejection of their own culture and submission to social pressure.
During rehearsals leading up to the event, I kept preparing myself for that moment when the work would be presented on stage—a moment I had never experienced before. When the show was actually happening, all I could do was trust in the skills of my actors and partners, and simply enjoy the moment.
Here are a few photos from the staged reading and a link to the full performance video for you to enjoy (the performance is in Chinese):
After this small-scale presentation, we will be discussing the play with some theater professionals to decide how to continue developing this work.
Taiwan Transgender Museum: First-Ever Booth Appearance
Just one day before our troupe’s presentation, the Taiwan Transgender Museum held its first-ever physical stall. This was made possible by the “This Is My Music Festival” organized by the Garden of Hope Foundation (my workplace) at Yuanshan Station, allowing the museum to meet the public for the first time.
The booth featured an introduction to the museum’s concept, a number of projects co-created with overseas Chinese communities, video art from several artists, and a small number of physical exhibits.
Here are a few photos from the museum’s stall:
Recently, I’ve also been inviting different artists to contribute their work, so the collection will soon be growing.
Next up, there will be a limited-time exhibition in October, and we might even have the chance for a longer-term exhibition in November, so please stay tuned!