Taiwan launches new cultural program in tandem with Expo 2025 Osaka

Taipei, July 31 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Culture (MOC) on Thursday announced that a cultural program it has organized for Expo 2025 Osaka will premiere over the weekend with a special exhibition featuring 50 selected picture books about various aspects of life in Taiwan.

According to MOC, the "We TAIWAN" cultural program is designed to partner with and make the most of the 2025 World Expo which is being held in Osaka from April 13 to Oct. 13.

The MOC said the teams that left for Osaka last week have been setting up exhibitions and rehearsing their acts for the program, with the main "We TAIWAN" visual display erected at the VS. (at Grand Green Osaka) venue.

The first event of the program, according to the MOC, will be an exhibition of 50 picture books by Taiwanese writers and illustrators.

The expo will be held inside the city's Nakanoshima Children's Book Forest, a structure designed and donated to Osaka by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

The show will feature elements from Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples, local folklore, daily life, as well as Taiwan's food culture, religions, arts and crafts, plus its natural scenery.

Exhibition curator Su Yi-chen (蘇懿禎) said that all picture books displayed at the show will include detailed explanations of the books' backgrounds and information introducing the cultural richness of Taiwan.

In addition, there will also be a number of performances based on selected books so give attendees a more immersive experience.

For example, Taiwan's L'Enfant S. Physical Theatre will put on an interactive version of author Wang Jia-zhen's (王家珍) "Aunt Tigress" (虎姑婆), itself adapted from Chinese folklore.

Moreover, Taiwan's Bratsche musical group has taken artist Bei Lynn's (林小杯) "Keda Keda Keda: Granny's Favorite Toy" (喀噠喀達喀噠) and turned it into a three-piece band recital which also includes a reading of the story.

The "We TAIWAN" program features 38 groups of artists from Taiwan and Japan who will put on a total of 129 performances from Aug. 2-20.

Other than the performances and exhibitions at the VS. (at Grand Green Osaka) venue and the Nakanoshima Children's Book Forest, more events have been planned throughout the Nakanoshima park area and nearby Osaka City Central Public Hall.

The picture book show and other performances make up the four key themes of the "We TAIWAN" program, which the MOC earlier announced as: "The Power of Play," "Blended Colors," "Creativity that Crosses Over" and "Dynamic Energy."

The MOC also highlighted a special performance event called "A Ritual of Gratitude Before the Temple" planned by the organizers of Expo 2025 Osaka.

The show will feature nine Taiwanese performing groups and take place from Aug. 26-28 at the city's Pop-Up Stage North, Yumeshima, according to the MOC.