Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture

Comments on the Finalist

2012 quite unexpectedly succeeds in showing audiences the cool evening beauty of the Jingmei Human Rights Memorial and Culture Park. Conducted through tales of Mayan civilization and with the packaging of yogic Chakras, the performance is like a cleansing of body, mind and soul. Through careful management of the shifting proscenium (this is an example of perfect coordination between the actors and the crew at the front of the so-called stage), the audience moves with each of the seven sections of the performance, switching vantage points as it goes on. In this purposefully created atmosphere, the actors are granted “divine” powers and hold “sacred” rites. Getting the most out of the site, the Möbius Strip Theater has effected a seldom seen transition to greater scale with the limited resources of a small theater troupe. They’ve exhibited astonishing ability and confidence in conquering their environment. 

( Committee member/ Fu, Yu-Hui)

Artwork Introduction

Möbius Strip Theatre’s 2012 is a site-specific work that took place during June 25 to 28, 2009 at Jing-Mei Human Rights Memorial & Culture Park, which was once a notorious jail for political prisoners during the martial-law era. The title also refers to the ancient Mayan calendar which prophesizes that the end of the world is scheduled for December 21, 2012.

The staging of 2012 was unconventional as there was no proscenium stage, nor rows of seats for the audience; instead, viewers were encouraged to walk around the historical site to observe the performance from various angles and perspectives.

The mixture of performance art, staged ritual scenes, dance, installations, multimedia and physical theater made for a new kind of story-telling. Incorporating ancient ceremonies, this production invited viewers to experience spiritual renewal. Based on yoga’s concept of seven Chakras (energy centers), the production of 2012 invited seven Asian artists to work together to create a vision about the arrival of the year 2012.

The performing space was divided into seven sections to represent the various Chakras. At the beginning of the performance, the “priest” led viewers to a purification fire in the courtyard. Dance performances amidst ceramic installations took place at the first Chakra site. Other sites included a stone maze for walking meditation, live piano music and a drum circle. The work explored deep issues about the Mayan prophecy, Taiwan’s dark history, sacred rituals and the meaning of life.

The creative team of 2012 comes from diverse backgrounds, making the entire production a meeting point of different cultures and artistic forms that broke through language and cultural barriers. 2012 was also noteworthy in that many of its audience members rarely have attended the theater; it became the perfect situation for the public to have an intimate and profound experience with the performing arts, while visiting a controversial site.

About the Artist

Möbius Strip Theatre, named after the mysterious endless ring, was founded in 2005, to create an integrated theater of actors, movement, music and art. The group strives to forge a meaningful exchange between the performance and the audience, in order to enable more people to have an intimate experience with the performing arts.

Möbius Strip Theatre has performed locally and internationally. Their cross-platform concept combines traditional art with modern-style theater, ranging from popular to profound works. They produce work that reflects on the human condition while building a theater of human compassion, allowing viewers to experience the arts and enhance their lives.

Production Team

Curator: Alex Zhang, Akash, Man-Tung Tsang

Stage manager, lighting design: Nuo-Xing Huang

Clothing, space, equipment, publicity visual: Man-Tung Tsang

Creator: Zi-Ying Wu, Dae-Gun Kin, Man-Tung Tsang, Akash, Jin-Yao Lin, Alex Zhang, Nicolas Saito, Tsz-Kin Lee

Performers: Fa-Ye Leong, Akash, Zi-Ying Wu, Qi-Zao Du, Wei-Ren Li, Dae-Gun Kin, Yan-Xi Chen、Yi-Ting Wu, Po-Ting Chen, Jin-Yao Lin, Wei-Yi Shiang、Wei-Yin Hsiang, Yi-Ting Huang, Po-Jen Chen, Tsz-Kin Lee, Alex Zhang, Bo-Quan Gao

Producer: Po-Jen Chen

Executive Producer: Fa-Ye Leong

Publicity and Marketing Manager: Pei-Wei Huang

Theater program design and administration: Wei-Yi Shiang

Editing and ticketing co-ordination: Yen-Ju Yeh

On-site energy painter: Qi-Kai Chen, Jia-Ling Liu

Assistant Curator: Shi-Jie Cheng, Shao-Hong Ruan

Photography: You-Wei Chen, Qing-Long Lin, Guan-Xun Zhu

Video: Rui-Yuan Shen

Landscape art installations: Pei-Jia Huang, Ya-Xin Xu, Zi-Feng Liang, Pei-Yu Zhao