Taipei: The Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) in Michigan will host an exhibition showcasing the diversity of Taiwanese literature through a range of translated literary works, according to the Taipei Cultural Center in New York. The exhibition, aimed at promoting Taiwanese contemporary literature abroad, features 16 translated works and four anthologies, covering genres such as novels, essays, picture books, and graphic novels.
According to Focus Taiwan, themes include Taiwan’s White Terror era, LGBTQ writing, women’s experiences, and Indigenous myths, said the center, which co-organized the Taiwan Literature Exhibition: Reading Taiwan, in a statement on Friday. Other organizers of the show, which runs from Monday to Jan. 9, include the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, the AADL, and the Michigan Taiwanese American Organization, it said.
Exhibition panels put together by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature will also introduce Taiwan’s literary development through themes such as food, women, and nature writing, the center said. In addition to the book display, three public lectures will be held during the exhibition period.
The first lecture, scheduled for Sept. 28, will feature novelist Yang Shuang-zi, author of “Taiwan Travelogue”, and translator Lin King, who will discuss Taiwan’s history and food culture under the theme “Island Writing and Taste Memories.” The second lecture, on Oct. 19, will be delivered by Michigan State University professor Sang Tze-lan, who will explore representations of lesbian desire in contemporary Taiwanese literature and trace the development of LGBTQ writing in Taiwan. The final talk, on Dec. 7, will be given by Richard B. Stamps, emeritus professor at Oakland University, who will discuss “The Song of Mountains, Forest and Sea” series by Atayal author Kate Dargaw and illustrator Tomas Rizek from an anthropological perspective.
Among the 20 works on display are “Spent Bullets” by the Taiwanese author known as Terao Tetsuya, “Taiwan Travelogue” by Yang, “The Mermaid’s Tale” by Li Wei-jing, and “Ghost Town” by Kevin Chen. Others include “The Whisper” by Chang Yu-ko, and “Banana King Ng´o Tsn-sui” by Lee Wang-tai. Illustrated works such as “Home” by Lin Lian-en and “Son of Formosa” by Yu Peiyun and Zhou Jianxin are also displayed. All of the books will be donated to the AADL after the exhibition ends and made available for public borrowing, the center said.