Nov. 23th 2024- Dec .22th 2024

Shining a Light on the Wall: From "New Theater" to Contemporary Theater

In 1946, Jian Guoxian's theater work, "The Wall", resonated strongly with the Taiwanese public. This work reflected the inequality of post-war Taiwan, in which human rights were not realized.

This new theater work was a hit, with more showings added, but not long after, after it was banned by authorities. Shortly after this ban, Taiwan experienced the 228 Massacre and entered the White Terror. Jian was among those killed. The fate of "The Wall" became an emblem of how the "new theater" of the 1920s lost its light and future.

Through the course of the dark 38 years of the White Terror, Taiwan finally saw society persevering and carrying on the torch of human rights, to bring light and warmth to this island. Chains were broken in 1987 with the lifting of martial law, and the spark of pursuing 100% freedom of speech was lit in 1989 in a manner that ignited passionate social participation.

This began the concern with human rights of contemporary theater. Today, human rights have already become a core value of Taiwan's standing internationally. Persistence in the values of human rights has led to the shattering of political barriers, while also breaking advancing of race, sexuality, the rights of the child, and respect for pluralism.

In 2018, the National Human Rights Museum was established and the Human Rights Festival, demonstrating the accomplishments of the Taiwanese people in pursuing human rights.

In illustrating the development of one hundred years of pursuing human rights, from the banning of "The Wall" to the diverse splendor of "A Light Shining on the Wall," we can see how Taiwan has gone from a "prison island" to a "free island" to preserves human rights. For the 2024 Human Rights Festival, this will serve to emphasize the spirit of theater, to show the core values of the Jing-mei White Terror Memorial Park as a starting point for new theater. Along with music and visual art, and the immersive displays of the park, this can be an intergenerational experience, highlighting the importance of human rights in contemporary life.

see more : About the 2024 Human Rights Festival