Chen Sheng-wen's New Work "Foolish Song" Explores Class Mobility, Selected for New Talent, New Vision Project
Director Chen Sheng-wen's new theatrical production "Foolish Song," an absurd comedy exploring the myth of class mobility, has been selected for the National Culture and Arts Foundation's "New Talent, New Vision Creation Project." The project also features works by Meng Yun-ju and Zheng Yi-han, with performances scheduled nationwide from May to June.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 10:01
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 10:31 (30 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 4, 2026 at 10:34 (3 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chao Ching-yu, Taipei, May 4) Director Chen Sheng-wen (omo), inspired by xiangsheng (cross-talk), entered the theater world, having previously traveled to Australia to work as a supermarket porter to earn a living, living a multi-hyphenate life. His new work, "Foolish Song," uses the language of absurd comedy to present the myth of class mobility and has been selected for the National Culture and Arts Foundation's "New Talent, New Vision Performing Arts Creation Project."
To survive, Chen Sheng-wen once worked in an Australian supermarket and took on freelance graphic design and podcast hosting jobs. His long-term, highly multi-hyphenate lifestyle accumulated many real-life survival experiences. His new work, "Foolish Song," uses the allegory of "a fish unaware of what water is" as an introduction, metaphorically implying people's unconsciousness and habituation to their circumstances within an unfair system.
Through actors portraying homeless people, Chen Sheng-wen reflects how people look up to dreams, defend capital, and even content themselves within a landscape society built on faith in capital. The work carries heavy themes with humorous and absurd comedic language, guiding the audience to reflect on their own positions and re-examine the narratives of "the myth of class mobility" and "the rationalization of poverty" after watching.
In addition to Chen Sheng-wen, the 18th "New Talent, New Vision" project of the National Culture and Arts Foundation also selected Meng Yun-ju and Zheng Yi-han, making a total of three creators. Peng Chun-heng, Chairman of the National Culture and Arts Foundation, stated that the "New Talent, New Vision" project receives corporate support, not only providing funding for creation but also professional teams to assist with production and touring marketing, planning nationwide tours.
Director Meng Yun-ju (Trister) has Paiwan and Hakka heritage. She is not only a rock band vocalist but also deeply influenced by anime and game subcultures, showcasing distinctive Gen Z creative characteristics. Her work, "Thousands of Faces Emerging," creates an ambiguous, half-loaded world based on the sense of loss from the disappearance of digital interfaces like "Slime Fun Game Zone," presenting multiple facets of contemporary intimate relationships.
Choreographer Zheng Yi-han is the rehearsal director for "Hung Dance Production." This time, she presents "Three Sacrifices Have Luck," attempting to loosen the existing framework of contemporary dance and transform it into the familiar "ritual" imagery of Taiwanese culture. The work begins with "the body as a temple," with the body gradually symbolizing chickens, pigs, and fish, finally returning to a re-placement and understanding of self and body in an atmosphere that is almost playful and carnival-like.
The performance showcase of the National Culture and Arts Foundation's 18th "New Talent, New Vision Performing Arts Creation Project" will be held from May 15 to 17 at the National Theater and Concert Hall Experimental Theater; from May 23 to 24 at the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts' Scenery Factory; and from June 6 to 7 at the National Taichung Theater's Small Theater. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150504
(Central News Agency reporter Chao Ching-yu, Taipei, May 4) Director Chen Sheng-wen (omo), inspired by xiangsheng (cross-talk), entered the theater world, having previously traveled to Australia to work as a supermarket porter to earn a living, living a multi-hyphenate life. His new work, "Foolish Song," uses the language of absurd comedy to present the myth of class mobility and has been selected for the National Culture and Arts Foundation's "New Talent, New Vision Performing Arts Creation Project."
To survive, Chen Sheng-wen once worked in an Australian supermarket and took on freelance graphic design and podcast hosting jobs. His long-term, highly multi-hyphenate lifestyle accumulated many real-life survival experiences. His new work, "Foolish Song," uses the allegory of "a fish unaware of what water is" as an introduction, metaphorically implying people's unconsciousness and habituation to their circumstances within an unfair system.
Through actors portraying homeless people, Chen Sheng-wen reflects how people look up to dreams, defend capital, and even content themselves within a landscape society built on faith in capital. The work carries heavy themes with humorous and absurd comedic language, guiding the audience to reflect on their own positions and re-examine the narratives of "the myth of class mobility" and "the rationalization of poverty" after watching.
In addition to Chen Sheng-wen, the 18th "New Talent, New Vision" project of the National Culture and Arts Foundation also selected Meng Yun-ju and Zheng Yi-han, making a total of three creators. Peng Chun-heng, Chairman of the National Culture and Arts Foundation, stated that the "New Talent, New Vision" project receives corporate support, not only providing funding for creation but also professional teams to assist with production and touring marketing, planning nationwide tours.
Director Meng Yun-ju (Trister) has Paiwan and Hakka heritage. She is not only a rock band vocalist but also deeply influenced by anime and game subcultures, showcasing distinctive Gen Z creative characteristics. Her work, "Thousands of Faces Emerging," creates an ambiguous, half-loaded world based on the sense of loss from the disappearance of digital interfaces like "Slime Fun Game Zone," presenting multiple facets of contemporary intimate relationships.
Choreographer Zheng Yi-han is the rehearsal director for "Hung Dance Production." This time, she presents "Three Sacrifices Have Luck," attempting to loosen the existing framework of contemporary dance and transform it into the familiar "ritual" imagery of Taiwanese culture. The work begins with "the body as a temple," with the body gradually symbolizing chickens, pigs, and fish, finally returning to a re-placement and understanding of self and body in an atmosphere that is almost playful and carnival-like.
The performance showcase of the National Culture and Arts Foundation's 18th "New Talent, New Vision Performing Arts Creation Project" will be held from May 15 to 17 at the National Theater and Concert Hall Experimental Theater; from May 23 to 24 at the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts' Scenery Factory; and from June 6 to 7 at the National Taichung Theater's Small Theater. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150504