Entering its 25th edition, the Taipei Arts Festival unveils a new look with a focus on the "movement of all things." The festival will go on sale starting May 18, 112th year. Taipei Fine Arts Center Chairman Liu Ruoyu and this year's festival curator River Lin discussed the theme of "Dancing Ecosystems," to contemplate how to transcend anthropocentrism in the post-pandemic era and examine the relationship between human society and the natural environment from the perspective of all living beings.Tsai Shih-ping, Commissioner of the Taipei City Government's Department of Cultural Affairs, stated that over the years, the Taipei Arts Festival has not only fostered interdisciplinary innovative works by domestic arts and culture teams but has also introduced international performance programs, establishing significant brand value. It has become a grand event for Taipei's performing arts every summer. Under the planning of the Chairman and the curator, this year's program is closely tied to the environmental issues that concern humanity the most. It features a selection of 20 works, including the Asian premiere of "Sun and Sea," the winner of the Golden Lion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, which has been in high demand globally. Other highlights include "Concert for Plants," a musical communication with plants, and three new creations, "The Rite of Lobster","Louver/Shutter/Blinds/Hundred Leaves" and "SUPER," which present the symbiotic relationship between humans and all things through different art forms such as music, dance, and theater.Chairman Liu Ruoyu of Taipei Performing Arts Center said, "As a new venue and a pioneer of contemporary performances that cater to global trends, sustainability is an unavoidable responsibility for Beitou Art Center and Taipei Arts Festival. As a leader of the capital's theater and a theater artist, I have been contemplating how to combine the concept of Earth's sustainability with the sensitivity of performing artists towards the environment. After discussions with the curator, we decided to position this year's festival as “Dancing Ecosystems” and establish a future that is equal and mutually beneficial with all living beings, from a 'non-human-centric' perspective."Curator River Lin of the Taipei Arts Festival added, "This is a crucial moment. Taking on the role of the festival's curator at this time, my primary task is to consider how Taiwan can restart dialogues with the world in terms of geopolitical and contemporary art contexts after the pandemic. Over the past three years, the pandemic has taught humanity that the world can come to a halt. After humans press the pause button, how do all things regain motion? After the old order is overturned, what is the new normal for artistic action? Therefore, the Taipei Arts Festival, advocating an ecological perspective of 'non-human-centric,' brings 'human' self-positioning back to various non-human spaces. It invites audiences to reimagine a new ecosystem from the perspective of biodiversity and to explore the symbiotic relationship between the ocean, land, city, community, and the sentient beings that inhabit them, in relation to us as humans."The Asian premiere of the critically acclaimed "Sun and Sea," winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, will make a splash at the festival. Additionally, heavyweight African and Tongan artists will take the stage for the first time, showcasing the vibrant Southern Hemisphere perspective.A total of 20 domestic and international music, dance, theater, and performance programs will be featured.