2024 Taipei International Book Exhibition – “Catch the Reading Wave”— Presents Another Dutch Encounter with Taiwan
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and organized by the Taipei Book Fair Foundation, the 2024 Taipei International Book Exhibition (TIBE) will take place from February 20 to 25 at Taipei World Trade Center. This year, the theme of exhibition is 'Catch the Reading Wave’, featuring the Netherlands as the Guest of Honor Country.
Ticket Voucher Offer
To promote consumption from the public to support the publishing industry in real terms, the Ministry of Culture has introduced ticket voucher offers. During the exhibition period, visitors purchasing tickets will receive vouchers of the equivalent nominal value, redeemable for purchases at the exhibition on the same day, with no minimal threshold.
Guest of Honor Country: the Netherlands
It was in 1624 that the ties between Taiwan and the Netherlands first set up. Now in 2024, TIBE serves as the meeting place for the two sides, enhancing mutual understanding and reciprocal actions.
The Dutch Pavilion, co-designed by the Netherlands Office Taipei and the Dutch architectural firm MVRDV, presents three major themes: "Year 1624," "Diversity and Inclusivity," and "Dutch Design and Sustainability " to highlight the shared history, the present and future of Taiwan and the Netherlands. Implementing the principles of sustainable development, the pavilion is built with recyclable materials, reflecting a commitment to circular reuse. To represent the first Dutch encounter in 1624, artifacts, historical archives, and models will be on display in the pavilion. Honoring the modern Dutch values such as inclusivity and freedom of speech, the pavilion also features activities to address issues on indigenous rights, gender, immigration, LGBTQI+ communities, and so on. In addition, a fabulous Electronica Night can be expected!
The list of guests from the Netherlands includes award-winning fantasy writer Thomas Olde Heuvelt; acclaimed novelist and poet Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer; writer, philosopher and columnist Maxim Februari; novelist Joyce Bergvelt and writer of children's literature Bibi Dumon Tak. Aside from the nine visiting writers, translators, and illustrators, Thé Tjong-Khing, a vary popular children’s book author, and Hanna Bervoets, contemporary novelist and playwright will also meet readers online. Miffy and Dikkie Dik, beloved characters from the Netherlands, will also meet fans at the exhibition.
International Zone
242 international publishing houses from 34 countries will show up in the International Zone, while Germany, France, Belgium, Poland, Japan, and Thailand will set up national pavilions.
The "Thai Pavilion" tags along 22 publishing houses to participate in the exhibition. Matchmaking events for Thai original IP TV and film adaptations will be held to promote exchanges between Taiwanese and Thai publishing. The "Japanese Pavilion" gathers 47 Japanese publishers and copyright agencies, with nearly 90 publishing professionals showing up in person.
The "German Pavilion" will showcase works of the novelist Franz Kafka, marking the 100th anniversary of his death. The "French Pavilion" and "Belgium Pavilion" focus on visual arts and will host a comic concert on the evening of February 24, bringing together comic artists from Taiwan, Belgium, and France for a painting and music performance. The “Spanish Culture Pavilion" brings together Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Spain, and Paraguay to jointly showcase the publishing charm of the Spanish-speaking world.
International Authors
The lineup of international authors visiting TIBE is impressive. Readers will be thrilled to meet Taro Gomi and Tatsuya Miyanishi, both heavyweight Japanese picture book authors, Suzy Lee, the winner of Hans Christian Andersen Awards from South Korea, and Sydney Smith, a renowned picture book author from Canada.
"Diversity and Sustainability" Theme Exhibition
In response to the global focus on sustainability, a special curation of books on "Diversity and Sustainability" will be displayed, recognizing the inseparable connection between civilization and environment.
This special curation features recommended books from countries including Argentina, Austria, Belize, Chile, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, and Taiwan. Through novels, non-fiction, children's books, and comics, it delves into the theme of sustainable development, presenting the diversity of publications from different countries.
Children's Pavilion
In resonance with the Netherlands and the Age of Exploration, the Children's Pavilion is based on a "ship" that tells adventures and mythological stories related to the ocean. The interior of the cabin features interactive experiences that combines recording and reading.
Digital Pavilion
The Digital Pavilion, themed "Game of Words: Forest of the Future", invites readers to explore the forest as a hero. Using AI real-time generation technology to analyze personalities, it creates a personalized adventure book for each reader.
Literary Book Area
In the beloved "Literary Book Area" favored by literary enthusiasts, National Museum of Taiwan Literature gathers various literary magazine publishers to showcase their works, highlighting the unique value of “literature by the people” through exhibitions and events.
Citizen Book Area
In the "Reading Wonderland" of the Citizen Book Area, more than 40 publishers and NGO organizations have carefully prepared books and over 40 exciting lectures for everyone.
Taiwan Manga Pavilion, Featuring 30 Popular Taiwanese Comics
Presenting 30+ popular Taiwanese comics, the "Taiwan Manga Pavilion" showcases print comic books to all visitors, who can also check out the digital manga platform as well as an immersive audio-visual experience on Tai-manga in a dedicated space.
First-ever Outdoor Market
For the first time, an outdoor book-themed creative market will be held alongside TIBE. From February 23 to 25 (Friday to Sunday), outside the exhibition hall, a few dozens of booths will be set up for artists and craft-makers to showcase their illustrations, handicrafts, music, and tasty delicacies. A great opportunity to enjoy reading as a fusion lifestyle indeed!