이준상 Lee JunSang

Why did JunSang, a business management graduate, choose to become a full-time performer?

JunSang developed an interest in magic during middle school, which sparked his passion for performing. After graduating from university, he decided to travel the world for a year as a performer, giving himself a chance to pursue his passion—if it didn’t work out, he planned to find a conventional job.

While traveling in the Philippines, he was deeply impacted by the stark contrast between wealth and poverty. Despite economic hardships, he saw that many people there lived happily. In contrast, in Korea, where many people are financially well-off, he noticed that happiness was not as prevalent.

This realization led him to prioritize happiness over money. He chose a career he truly loved, believing that even if he earned less, doing what he loved was worth it.

How did life change during the COVID-19 with a newborn baby?

Did your creative direction shift and keep creating? Try anything new?

In 2020, my first child was born—just as the pandemic began. By 2022, as the pandemic ended, my second child was about to be born.

At the start of the pandemic, with performances canceled and no income, I tried creating content on YouTube and TikTok. Since I had to practice anyway, I decided to upload my training videos online to test the waters. I started with TikTok and was lucky to gain 220,000 followers. However, over time, I lost interest.

From this experience, I learned that media is just a distribution platform. A video of a performance is merely a broadcasted show, but what I truly crave is the energy of live performance.

In 2021, my partner and I began a new creative project. In March, we organized a small showcase ourselves. That event led to receiving funding from two countries, allowing us to continue creating without dipping into our own savings.

As a Creator, How Do You Balance Life and Art?

I am a husband, a father, and an artist, striving to live fully while maintaining balance. Whether I have truly achieved that balance is something I can only answer 20 years from now at the Asian Circus Forum.

But for now, I want to share two thoughts:

1. When you are passionately chasing your dream, the small inconveniences of reality fade away.

2. Choices come with responsibility.

We can’t balance everything, so we have to let go of some desires. But in return, aren’t we living a life where, in certain moments, we shine brighter than anyone else?

Yang Shih-Hao

A journey of rapid growth and artistic discovery from performing at the Avignon Festival in France to competing in Asia’s Got Talent, and now preparing for his own solo show, Shih-Hao has been progressing at an astonishing pace. Unlike many artists bound by market trends, he has carved out his own unique place in the world.

This raises an intriguing question—how does Shih-Hao explore life? What drives his beliefs? What experiences shaped him into the artist he is today?

The Journey of Artistic Growth: From European Inspiration to Personal Creation

One of the most defining moments in my artistic journey began after I graduated from the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts in 2015. During my time studying in Europe, I was exposed to a wide array of European circus productions, which profoundly influenced my creative outlook.

My initial guide was Hsing-Ho Chen, who led me to various art festivals. Witnessing European circus performances completely blew my mind—they were unlike anything I had seen before. That was when my passion for creation ignited. However, at the time, I had no clue how to start my own work. My solo act lasted only 4-5 minutes, barely a fraction of a full-length production. But instead of overthinking, I focused on perfecting my technical skills and immersing myself in every performance.

For two to three consecutive summers, I spent time in Avignon, France, practicing improvisation and street performances. That period accelerated my artistic growth and took me to a new personal high.

From “Asia’s Got Talent” to the Pursuit of a Full-Length Circus Work

In 2019, after participating in Asia’s Got Talent, I finally reached a point of financial stability. With my basic needs met, my desire to create a full-length circus piece grew stronger.

That same year, I met the operations director of See Theatre, and we had extensive conversations about performance and creation. Through these discussions, I began to shape my initial creative ideas. The one thing I was sure of was that I had to write everything down—my daily observations, conversations, and forum discussions—to serve as a foundation for my work.

In 2020, the Mengjia Dance Festival provided me with an opportunity to experiment with a 20-minute performance. Shortly after, I joined the Taipei Performing Arts Center’s Circus Tent Project, which allowed me to work with artists from different disciplines.

However, 2020 was also the year the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With performances canceled and strict quarantine measures in place, I decided to fully dedicate myself to studying and developing my creative process. Unexpectedly, that journey has continued until today.

Looking Ahead: Embracing the Uncertainties of Creation

Over the past two years, I have often felt lost in the creative process. But in 2023, I will finally debut my first full-length work.

As for my personal philosophy?

I simply follow what I love, and as long as I keep moving forward, I believe I won’t go wrong.

Screw / Chen Yi-Chuan

In 2016, Xiao Luo-Si stepped into the world of street performing. After going through juggling battles and experiencing the European street scene, he evolved into a performer known for his strong earnings, positive public image, and a truly one-of-a-kind act. But the journey wasn’t always smooth. What challenges did he face? And how did he carve out his own unique style?

Struggles in Europe: Breaking Everything to Start Anew

When I first arrived in Europe, my act completely failed to attract tips at my first stop—the Avignon Festival. The biggest challenge I faced was realizing that my show wasn’t working and having to make a bold decision:

I tore apart my entire act and rebuilt it from scratch, using a performance style I had never tried before.

I hit the streets every single day, training relentlessly. I also watched as many performances as possible, writing down my thoughts and analyzing what made them work. Over time, as I traveled from place to place, my performance skills improved solidly and consistently.

Returning to Taiwan: Investing Everything into a New Act

As soon as I returned to Taiwan, I poured all my time and money into creating a new act—which later became the foundation of the show I perform today.

At first, I struggled with the entirely new performance format, but through constant street testing, I gradually discovered a style that truly felt like me:

Passionate、Humorous、Inspiring

Through this experience, I became even more convinced that the key to finding your unique style is:

1. Design with intention

2. Experiment endlessly

3. Refine through trial and error

By continuously shaping, testing, and eliminating what doesn’t work, I found the essence of my own distinctive performance style.

우석훈 Wu Seok-Hoon

Wu has demonstrated remarkable talent in painting, street dance, and mime—three distinct disciplines that each require years of dedication. Yet, he manages to master them in his own unique style, which raises the question:

What is Wu’s learning background?

Which groups has he been a part of?

How does he approach learning?

Early Years: A Passion for Art Over Academics

I’ve loved drawing since I was young. In school, I wasn’t very interested in studying, but I was always the best at drawing. Later, I got into street dance and briefly explored theater acting.

At that time, I wanted to train as a performer, but rather than learning how to say lines, I was more interested in how to express stories visually to the audience. That’s why I joined a graffiti performance show that combined painting and dance.

Eventually, I formed my own group, allowing me to further refine my work in a way that truly represented me.

Mastering Multiple Skills: A Blend of Talent and Thoughtful Application

People often ask how I became skilled in painting, dance, and mime. To be honest, I believe a big part of it is natural talent. However, talent alone isn’t enough—I’ve spent countless hours thinking about how to integrate these skills into my performances.

Through this process, I reached one important conclusion:

“People matter more than anything else.”

Instead of focusing solely on technical skills, I dedicated even more time to building my personal identity as an artist.

Developing a Unique Artistic Identity: The Power of Observation

For me, the most important aspect of developing personal style is observation. I start by studying the people, events, and moments around me.

I pay attention to:

01. Charming individuals

02. People with a strong sense of justice

03. Kind-hearted and honest people

I analyze their actions and behaviors in real-life situations. On top of that, I read humanities and social science books to refine my ability to embody a clown character.

By constantly observing and learning from people, I shape my performances to be not just technically impressive, but deeply human and emotionally engaging.

How did you cope when performances were canceled during the pandemic?

With all performances canceled, I suddenly had no income. Life changed drastically, but instead of panicking, I treated the pandemic as a time to rest.

I did want to create, but since creation is something that requires people, I struggled to find motivation when working alone. Many of my studio partners took up delivery jobs or part-time work just to stay afloat. Meanwhile, some of my friends explored different paths. They suggested organizing clown and comedy workshops, where we could train together, improve our acting skills, and focus on personal growth.

Looking at the bigger picture, we weren’t doing this for money—we were preparing for future performances.

How has your perspective on performance changed after the COVID-19?

Although the future remains uncertain, I firmly believe that people will always need great art and culture to heal their hearts.

At this stage, I think the real question is not “why do we perform?” but rather “how should we perform?” Because for me, being a clown is a mission-driven profession—it’s something I do with a sense of purpose. As for my goal, I hope to create a sustainable career in performance, ensuring that I can continue bringing joy and meaning to people for years to come.

How do you design a performance without language barriers? Should it be developed through watching online videos, constant street performance experimentation, taking acting classes, or is it purely a matter of talent?

우석훈 Wu Seok-Hoon’s response:

I would say it’s 99% talent and 1% effort.

I have watched a lot of comedy performances—TV series, movies, and stage shows. I mentally store all of these influences in my internal database and find ways to incorporate them into my performances.

I also spend a lot of time practicing, but what I practice is not just routines or sequences—I focus on how to convey emotions effectively. For me, expressing emotions clearly is the key to breaking through language barriers in performance.

Is there a difference between regular practice and winter training/creation in Korea? If so, what is the biggest difference?

우석훈 Wu Seok-Hoon’s response:

During regular practice, I focus on personal creative ideas and developing my own material.

However, in winter, I gather performance partners and experienced mentors to review and refine my performance routines. This is a time when we all come together for collective creation, sharing ideas and guiding each other to improve.

How do you balance the performance you love and the one the audience loves?

이준상 Lee Jun-Sang ’s response:

At first, I performed what I personally enjoyed, presenting it to the audience while observing their reactions. Over time, I identified the parts that both I and the audience enjoyed.

If there was a segment I loved but the audience didn’t, no matter how much I liked it, it was difficult to keep performing it. However, the final decision still lies with me.

Another approach is to turn what we enjoy into something the audience also enjoys—by first identifying the parts we genuinely love, then refining them through repeated practice until they become a performance that resonates with the audience.

Have You Ever Experienced Burnout? How Did You Overcome It?

Screw / Chen Yi-Chuan’s response:

I faced a tough challenge in Avignon—before my performance, a large crowd gathered, but by the end, no one stayed, and I didn’t receive any tips.

At that moment, my mindset was:

“Well, I’m already in it, there’s no turning back. I just have to push through every challenge, and eventually, I’ll get past it.”

Did life change significantly after competing in Asia’s Got Talent? Would you recommend other performers to join Talent Shows?

Yang Shih-Hao’s response:

My goal in Asia’s Got Talent was simply to experience the format of a TV performance. I encourage artists to explore different possibilities because it helps you discover new performance elements. If you can build yourself into a brand and cultivate your own fanbase (followers), it will be even more beneficial in the long run.

2022 Asia Street Art Forum – Life and Creation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Organizers｜Taiwan Street Arts and Culture Development Association

Host｜Hsu Kai-Hsuan 徐開炫

Panelists｜Korea – Wu Seok-Hoon 우석훈 / Korea – Lee Jun-Sang 이준상 / Taiwan

Yang Shih-Hao 楊世豪 / Taiwan Screw 陳益銓

Chief Planner｜Hsu Kai-Hsuan 徐開炫

Visual Design｜Moyo Lin 林興昱

Interpreters｜Korean – 小雪

Transcription｜Hsu Kai-Hsuan 徐開炫

Writer｜Hsu Kai-Hsuan 徐開炫