Pioneering photography museum reopens in Beipu

2014-09-18

Teng Nan-kuang Memorial Hall in Beipu Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan’s first local photography museum, reopened Sept. 14 as a fee-paying facility after it was successfully privatized.

Originally opened in 2009, the renovated space of about 3,000 square meters is now host to an information technology center, collection room, multimedia gallery, auditorium, multifunctional activity space, courtyard and restaurant. The historic main building, built in 1926, is registered as a local cultural asset.

Teng, a Hakka born in the township, was not a professional photographer but ran a photographic supply store. His prolific catalogue stands out from contempararies of his generation for its realistic depiction of Taiwan society, making him an influential pioneer.

Most of Teng’s work documented the many facets of Hsinchu as it changed from an agrarian society into an industrial and urbanized one in the early years of Taiwan’s economic development. For this reason, his pictures also provide a valuable record of the changing times.

Teng’s fascination with photography began in 1929 when he studied at Japan’s Hosei University and joined a photographic club. The money he spent on his first Leica A camera would have been enough to buy a house in Taipei at the time, and he slept next to his camera for the first four years he owned it for fear it could be stolen.

Eighteen years fter returning to Taiwan, Teng and like-minded amateur photographers established Taiwan Phtographic Society in 1953. They sought to promote realistic depiction of Taiwan life through the lens as championed by German master Paul Wolf and Japanese realist Kimura Ihei.

One of the photographer’s guiding principles was the artist must have affection for the people in the picture. Over the years, Teng took about 8,000 pictures in a career that spanned 40 years, traveling around Taiwan and taking portraits and pictures of landscapes, events and still lifes. He died of a heart attack in 1971.

The memorial hall served as the residence of Teng and his family before becoming a medical clinic. It was later donated by Teng’s descendants for the establishment of the museum. As well as the thousands of photographs, visitors can see the old medical equipment and facilities.

“The museum can become a driver of the local cultural and creative industry in the future,” curator Huang Tsuei-wen said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221724&CtNode=413)