Taichung gears up for special NTMFA exhibition

2015/12/15

A special exhibition marking the opening of the new treasure repository at National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts is set to kick off Dec. 15 in Taichung City.

Featuring around 120 Eastern gouache, installation, ink, oil and watercolors, as well as photographic and print pieces, “An Exhibition of Collection Conservation—Decoding the Treasure Trove” offers visitors a unique opportunity to peruse some of NTMFA’s rarer items. It also sheds light on the demanding process of artwork repair via a maintenance display and interactive painting exhibit.

Museum Director Hsiao Tsung-huang said Dec.13 at a promotional event that the exhibition introduces the latest technology employed in preserving the facility’s valuable pieces. “By opening part of the largest and most advanced storage room in Taiwan to the public, we hope to foster a greater appreciation for our facility’s extensive collection of artworks.”

Costing NT$602 million (US$18 million) and taking 12 years to construct, the 11,187-square-meter vault on the two basement floors of the museum features oak and spruce flooring to ensure a climate-controlled environment. Argon fire-suppression and radio-frequency identification technology systems help take safety and security levels to new heights.

One exhibition highlight is “Garden,” an oil painting of a flower blossom by Liao Chi-chun. The work incorporates an array of colors and simple lines to create a memorable piece that will live on the memories of visitors for some time to come.

An equally eye-catching piece is the installation “Dream of the Past Eva II” by Wu Tien-chang. The modern montage style with retro echoes captures the reality of a pretentious model in gaudy costume. This demonstrates Wu’s concerns about the dangers of decadent lifestyles flying the face of conservative local values.

Similarly praiseworthy is the digital version of Eastern gouache “Lotus Pond” by Lin Yu-shan. The work was designated a national treasure by the Ministry of Culture in May and is the first 20th-century modern painting afforded such an honor.

Visitors can experience the piece’s vivid floating lotus leaves and blooming flowers through an interactive device, immersing themselves in its resplendent beauty and the ethereal feeling of the artwork.

Running through March 13 next year, the event is proving popular with NTMFA capping the number of exhibition-goers at 160 per day. This is to maintain security and guarantee visitors enjoy a high-quality artistic and educational experience.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240128&ctNode=2194&mp=9)