Exhibition spotlights 20th century life in Taiwan

2016/01/15

An exhibition documenting the lives of ROC nationals in Taiwan during the 20th century opened Jan. 13 at National Museum of Taiwan History in Tainan City.

Running until Oct. 23, Exhibition of Donated Collection features more than 400 items from the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945) and after World War II gifted by 300 patrons. These include books, cameras, diaries, dresses, industrial equipment, maps, photos, ritual utensils, scripts, toys and videos.

NMTH Director Lu Li-cheng said the event represents five years of public donations and is testament to the joys and trial and tribulations of everyday people during a period of great change.

“In addition to representing the nation’s collective memory,” Lu said, “the exhibition underscores the value of working with local communities in preserving cultural and historic heritage.”

One highlight is an assortment of equipment owned by late photographer Huang Tse-hsiu. Staging his first solo show at Rosemary Photo Gallery in Taipei City 54 years ago, Huang quickly developed a national following for his socially aware works. Later experimentation with color lithography printing further bolstered his standing in the creative world.

“For those eager to learn more about the history of photography in Taiwan, there is a special area displaying related materials and documenting the industry’s development,” Lu said.

Of equal interest is a dress for “Swan Lake” worn by Japanese-born and ROC-naturalized dancer Li Hui-mei. Since first taking to the stage at Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Girls’ Senior High School in 1960, Li devoted herself to promoting various genres like ballet, folk and modern dance around the nation.

“Li is passionate about the art form and sharing her wealth of experience and knowledge with younger generations,” Lu said. “Such an opportunity to understand more about this important part of the performing arts is not to be missed.”

Founded in 2000, NMTH boasts nearly 20,000 donated items making up 23 percent of its total collections. The museum is considered a landmark institution on the southern Taiwan cultural scene.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=241257&ctNode=2194&mp=9)