英文內容大要:
Taiwanese painter Chen Cheng-po, active during the Japanese Period, devoted the prime of his life to exploring every corner of Taiwan, seeking out its beauty and expressing it in his paintings.
He might have used the Taiwanese phrase "tsáu-tshuē" to describe his state of mind. "Tsáu" means to move, to explore one's surroundings, while "tshuē" means to search. To truly "seek," one cannot simply sit still and daydream; like a naturalist, one must actively venture out, using keen observation to look for clues and gradually uncover hidden mysteries.
Through eight of Chen Cheng-po's paintings, along with a work that deeply inspired him— Shiotsuki Toho's Kuroshio —this exhibition invites you to seek out the nature of Taiwan, our shared dwelling place.
作者介紹
作者簡介
National Taiwan Museum
The National Taiwan Museum was originally established in 1908 to commemorate the opening of the north-south railway in Taiwan and began with over 10,000 items related to Taiwan's academia, art, and industry. A Newer building was later built to house the collection in 1915. After the ROC took over Taiwan, it was known as the Taiwan Provincial Museum until 1999 when it changed its name to the National Taiwan Museum. It is the only museum established during the Japanese era that still stands today. The museum also underwent renovations in 2017.
The museum has four areas: the main National Taiwan Museum (which is the focus of this blog), the Land Bank Exhibition Hall, Nanmen Park, and Railway Department Park. In the future, the Monopoly Bureau and the Mitsui Bussan Company Building will be added.
目錄
Joy of Exploring the Nature
Long Long Time Ago
Taiwan: The Convergence of Three Axes
Arriving on an Island
Moments Worth Depicting
An Encounter of the Tropic of Cancer and the Monsoon
The Monsoon that Brushes Over Lofty Peaks
Lands Nourished by the Monsoon
The Kuroshio Current: Partnering with the Monsoon to Sustain Taiwan
Since its founding in 1908, the National Taiwan Museum (NTM) has experienced the societal transformations of different national eras and has been entrusted with evolving expectations regarding museums, cultural knowledge, and engagement with contemporary discourse. In response, NTM has pursued social dialogue and practice through exhibitions, forums, and interdisciplinary collaborations, actively addressing the challenges faced by museums today. NTM remains dedicated to fostering connections and dialogue with Taiwan, caring for the stories of this island and its inhabitants. By drawing from the island's diverse communities, issues, and artifacts, the museum co-creates history and helps shape the contours of the island.
To mark the 130th anniversary of painter Chen Cheng-po's birth in 2025, the Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation and NTM are jointly presenting "Rediscovering Taiwan: Chen Cheng-po's 130th Anniversary Exhibition”. This exhibition merges the perspective of an early intellectual and artist with NTM’s focus on natural history, highlighting Taiwan's rich cultural and natural heritage and offering a portrait of the island today and the sense of fulfillment it embodies.
The Taiwanese term "tsáu-tshuē", meaning "to seek" or "to pursue", reflects the spirit of this exhibition. Visitors are guided back to Chen Cheng-po's era to re-examine the interweaving of nature, culture, and history that has shaped Taiwan. Chen leads us on this journey of discovery, unveiling Taiwan’s beauty and inviting us to engage more deeply with the land and sense its enduring power. These expressions in Chen Cheng-po's paintings align with NTM’s tradition as a natural history museum, where naturalists have long chronicled the island’s essence through investigation and discovery.
Throughout the planning process, the curatorial team repeatedly asked: Where exactly is the land we call home, and what is its true appearance? "Rediscovering Taiwan" offers a response to this question. To explore this idea, the exhibition takes visitors on a visual and intellectual journey built around three key natural forces—the Tropic of Cancer, the monsoon, and the Kuroshio Current. Visitors are invited to examine how these natural forces have shaped Taiwan's ecological landscape and cultural history.
Taiwan's unique environment and ecology have captivated naturalists worldwide since the 19th century, drawing them to survey and explore the island. With towering mountain ranges formed by tectonic shifts, Taiwan lies at the intersection of tropical and subtropical zones, making it a hub of biodiversity and cultural convergence. The exhibition features eight original paintings by Chen Cheng-po, paired with natural specimens from NTM's collection, representing flora and fauna common in—and unique to—Taiwan. Taiwan’s distinct role in the natural world is highlighted through this exhibition of its biodiversity, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the interdependence between the environment and human life.
Chen Cheng-po's art serves as a painted record of Taiwan, preserving scenes of the land through emotive landscapes. His paintings reflect not only personal expression but also reverence and contemplation of nature. The exhibition would not have been possible without the generous support of institutions including the Tokyo University of the Arts Museum, the Hōfu City Government of Yamaguchi Prefecture, the Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum, Chiayi Fine Art Museum, and the Hualin Cultural and Educational Foundation in Taipei. This international collaboration reflects shared values and a collective recognition of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, encouraging appreciation for the invaluable artistic legacy left by our predecessors. We are also deeply grateful to Professor Hung Kuang-chi and his research team at National Taiwan University, as well as the Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation team. Their collaboration with NTM’s curatorial team has brought new perspectives to Taiwan’s natural and cultural landscape by fostering dialogue between Chen Cheng-po's art and the museum's focus on natural history.
This collaboration holds significant meaning. It reflects NTM's ongoing commitment to serving as a space for contemporary dialogue, experimentation, and practice. We hope that visitors will come to appreciate Taiwan not only as a land rich in biodiversity but also as fertile ground for intellectual and artistic growth. We invite you to experience the exhibition, discover new insights, and leave with a deeper emotional connection to this island. By rediscovering our dwelling place, we hope you will truly sense the beauty and depth of Taiwan.