Celebrating the launch of Preparatory Office of the Tainan National Museum of Modern Art, the exhibition “The Formosa Era: The Intellectual Enlightenment of Early Modern and Modern Art in Taiwan (福爾摩沙時代-台灣近現代美術的知識啟蒙)” was inaugurated on Mar. 23 at Building 2 of the Tainan Art Museum.
As the Preparatory Office’s pilot exhibition, it focuses on iconic artists born before 1895 through 1950 and highlights the works regarded as national treasure and significant antiques. By presenting rich cultural heritage and visual artistic essence across a century, the event unveils the overarching context that has shaped both intellectual enlightenment and the formation of subject identity.
The exhibition features over 200 exceptional works by more than a hundred artists born before 1950. Organized around eight subthemes, it explores issues such as the collective consciousness within paradigms, the discovery and naming of local identities, and the ebb and flow of old and new landscapes.
Curator Pai Shih-ming (白適銘) noted that the exhibition’s title draws inspiration from sculptor Huang Tu-shui (黃土水)’s century-old call in 1922 for a “Formosa Era”—a vision for a modern aesthetic unique to Taiwan.
Deputy Minister of Culture Sue Wang (王時思) expressed her gratitude to the exhibition organizers, emphasizing that this exhibition marks a pivotal starting point in establishing a new cultural milestone.
The exhibition runs until July 6. For more information, visit Tainan Art Museum official website.