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The National Museum of History celebrates its 65th anniversary

  • Date:2020-12-04
The National Museum of History celebrates its 65th anniversary

The National Museum of History (NMH) on Dec. 4 organized an event celebrating its 65th anniversary. To express its gratitude towards the support of the public, the museum presented books, documentaries and online exhibitions, including "Dictionary of Taiwanese Art History (臺灣藝術史辭典1.0)," "The NMH and the São Paulo Biennial: Selected Archives (拓開國際:國立歷史博物館與巴西聖保羅雙年展檔案彙編I (1956-1961))," the comic book "Crazy Museum (酷獸奇航-追尋之旅)," the documentary "Huang Kuan-nan Oral History (南海拾真-黃光男館長口述歷史影像紀錄)," and the book "A Forty Year Legacy: Huang Yung-Chuan and the National Museum of History (1970-2010)(承先啟後四十年-黃永川與國立歷史博物館)."

Speaking at the anniversary celebration, Deputy Minister of Culture Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) pointed out that museums are important venues for the preservation of history, culture and memory. During the time when the museum was closed for renovation, NMH made an inventory of its collection and planned for the transition towards a knowledge-based management. He affirmed the spirit of the museum, reflected in its "unceasing work in spite of temporary closure, and consistent services at all time," and expressed his gratitude towards the dedicated museum staff.

He added, "While 65 is the age of retirement as reckoned by the public, NMH is preparing for a grand transition, presenting a museum that is refurbished and timeless. The museum will showcase the accomplishments during its temporary closure when it reopens." Saying that "one comes to know Taiwan's history through NMH," Legislator Huang Kuo-shu (黃國書) commended the museum for its role in reconstructing Taiwan’s art history and serving as a window into Taiwanese culture.

Museum Director Liao Hsin-tien (廖新田) pointed out that the "Dictionary of Taiwanese Art History (臺灣藝術史辭典1.0)" reflects the collective effort of intellectuals, predecessors, scholars and experts towards contemporary Taiwanese art history in the present, "The NMH and the São Paulo Biennial: Selected Archives (拓開國際:國立歷史博物館與巴西聖保羅雙年展檔案彙編I(1956-1961))" recalls NMH's participation at the Sao Paul Art Biennial in the past, and the comic book "Crazy Museum" welcomes the trend of the future where cultural creativity translates into art.

To show gratitude towards two former NMH directors, Huang Kuan-nan (黃光男) and Huang Yong-chuan (黃永川), NMH released the documentary "Huang Kuan-nan Oral History" and the book "A Forty Year Legacy: Huang Yung-Chuan and the National Museum of History (1970-2010)." 

At the anniversary celebration, Liu Bin-bin (劉彬彬), chairman of the Liu Yian-tao Foundation (劉延濤文教基金會) presented the prizes to winners of the "Liu Yian-tao Award for Ink wash painting and Calligraphy."

NHM also displayed three works by Chang Dai-Chien (張大千), Liao Chi-chun (廖繼春) and other related art pieces that underwent restoration, to reflect NHM's restoration efforts.

In addition, NMH launched "Traces of Brush and Ink (筆痕墨跡)," "Double Happiness – Cultural and Creative Exhibition (史博有囍─喜字喜事館藏線上展)" as well as three books: "A Proceeding of the Conference of Writing Taiwanese Art History (臺灣藝術史的書寫-重建臺灣藝術史學術演講系列實錄)," a biographical compilation of renowned modern painter Huang Ko-chuan (黃歌川) and a biographical compilation of prominent ink and watercolor painter Hsiao Jen-cheng (蕭仁徵), attesting to the effort that went into reconstructing Taiwan's art history.