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A Centenary Dialog-When Transnational Migrants and Museum Collections Cross Paths

  • Date:2022-09-27
A Centenary Dialog-When Transnational Migrants and Museum Collections Cross Paths

Focusing on beliefs, arts and local customs of Southeast Asia, a special exhibition titled "A Centenary Dialog-When Transnational Migrants and Museum Collections Cross Paths (百年對話:跨國移動者與藏品的相遇特展)" will be held at the National Taiwan Museum (NTM) until June 18, 2023.

Under the theme of "Collections Make Connections (藏品和社群連結)," the exhibition will feature more than 60 collections of different artifacts and cultural relics from Southeast Asia. There will also be exhibits from Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia that have been provided by private collectors and institutions.

Another highlight of the exhibition will be a statue of Bali's own mythical creature Barong. Created by Bali artist I Made Muji in 2014, the statue was donated to the NTM by the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei in 2019. The Indonesian Office hoped that through NTM's expertise in collection and display, the work can be protected, thereby promoting Indonesian culture. Barong is not only a significant cultural symbol in Bali, but also the leading role in Bali's traditional dance performances and legendary stories.

Under the Ministry of Culture’s concept of building a national brand, the exhibition hopes to bring new perspectives and rediscoveries about the museum, Taiwan and Southeast Asia to the public. The audience will learn about the diverse culture that is brought by international migrant workers. It echoes the theme of this year's International Museum Day "The Power of Museums (博物館的力量)," demonstrating the power of the museum to combine local and Southeast Asia communities to promote the realization of cultural equality.

In addition, NTM will also hold a series of promotion activities such as lectures, guided tours, workshops, and more, as well as invite experts and scholars to share the stories of collections and other aspects of communities of Southeast Asian migrant workers living in Taiwan. For more information, please visit NTM's official website.