From July 1 to Sep. 30, a special exhibition “First Wave: Contemporary Australian and Taiwanese Indigenous Fashion Exhibition (第一浪潮：當代澳洲與臺灣原住民時裝藝術展)” is held at the Museum of Archaeology of Tainan Branch of National Museum of Prehistory.
According to NMP, the "First Wave: Contemporary Australian and Taiwanese Indigenous Fashion Exhibition" showcases the ways in which the First Nation/Indigenous Peoples of Australia and Taiwan, who share a history of colonial experiences, advocate for their own definitions of style through fashion design. The exhibition undertakes a profound reflection on mainstream culture and the fashion industry as the artists continue to connect the land, ethnic groups, and their contemporary identities. This is not the splash of fashion trends, but a movement that exists as an undercurrent that continuously recognizes Indigenous Peoples.
Two areas in the main exhibition space, Piinpi from Australia and Taiwan, bring together more than a hundred works that tell the stories of changes in the Australian landscape across time and space, as well as the transcultural layering and interactions in Taiwan’s island identity and ethnic boundaries. The exquisite fashions in the exhibition showcase the sustainability and artistry of Indigenous fashions in Taiwan and Australia in celebration of this timeless fashion season.
The Taiwan exhibition area is based on the concept of seasons as understood by the Atayal people of the Da-an River Area of central Taiwan, which reflects a profound understanding of the intimacy between human activities and the natural environment. A total of 23 designers participated in the exhibition with works ranging from textile, prints, couture to ethnic dress, as well as the continuation and development of materials, crafts, and techniques.
For more information, please visit NMP’s official website or Facebook page.