To spotlight seventy-plus award-winning festive prints from competitions held by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMOFA), the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NMRK) in Astana will host a special exhibition from Aug. 22 through Sept. 23.
Under the banner "Eastern Calendar — Print Art from Taiwan," the museum will illustrate the significance and meaning of folk mascots and the zodiac animals associated with a twelve-year cycle in traditional Chinese culture, and showcase auspicious symbols such as coins, peaches, and pineapples.
Such festive prints are traditionally pasted on one's front door to keep evil spirits away and safeguard the household. These prints also present Taiwan's folk culture and the ingenuity of Taiwanese artists, making them a good medium for introducing the artistic achievements of Taiwan to the Kazakh public.
Built in July 2014, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana is known as the largest and newest museum in Central Asia, with a total of 74,000 square miles accommodating 7 sections and nine floors.
During the opening ceremony on Aug. 22, NMRK Deputy Director Satubaldin Abay noted that through the presentation of festive zodiac animals, the featured prints not only embody the unique elements of Taiwanese aesthetics and creativity, but also symbolize good wishes for the new year.
Nicholas Hsu (許德明), cultural director at the Taipei-Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission, stated that the NTMOFA's annual print competition receives over 300 entries from competitors aged from 8 to 70, yet only 6 receive awards each year.
As a gesture of friendship and good will, NTMOFA will donate 24 prints from the Years of the Horse, Sheep, and Dog to the NMRK's permanent collection after the exhibition to mark the inaugural collaboration between the two museums, added Hsu.
‘Eastern Calendar — Print Art from Taiwan’