The Taipei edition of an orchid exhibition organized by institutions in Taiwan and Japan opened July 14 at the National Museum of History, showcasing academic narratives on Taiwan orchids, the Ministry of Culture said.
Jointly organized by the NMH and the University Museum of the University of Tokyo, “Formosa Orchids Blossom” showcases over 200 items that span both the natural sciences and the arts. Highlights include works by pioneering botanical illustrator Wang Jen-li from Taiwan and contemporary Japanese artist Mutsuko Nakajima, as well as original pieces from UMUT’s collection by 19th- and 20th-century Japanese painters such as Kuwataro Watanabe and Toshio Yamada.
Also on display are orchid-themed art by modern painters such as Chang Dai-chien, Chen Chin, Pu Hsin-yu and Shiy De-jinn, the MOC said, adding that other exhibits include rare orchid specimens and glass plate negatives from Taiwan’s Japanese colonial period (1895-1945), along with modern decorative designs featuring orchid motifs. NMH will also host a series of events including lectures and guided tours for the exhibition running until Sept. 7, the ministry added.
According to the MOC, the event brought together key institutions in Taiwan that house important orchid-related collections, including Taipei-based National Taiwan University and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Taiwan Forestry Research Institute; National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts in the central city of Taichung; and Kaohsiung Museum of History in the southern metropolis of the same name.
Minister of Culture Li Yuan said during the opening ceremony that the exhibition uses orchids to explore cultural differences between Taiwan and Japan, while also demonstrating their long relationship.
The Taipei edition follows a February showing in Tokyo, the MOC said, adding that the exhibition is part of a 2024 academic exchange agreement between NMH and UMUT. (YCH-E)
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