Category Archives: Showcase

Nature and Human in Unison, the Smart Carvings of Jade and Beautiful Stones, Taiwan National Palace Museum

Pursuing optimal equilibrium and harmony between human and nature has always been a key concept in Chinese aesthetics. When it is embodied in the art of jade carving, fitting the design to the material and its inherent property is the guiding principle. In short, the principle means that the natural…

Uncanny Ingenuity and Celestial Feats, The Carving of Ming and Qing Dynasties, Taiwan National Palace Museum

Carving is one of the oldest crafts developed by mankind. Archaeological excavations and literature sources show that early primitive societies had already learned to make utilitarian or decorative objects out of materials readily available in nature, such as jade, stone, bamboo, wood, ivory, horn, and bone. Different materials, comprised of…

Sharing Treasures, A Special Exhibition of Antiquities Donated Collection, Taiwan National Palace Museum

Collecting and preserving cultural relics is one of the main tasks for a museum institution. In addition to inheriting the Qing imperial collection, the National Palace Museum acquires cultural articles by two other means—purchase and donation—to enrich its collections. Among various types of acquisition, acceptance of donations is one of…

Evolution of Life: From the Earth’s Origin through Human Existence, Japan National Museum of Nature and Science

Since their beginnings some four billion years ago, life forms have become increasingly diverse due to the ongoing process of environmental adaptation. Evolution involves an endless cycle of emergence and extinction of different species. Human beings, part of the mammal group which flourished following the demise of the dinosaurs, have…

Science and Technology in the Edo Period, Japan National Museum of Nature and Science

As civilization has evolved, curiosity has taken the form of a meticulous pursuit of knowledge. For instance, rough stone tools eventually were developed into precision machinery. The rapid progress of science has made our lives more convenient and comfortable; simultaneously creating new problems such as air and water pollution. This…

Authority and Anxiety, Between Declarations and Dreams, Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century, National Gallery Singapore

Authority and Anxiety (19th to early 20th century): The section examines the birth of modern art in Southeast Asia in the significant social changes of the 19th century. Greater cultural contact with the West, often through the colonial experience, influenced the kind of art produced. Local elites used art to…