*
Homepage

 

12/14 (Sun)

Closed Today

*
Taiwan in the Eyes of a Western Traveler--John Thomson’s Footprints in Formosa

Publication date: 2013
Author: Li Pin-huei |Staff member of the Archives of Institute of Taiwan History

John Thomson(1837-1921)is regarded as a pioneering photographer in the 19th century. He traveled to Far East, documenting the portraits, landscapes and eastern cultures profoundly through his lens and these photographs have become precious historical records. Although John Thomson only stayed in Taiwan for a few days, the images and notes he left are valuable historical materials for the research into Taiwan in the 1870s.His story could be comparable to Shen Bao-zhen, one of the figures in 「Traveling in Time」Exhibition. They were the travelers who came to Taiwan in the same time period. Through their stories, we can learn how they interpret Formosa in the 19th century.
*
South, Island, and Culture: The Movement of Archives" Exhibition Receives Enthusiastic Response; Extended Until March 31
2025-01-21

Since the opening of the exhibition "South, Island, and Culture: The Movement of Archives," it has received enthusiastic responses from the public. To allow more people to experience this exhibition in person, the exhibition period has been extended until March 31, 2025. We invite everyone to seize the opportunity to visit the museum and explore Taiwan's unique historical background and diverse cultures.

Titled "South, Island, and Culture," the exhibition draws inspiration from Taiwan's location surrounded by the sea, at the crossroads of East and West, and the connecting hub of the North and South. Situated in the subtropical climate zone, Taiwan has had extensive exchanges with tropical islands in terms of species, ecology, and local customs. This exhibition focuses on the multiple meanings of the South and tropical nature, and is divided into three main exhibition areas.

Highlights of the Exhibition

  • Journey across the Ocean
    Since the Dutch established the Fort Zeelandia in Tainan, people from various places came for different purposes, utilizing the geographical advantages of the southern islands to develop overseas interactions in various ways.
  • Grow on the Island
    Taiwan's unique geographic and climatic conditions, along with introduction of new crops and cultivation practices over time, have created a rich diversity of produce and tropical fruits on the island.
  • Art in the Southern Country
    As tropical and southern scenery became a daily sight, the imagery of the southern regions blended into paintings, and new forms emerged in music, fine arts, and literature.

Exhibition Information

  • Exhibition Venue: 2nd Floor, Library of Humanities and Social Sciences, Academia Sinica
  • Exhibition Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Exhibition Dates: Now until March 31, 2025 (closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays)


11F., South Wing, Building for Humanities and Social Sciences, 128, Sec. 2, Academia Rd., Nangang Dist., Taipei City 11529,
Taiwan Tel: +886-2-2652-5181 Fax: +886-2-2652-5184 【Contact us
Copyright © 2010 Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica. All Rights Reserved