The museum preserves historical memories and tells the story of human civilization and mental activities. It presents art and while also representing life. In May, the independent international news media "Global People Daily News" has launched its monthly online program "Living in Art." We invited diverse professionals, including tour guides, artists, gallery experts, and art educators, to share their unique viewpoints on the significance of museums and their interpretations of artworks. We welcome you to participate in this feast of art, history, culture, and society.
If you have the opportunity to visit Taiwan, the National Palace Museum in the outskirts of Taipei is a must-see. The museum exhibits an amazing collection of nearly 700,000 Chinese artifacts and masterpieces from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty. In the program, Korean tour guide Jenny Zhao briefly described the museum's challenging history and introduced two popular treasures: the Meat-Shaped Stone, known as Dongpo Pork, and the Ivory Ball. These two treasures fully demonstrate current artisans’ inventive craftsmanship and exquisite workmanship.
Tour Guide James Chang also introduced the museum's most prized possession, the Jadeite Cabbage. It was a dowry presented by Lady Jin to Qing dynasty Emperor Guangxu. The cabbage symbolizes purity, as does a newlywed bride. The locust on the cabbage leaves represents their desire for a harmonious marriage, and the praying mantis depicts Lady Jin's wishes for a fruitful and prosperous family life. According to James Chang, this artwork shows a woman's dream and her beautiful marital hopes.
Miguel Ángel, a Mexican visual artist, is the deputy director of the Museum of the Historical and Artistic Collection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico. He mentioned that the museum is renowned for its participation in the National Tax Authority's “Payment-in-Kind” program. Artists can use this service to pay their income taxes from art sales using their own artworks. In some ways, this program enriches the museum's collection.
Miguel Ángel also shared the current exhibition in the program "The Pleasures of Everyday Life." This exhibition not only shows the artist's insights and keen observations of daily life but also allows the viewers to experience the ordinary yet great joys via their artwork. It helps people realize that art is all around us.
Artists are undoubtedly the soul of museums. By studying an artist's creative process, we can gain a deeper understanding of artworks. The saying "You can't see new scenery by walking old paths" struck a chord with painter Sha Ching-Hwa. He described several ways to appreciate art and presented a massive picture he had worked on for over two years. This artwork incorporates industrial elements, symbolizing multiple meanings of ink painting as it enters the contemporary realm. It also embodies his 40 years of work and thoughts, with the goal of eliciting emotional exchange and resonance among viewers.
On the other hand, Li Mingqing, an artist who accepts custom painting requests, shared his floral paintings. Bringing the intention of painting with the needs of customers as the starting point, he enjoys the whole painting process happily.
Yang Heichen, an artist, has a special appreciation for museums’ educating role. While pursuing her Master's degree in Art in France, she greatly admired how the Louvre serves as a cultural venue for outdoor teaching among its citizens. Art penetrates everyday life, and artistic culture is naturally elevated. In the end, she advises the viewers to adopt different viewpoints and contemplate their surroundings with various mindsets on a regular basis. In doing so, people will realize that beauty may be found in everyday life.