Spinning the NPM's Treasure Chest, Shining at the Shanghai World Expo

Date Posted: 2010/06/01

The National Palace Museum crosses the boundaries that separate cities boundaries to present a treasure chest of Chinese art at the Taiwan Pavilion in this year's Shanghai World Expo. Using a digital showcase of a sky lantern screen, the National Palace Museum is presenting a film on cultural innovation entitled "Treasures of Chinese Art." By introducing the treasures of Chinese art and culture to people from around the world, and by sharing in a new pulse of life, the Taiwan Pavilion at the World Expo has become like the legendary pearl that shines at night.

The film "Treasures of Chinese Art" is divided into three acts. Act One is entitled "Treasures of the Sons of Heaven," which opens with a global view via "Map of the World" in the National Palace Museum collection, demonstrating the important role of the Museum in terms of Chinese heritage. Through the ultimate in skill perfected by craftsmen in transmitting the pursuit of beauty and refinement in life during ancient times, the viewer sees how the dragon as a motif was interwoven in the arts and crafts made for the imperial family. Act Two is "Through the Eyes of Culture," which uses important materials for artifacts, such as jade, metal, and ceramics, and introduces them chronologically in a round LED showcase. It thereby presents the path of Chinese cultural development progressing on the path from material culture to the pursuit of the high arts of painting and calligraphy. Act Three, "All the Beauty of the World," shows how the National Palace Museum has transformed artworks into rich content that can be understand by all. Using artworks as design elements, stories in art can be the spark for innovation in life. Finally, the end of the film is based on "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," the activities depicted therein being representative of society and expressing the vitality of city life. Thus, it clearly echoes the theme of the Shanghai World Expo, which is "Better City, Better Life."

Director Kung-shin Chou of the National Palace Museum said, "The collection of the National Palace Museum is superlative in terms of both quantity and quality. How to promote the value of the collection and make it come alive is something I've always wanted to promote as a goal--'Forming new vitality for the collection, creating new value for the NPM.' With this distinguished global gathering at the Shanghai World Expo, we can present the amazing strength of combining culture, innovation, and technology, thereby revealing the rich contents of Chinese art and culture. The end of our film especially presents the painting 'Along the River During the Qingming Festival,' allowing audiences to understand the atmosphere of city life in the Song dynasty and reflecting on life in their own time. This is what is called cultural heritage, and that's why we say that cultural heritage is continuous. And as for the slogan 'Better City, Better Life' emphasized at the World Expo, some proof for it can be found in this painting as well."

Audiences are welcome to visit the Taiwan Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo to enjoy this film, "Treasures of Chinese Art," which has been specially prepared by the National Palace Museum. The film runs from May 1 to October 31, 2010.


The outlook of the Taiwan Pavilion, 2010 Shanghai World Expo		The Director of the National Palace Museum, Dr. Kung-Shin Chou, participated in the opening ceremony of the Taiwan Pavilion.


Act One "Treasures of the Sons of Heaven" showcases the "Map of the World"		Act One "Treasures of the Sons of Heaven" showcases the "Painted enamelware vase with dragons"


Act Two "Through the Eyes of Culture" showcases the "Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains"		Act Three "All the Beauty of the World" showcases the "Lotuses in the Wind at Taiye"