The exhibition ‘Open the Collection: Taiwan in Photographic Albums during the Japanese Occupation Period’ at the Taipei Branch of the National Center for Photography and Images presents the abundant products, local customs, and people’s livelihood in Taiwan in the early 20th century that represent Taiwan’s imagery. These vivid photos remind us of the social situation and lifestyle of Taiwan in the past.
Can you imagine what was sold at fruit stalls in Taiwan a hundred years ago? How was vaccination and city-wide disinfection and cleaning carried out? What did the first Japanese crown prince to visit Taiwan see? In the exhibition ‘Open the Collection: Taiwan in Photographic Albums during the Japanese Occupation Period’ at the Taipei Branch of the National Center for Photography and Images, we can see the abundant products, local customs, and people’s livelihood in Taiwan in the early 20th century that represent Taiwan’s imagery. These vivid photos also remind us of the social situation and lifestyle of Taiwan in the past. The exhibition ‘Open the Collection: Taiwan in Photographic Albums during the Japanese Occupation Period’ will open the exhibition room on the third floor on September 5. It includes ‘General Situation of Cholera Epidemic in Taipei Prefecture in the Eighth Year of Taisho’, which presents the epidemic prevention situation of cholera in 1919, reminding us who have just experienced the COVID-19 epidemic of the lessons and contrasts of history. Another work, ‘Photographic Album in Commemoration of the Imperial Visit’, is a record of the inspection trip of the crown prince Hirohito of Japan at that time in Taiwan for 12 days in 1923. This imperial visit event can be said to be the first political show in Taiwan in the 20th century. In the exhibition, we can see some ‘commemorative items of the imperial visit’ left by the crown prince Hirohito during his visit to Taiwan, as well as many historical scenes that no longer exist, allowing the audience to experience the time and situation at that time. In addition, ‘Taiwan Photographic Newsletter’ published in the 1930s is like a broad and rich ‘Guide to Scenic Spots in the South’. This exhibition selects characteristic photos from it to reproduce the beautiful scenic spots, characteristic products, and cultural reports in Taiwan a hundred years ago, allowing us to recognize the Eight Views of Taiwan that are still beautiful despite the changes of time and space. This exhibition is the first time that the National Center for Photography and Images takes the photographic albums from the Japanese occupation period in its collection as the core. Through rich and detailed introductions, it provides the audience with an open-book experience of entering the image details and historical allusions of the photos. These rich interpretation contents are the results of the continuous cooperation between the National Center for Photography and Images and experts and scholars since 2020. They conduct textual research, study, and interpretation on the photo contents and gradually transform the results into online open resources on the official website to share with the public. ‘Open the Collection’ will continue to exhibit the contents in the exhibition room on the second floor on National Day on October 10. During the exhibition period, diverse educational promotion activities will be held. People and workers who love historical and cultural contents and are engaged in education are welcome to come to the Taipei Branch of the National Center for Photography and Images to see photos, feel the memories of time and the stories in them.The exhibition is open from 09/05 to 01/05. Performance times and durations are subject to the on-site schedule.
