The National Palace Museum (NPM) and Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) are collaborating to hold the digital exhibition Imaginary Taiwan—Evolving Taiwanese in Pingtung’s Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park starting from August 31, 2024. Taiwan’s multitude of peoples and cultures, as well as their historical traces, will be transformed into vibrant and fun interactive installations and videos through the power of digital technology. People of all ages are invited to come and find out “what defines a Taiwanese?”
HAC Minister Yiong Cong-ziin stated that this exhibition is themed “Imaginary Taiwan”, with an emphasis on “hybridity”. The goal is to present the ever-changing guise of Taiwan’s rich culture by exploring topics related to “ethnicity” and “culture”. Exhibited items will consist of a selection from the collections of NPM and prestigious museums and research institutes across Taiwan, attempting to paint a fascinating picture of the Liugdui Hakka settlements and their interactions with other ethnic groups. 32 spots were specially chosen from General Taiwan Map of Qianlong in NPM’s collection, combining digital technology and an observation interactive model to allow visitors to explore Liugdui’s ancient place names and appearance. Three adjacent temples in Laopi Village, Neipu, Pingtung—built by three different ethnic groups—reveal the historical coexistence and co-prosperity of Hokkien, Hakka, and indigenous peoples, while documentary videos of folk customs and arts serve to understand their respective legacies and contemporary practices in people’s daily lives. In the “Experience Modernity” exhibition area, visitors will travel through time thanks to numerous familiar songs, which will make evident the historical meaning and hybridity of music from Taiwan’s different eras and ethnic groups.
Ho Chin-liang, director of the Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center, emphasized that the exhibition will apply multimedia techniques to deliver a 360° panoramic aerial image of Hsiao's Historic House in Jiadong Township. In the front and back interactive areas, one will be able to find traditional delicacies of Hakka, indigenous peoples, and new immigrants, as well as Taiwanese staple dishes, with a mobile stage available for taking pictures and checking in on social media. Finally, at the exhibition entrance, a time-lapse video will showcase the vitality of Liugdui’s multiethnic residents in their daily lives. Make sure you don’t miss this exhilarating experience. For more information on the event, please visit the Liugdui Hakka Cultural Park fanpage.
