TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The National Palace Museum in Taipei (故宮北院) reopened its second exhibition hall on Friday (June 13) after two years of renovations, unveiling the international exhibition "From Impressionism to Early Modernism: French Masterpieces from the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art" (美國大都會博物館名作展). The exhibition features 81 masterpieces, marking the Metropolitan Museum's debut in Taiwan.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) highlighted the two-year collaboration between the two major museums and encouraged the public to visit, assuring that the exhibition is worth every penny. He expressed gratitude to the Metropolitan Museum and the National Palace Museum teams, referring to Lesley Wei-chung Ma (馬唯中), daughter of former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), as "Taiwan's daughter" during his remarks.
The opening press conference saw notable attendees, including Raymond F. Greene (谷立言), director of the American Institute in Taiwan, and Quincy Houghton, deputy director for exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum. Greene noted the exhibition as a testament to the enduring friendship between the two museums, collaborating again after over 60 years, offering Taiwanese audiences a taste of New York's art scene.
The exhibition spans five sections from Saturday through Oct. 12, showcasing 19th- to 20th-century French art, including works from the Robert Ryman family collection. The National Palace Museum emphasized this exhibition as a new chapter, reflecting President Lai's vision to rejuvenate the museum and elevate it to global prominence.