TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In our current era of screen addiction, you may be thinking, "Who reads anymore?" Yet literature continues to play a major role in our perceptions of the world, with stories continuing to entertain, educate, and amaze audiences. As the Lunar New Year comes to a close, book-lovers may want to visit the National Museum of Taiwan Literature in Tainan, which is now holding several exhibitions that allow visitors to slow down and explore new ways of seeing Taiwan.
Running until March 8, "LOVE LOVES TO LOVE IRELAND: Extremely Distant and Incredibly Close" presents Irish literature and the forces that helped shape its literary identity: colonial resistance, the struggle for cultural identity, and the slow fading away of Ireland's native languages. The exhibition explains how language became a symbol of nationalism, and how Irish writers sought to write uniquely Irish stories, even when writing in English. Despite being located at opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, both Ireland and Taiwan face similar historical currents, and the exhibition seeks to bridge the literary experiences of the two islands despite the great distance between them.
The museum is also presenting an exhibition about the culture surrounding examinations, which have historically been of great significance in Taiwanese culture. "The Path of Learning: Days of Studying, Testing, and Camaraderie", which runs until June 7, takes visitors through the lives of the literati from the late-Qing dynasty to the early post-war years. The artifacts on display, which include documents and historical stationery, illustrate the rigorous preparation for examinations, the support provided by loved ones, and the creative exchanges of literary societies.
Another exhibition, "Leisurely Literature—An Exhibition on Travel Literature", introduces viewers to the world of travel literature. Travelling is more than just moving from Point A to Point B – it can also be a life-changing act. Before travelling became widely accessible and shared across social media, travel literature was a way for many to see the world and embark on journeys with writers. The exhibition, held until Sept. 13, explores the themes found in travel literature and how travel writers expanded the horizons of those within Taiwan.