Wan feng liu zhuan shi: ying xiang ling guang yu wen xue de kua yu yue du = A gentle breeze : aura and inspiration in photography and literature

Abstract

"Photography records history and preserves the images of society, including the many looks of Taiwanese women. Curator Tsai Wen-Hsiang is invited to curate this exhibition based on the collections of the National Center of Photography and Images. The focus of this exhibition is images of women from the Japanese Colonial Period to the 1960s, covering Taiwan's journey to modernization from Japanese colonial rule to the embrace of western culture. This exhibition covers multiple and varied changes in society, culture, daily life, fashion, and aesthetics during Taiwan's progress into 'the modern times.' More than three hundred precious old photos are displayed at this exhibition. There are image files that have not been previously displayed in public. The curator also carefully selected paintings from the same period to be exhibited alongside the displayed images. Literary writers are invited to present their interpretation of selected images in words. The figures and postures, the costumes and makeup, the daily and recreational and cultural activities of women captured by photographers over the years not only showcase innovations and developments in photographic techniques and perspectives, and viewpoints, but also highlight the independence and confidence of women who challenged convention and tradition in changing times. This exhibition includes four main sections. The first section 'The Shimmer of Tranquillity' features pictures taken in Taiwanese photo studios during the Japanese Colonial Period. There are individual portraits of Taiwanese women and pictures taken with friends and family. The different expressions of the female characters, whether bright or vibrant, innocent or reserved, reflect the temperament and personality of the land and the people. It was the starting point of photography in Taiwan. Local photographers explored and recorded their artistic perception through their camera lens. 'The Patrol of the Modernity' presents street photography and outdoor photo shoots. These are pictures of New Women, who received modern education. The photos were taken between 1920 and 1945. It was also the time when new ideas and thinking from western worlds were introduced into Taiwan, which inspired women to confidently present their beauty in every aspect of life. 'The Iteration of Gazing' describes the aesthetics of images from 1945 to 1960 in post-war Taiwan, when photography became more widespread and popular. Senior photographers came out of their studios and took photographs of women outdoors and on the streets using varied techniques and approaches. Lastly, the section 'Between Light and Rhyme' selected a number of images from the exhibits and invited literary writers to re-interpret the vitality and life of female figures, the expectations, and visions of these women. The narrative structure of the written pieces, whether direct or indirect, visual or sentimental, create infinite possibilities for new connections between photographic images and history, culture, memories, and impressions of a given period in time. Besides presenting how photographers portray and perceive women, this exhibition is also about the connection and dialogue between these female images at different points in time and history. The resonance and interchange between photography, literature, and fine arts offer unique and fresh points of view for us to observe Taiwan's cultural and social progress over time."-- Director's foreword (page 7).