NPM head says treasured works curated to resonate with Czech audiences

Taipei, Sept. 1 (CNA) National Palace Museum (NPM) Director Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) said Monday that the museum's treasured works, including the famous "Jadeite Cabbage with Insects," will be curated to resonate with Czech audiences at an upcoming exhibition in Prague.

The NPM exhibition "100 Treasures, 100 Stories: Treasures from the National Palace Museum" will run from Sept. 11 to Dec. 31 at the National Museum in Prague.

According to the NPM, the artifacts to be exhibited have all arrived in the Czech Republic.

They include the jadeite cabbage, one of the museum's most popular items. Hsiao recalled visitors once asking for a refund after not being able to see it on display at the NPM.

He believes the priceless piece of jadeite will also be well received by the Czech public, who may relate to it through their national dish, sauerkraut, which is made from shredded and fermented cabbage.

Previously, the jadeite cabbage was displayed in Japan for only two weeks, but this time it will be exhibited in the European nation for three months, the NPM director said.

Besides the jadeite cabbage, Hsiao believes that the Czech people might feel a connection to the painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival," which will also go on display.

The famous 11th-12th century handscroll painting depicts commercial activity and people from all walks of life in the capital of China's Northern Song dynasty.

When Deputy NPM Director Yu Pei-chin (余佩瑾) recently visited Prague for research, she saw artists painting portraits on Charles Bridge, which reminded her of the Song dynasty art piece and its depictions of everyday life, Hsiao said.

He explained that selecting artifacts with culturally relatable themes helps make art and culture easier for the public to understand.

Compared with previous NPM overseas exhibitions, Hsiao said the Czech Republic exhibition takes a more people-centered approach, focusing on everyday life.

This has been the direction the museum has been exploring ahead of its centennial celebration, allowing the stories of the artifacts to convey history and context on their own, he added.