History retold in NPM exhibition in Prague

Prague, Sept. 12 (CNA) An exhibition in Prague featuring collections from Taiwan's National Palace Museum (NPM) aims to engage European audiences by presenting history in a more accessible way, the museum said.

Unlike many of its previous exhibitions, the ongoing show in the Czech capital, titled "100 Treasures, 100 Stories: Treasures from the National Palace Museum," emphasizes the connection between relics and ordinary people, NPM Director Hsiao Tsung-huang (蕭宗煌) told a news conference in Prague on Friday.

Organized around 10 thematic topics, the exhibition showcases primarily collections of Chinese emperors.

"The NPM exhibitions used to be curated according to chronological order or dynasty, which made people feel they offered little new insight into items they had seen before," Hsiao told reporters.

"By adjusting the narrative and the way we curate, we can bring these precious exhibits closer to our time," he said.

Among the 131 artifacts on display is Jadeite Cabbage with Insects, the museum's most popular relic, which is often compared to the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris. It is making its European debut in Prague.

At the exhibition, the carving of a jade cabbage head with a grasshopper and locust is presented against a scroll painting of a woman's face, alluding to the relic's rumored history as the dowry of one of Emperor Guangxu's concubines. The insects are symbols expressing wishes for many offspring.

The exhibition also highlights East-West encounters by displaying portraits of three Qing Dynasty emperors -- Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong -- at the entrance, paired with three portraits of Western figures.

Michal Lukeš, director-general of the National Museum of the Czech Republic, said the Czech museum is promoting the exhibition across Europe, hoping to attract visitors interested in Chinese culture.

It is held at the Historical Building of the National Museum and runs through Dec. 31.