British Treasures at the National Palace Museum
The opening of the “Treasures of the World’s Cultures: The British Museum after 250 Years” took place on February 3. Vice President Annette Lu, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, and British Museum Deputy Director Andrew Burnett attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mayor Hau noted that the exhibition transcended time, space, culture, and national boundaries. The contents of the exhibition demonstrated the close relationship between civilizations and river valleys. Noting Taipei’s closeness to the nearby waterways, Hau explained that this is why he proposed the clean up of Tamsui River and the revitalization of the old communities along its shores. Hau remarked that the exhibition consisted of 271 artifacts, chosen from the museum’s collection of 7 million pieces. These works were collected from major civilizations across five continents. He also pointed out that sponsorship from the private sector played a key role in making this exhibition possible. Deputy Director Burnett noted that the 250-year-old British Museum was established for researching and preserving ancient civilizations. At the same time, its numerous exhibitions are to allow visitors to learn more about these cultures. He hopes that the current exchange will open more doors for future cooperation. National Palace Museum Director Lin Mun-lee remarked that the British Museum is the treasury of Western civilization, while the National Palace Museum is one of the top museums in Asia. The cooperation between the two is a momentous event, which brings together the best of both Eastern and Western civilizations. She expressed her gratitude to many organizations for their contributions, which allowed free admissions for students. The “Treasures of the World’s Cultures: The British Museum after 250 Years” Exhibition is open to the public from February 4 until May 27.