The "Centennial Dialogue: Encounters Between Transnational Migrants and the Collections of the National Taiwan Museum" traveling exhibition, co-hosted by the Taoyuan City Library and the National Taiwan Museum, opened at the Taoyuan City Library Main Branch. The exhibition will run until March 9, 2025, and is located on the 1st floor of the main branch, showcasing multicultural exchanges through artifacts from transnational migrants.
The opening ceremony was held in the morning, with distinguished guests in attendance, including Director-General of the Education Bureau Liu Zhong-cheng, Director of the National Taiwan Museum Hung Shih-yu, Director of the Immigration Office Taoyuan Service Station Huang Ying-kuei, Deputy Representative of the Thailand Trade and Economic Office Marut, Prince Sundajo of the Surakarta Palace in Indonesia, and Chairman Lin Zhi-ming of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. New resident groups performed traditional dances from Kalimantan, Indonesia, and the Vietnamese conical hat dance, highlighting the cultural diversity of Southeast Asia. In addition, Balinese woodcarving artist Made performed a traditional Balinese blessing ceremony, adding a solemn atmosphere to the exhibition.
The exhibition focuses on displaying precious artifacts from Taiwan and the home countries of new residents, presenting the life stories of transnational migrants and promoting cultural understanding and exchange. The city government noted that Taoyuan is the largest gathering place for migrant workers and immigrants in Taiwan. According to the Ministry of Labor, as of the end of last year, Taoyuan had more than 130,000 migrant workers, accounting for about 17.5% of the national total, the highest in Taiwan; the new resident population is around 60,000, ranking 4th nationwide. The Taoyuan City Library specifically chose to open the exhibition on August 17, Indonesia’s Independence Day, symbolizing Taoyuan’s significance as a hub for multicultural exchange.
The exhibition features the Balinese mythical creature "Barong," which was donated to the National Taiwan Museum by the Indonesian Trade and Economic Office in 2019 and symbolizes protection and peace. During the exhibition, there will also be events themed around the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year, emphasizing the cultural connections between Taiwan and the home countries of new residents. The displayed artifacts are from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Malaysia, along with Southeast Asian language books, reflecting the cultural heritage and transnational backgrounds of new residents.
The Balinese mythical creature "Barong" from Indonesia symbolizes protection and peace (Photo: Retrieved from United Daily News).
This exhibition not only showcases artifacts but also tells the stories of the first generation of new residents who bravely crossed borders to pass down their family and cultural heritage to the second generation growing up in Taiwan, highlighting Taiwan’s inclusiveness and development as a multicultural society.
