Is Love an Art? NCKU Library’s Book Exhibition “LOVE DIMENSION” Explores the Essence of Love-國立成功大學永續發展SDGs

Edited by Elysee Chung.  Image credit to NCKU News Center & NCKU Library.
 
“Is love an art? Then it requires knowledge and effort.” As German psychologist Erich Fromm wrote in The Art of Loving, this question invites us to reflect: What is love? How does love differ among family, friends, and partners? How do we express it? Although these questions arise naturally from the heart, they are often difficult to answer.
 
The National Cheng Kung University Library (NCKU Library) presents the “LOVE DIMENSION” book exhibition from April 2 to October 4, inviting visitors to reflect on the meaning of love. Through this exhibition, the library encourages people to move beyond fear and division, and to experience the warmth of loving and being loved. In the process of giving and transcending the self, we learn to love ourselves, others, and the world with a sincere and open heart. The exhibition is located in the LibRE area on the first floor of the NCKU Library at Cheng Kung Campus, and all visitors are welcome during opening hours.

“LOVE DIMENSION” invites readers to contemplate the essence of love, which has no single correct answer. The “dimensions” of love refer to different perspectives through which we can understand it, such as time, distance, and relationships. For instance, the time dimension explores how our understanding of love changes across different stages of life; our perception of parental love may differ greatly between childhood and adulthood. The distance dimension asks why we sometimes take for granted those who are physically close, yet deeply miss those who are far away. The relationship dimension examines both self-love and love for others.
 
This year’s exhibition continues the theme of last year’s “Burning Light to Life: Healthcare Guardianship Theme Exhibition”, which focused on the meaning and value of life and life education. Building on this foundation, “LOVE DIMENSION” guides readers on a journey of love—observing it in everyday life and illuminating life through its presence.

The Executive Vice President of NCKU, Yuh-Neu Chen (陳玉女), shares that love is like air: it is everywhere, yet often difficult to perceive. Drawing on the story of Udumbara and the Buddha, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining an appropriate distance in love. Love that is too intense can become a burden, while love that allows space brings freedom. Finding a balanced distance is essential for sustaining healthy relationships. She also notes that April 23 is World Book and Copyright Day. In celebration, she encourages students to cultivate reading habits, transform the library into a vibrant space for sharing and exchanging ideas, and discover the joy of reading and reflecting on love.

The Director of the NCKU Library, Tzu-Fun Fu (傅子芳), observes that university life is a rich and formative period. Beyond acquiring professional knowledge, students must also navigate a wide range of interpersonal relationships. The ability to maintain existing relationships and build new ones is essential, yet rarely taught in formal education.  She notes that life is an ongoing process of forming and adjusting relationships, and the art of managing them is a lifelong pursuit. She further distinguishes between love and liking: love is rooted in the well-being of others, while liking is based on personal preference. Expressions of love need not be grand. Even a simple act, such as offering ten minutes of attentive companionship and listening, can be a sincere and meaningful gesture of love.

NCKU Library believes that understanding is the starting point of love, and hopes to deepen this understanding of diverse emotions through stories drawn from different lives. In many myths about love, it is often portrayed as something that arises naturally: when the right person appears, love simply happens, without reason. However, people often overlook that “how to love” is itself an essential part of love. As Erich Fromm suggests, love is an art that requires knowledge and effort. Without understanding and practice, individuals may easily become entangled in anxiety and frustration within relationships. Worse still, they may attribute a failed relationship to “not meeting the right person” or “bad luck,” rather than reflecting on the structure, responsibility, and effort that love entails.

In addition to showcasing books on love, NCKU Library has also created an interactive space where students can share their thoughts and reflect on their own experiences and realizations. For example, one display board centers on the question of whether artificial intelligence can understand love. Tables within the exhibition area provide DIY knotting materials. The slow and meticulous process of knotting mirrors the care, patience, and sincerity required to nurture relationships. Participants are invited to hang their finished pieces on the branches of a tree installation in the exhibition space, symbolizing the accumulation and sharing of love.

During university life, beyond academic learning and gaining work experience, NCKU Library believes it is equally important to guide students in learning “how to love.” Through this exhibition and its related programs, the library invites everyone to explore the meaning of love through its many forms. The exhibition series includes a variety of activities, such as six talks, one workshop, and six film screenings, and all are welcome to participate.


For further information
 
 
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-04-23