NCKU Department of Fine Arts and South American Pavilion Promote Senior Art, Leading Elderly Individuals to Artistic Creation

The NCKU Institute of Art Studies course "MUSEUM: HISTORY, COLLECTION, AND CONTEMPORARY ART CURATION" is planned and taught around the theme of elderly participation in art activities. Additionally, in collaboration with the Tainan Art Museum, they organized the "Joy in Art: Promoting Elderly Art Activities" event. On December 30th, the second event was held, focusing on the exhibition "Southern Charm and Elegance: Special Exhibitions of  Cheng-Po Chen,  Bao-Cuan Guo, Wu-Yong Xu, and  Zhe-Zhai Shen" at the Tainan Art Museum, offering an artistic experience titled "Blooming Youth: Art Activities with Flowers."

In order to introduce more people to the wonderful works of senior artists in Tainan, the faculty and students of the NCKU Institute of Art Studies have drawn inspiration from the elements of the "Southern Charm and Elegance" exhibition. Together, they have designed two elderly art activity programs: "Scenes on the Dining Table" and "Blooming Youth with Flowers." These programs were held on December 23rd and 30th, respectively, inviting elderly friends to step into the art gallery on winter afternoons. Besides admiring the artworks, participants engaged in art exercises and hands-on creation, allowing them to "artfully" experience and share the unique atmosphere of life in Tainan.

During the "Blooming Youth with Flowers" event, which was open to the general public, students first led participants in art exercises inspired by the paintings in the "Southern Charm and Elegance" exhibition, warming up their bodies on the spot. Next, the students guided participants to recall and share their own experiences and stories of receiving or giving flowers, followed by an introduction to the artists featured in the exhibition and their works related to flowers. Afterwards, using everyday subjects, the students conducted a tutorial on aluminum foil painting, during which participants immersed themselves in their artistic creations, enjoying themselves wholeheartedly. Finally, students and participants "artfully" toured the exhibition, marking a wonderful conclusion to the day's activities.

The NCKU Institute of Art Studies expressed satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the collaborative elderly art promotion activities with the Tainan Art Museum. They were delighted to facilitate the participation of elderly individuals in art therapy and were happy to see the smiles on their faces as they enjoyed themselves. At the same time, they hope for more opportunities for collaboration with local art galleries and museums in the future.