SDG11
"Engraving Into the Wood: Human National Treasure Qi-Cun Chen x NCKU Students' Woodcarving Joint Exhibition"
To deepen the local connections in central and southern Taiwan and fulfill the mission of cultural heritage preservation, research, and transmission, the College of Liberal Arts and the Department of History at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) invited Master Qi-Cun Chen, a National Craft Achievement Award winner, Cultural Heritage Preservation Expert, and Human National Treasure of Taiwan, to NCKU’s Museum of History and Cultural Relics from November 1 to 13. The event featured an exhibition titled "Engraving Into the Wood: Human National Treasure Qi-Cun Chen x NCKU Students' Woodcarving Joint Exhibition," which opened on November 6. The event aims to promote the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage through the teaching of woodcarving techniques.
In her speech, NCKU Vice President Yuh-Neu Chen expressed her gratitude to the Taiwan Comprehensive University System’s Humanities and Arts Center and various distinguished guests for their participation. She stated that the works of Master Qi-Cun Chen were not just "engraved deeply," but could be said to have "engraved into the heart." The creative process of these works is truly a "shaping of the heart," and through this exhibition, viewers are able to gain a deeper understanding of the touching stories behind Master Chen’s works. In addition to experiencing the vibrancy of Master Chen’s life-filled works, the exhibition also showcased the creative achievements of the students led by Chen during the residency.
Tainan’s Deputy Mayor Ze-Shan Yeh expressed that NCKU is an important partner of the Tainan City Government. He was glad to see the exhibition of Master Qi-Cun Chen’s works at NCKU during Tainan’s 400th anniversary celebrations. He noted that Master Chen has been a long-time friend and expressed deep admiration for his lifelong efforts in both traditional and contemporary arts. Master Chen, the youngest Human National Treasure of Taiwan, has also made significant contributions to the transmission of the craft, becoming a model in the art community. Ye praised Master Chen’s self-taught ability and his proactive attitude toward learning.
Master Qi-Cun Chen expressed his gratitude to NCKU for providing such a good environment for the exhibition, particularly thanking curator Gu Pan for the meticulous arrangements. He mentioned that transmission is currently a key mission of his. During the teaching session, he was deeply moved by the creativity and excellent performances of NCKU students, especially in the open-ended creative process. He was particularly impressed by the concepts and works exhibited by the students, who approached the project as beginners. Master Chen believes that this exhibition is not just a showcase of works, but an educational endeavor to emphasize the importance of cultural heritage preservation.
The students involved in the workshop cherished this practical opportunity. They shared that they felt warm encouragement and praise from Master Chen, making them feel accepted despite their shortcomings. Master Chen also donated an unfinished woodcarving work, created with the theme of the Museum of History and Cultural Relics, to the Department of History as a witness to this teaching and creative achievement. He also promised to continue the work when he begins his appointment as a part-time lecturer at NCKU starting next year. Dr. Xing-Juan Tsai, Chair of the Department of History, presented a commemorative gift and shared a touching story she read about Master Chen, who once swallowed wood dust while practicing woodcarving as a beginner. She used this story to encourage NCKU students to maintain a humble attitude toward learning and never forget their original intentions.
Pan Gu, Associate Professor in the Department of History and curator of the exhibition, noted that woodcarving is one of Taiwan’s important traditional crafts. Over the course of a two-month intensive workshop, students observed and sketched NCKU’s collection of Qing Dynasty wood carvings from the Shui-Xian Temple, along with other campus cultural assets. This process was followed by hands-on woodcarving learning, which deepened the students' understanding of cultural heritage through expert explanations, enhanced their appreciation for cultural relics, and fostered a creative approach to revitalizing cultural assets. Additionally, the course included a series of lectures, "Shaping the Heart" and "Choosing One Thing, Devoting a Lifetime," held by NCKU, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Hsing University, and NCKU, where students gained insights into the spirit of craftsmanship and life wisdom from the Human National Treasure.
In addition to showcasing 22 wood carvings created by NCKU students, the exhibition also featured 29 traditional and modern works by Master Qi-Cun Chen. Through these works, visitors were able to experience the essence of traditional woodcarving craftsmanship, understand the life stories of a Human National Treasure, and gain deeper insights into the world of woodcarving through 50 years of dedication. During the exhibition, the organizers also invited visitors to vote for the piece that touched their hearts the most, offering a warm dialogue between Qing Dynasty woodcarvers, contemporary Human National Treasures, and NCKU woodcarving students.
Over the past 50 years, NCKU's Museum of History and Cultural Relics has hosted exhibitions and served as an interactive space for cross-disciplinary teaching. This year, the museum was transformed into the first light art building on campus with the help of alumni donations. Woodcarving, a key collection of the museum, is also one of Taiwan's most important traditional crafts. The Department of History at NCKU hopes to further promote traditional arts and fulfill the university's social responsibility, contributing to the sustainable development of the campus. The public is warmly invited to witness the profound charm and value of traditional craftsmanship.
"Engraving Into the Wood: Human National Treasure Qi-Cun Chen x NCKU Students' Woodcarving Joint Exhibition"
Exhibition Dates: November 1–13, 2024 (09:00–18:00)
Exhibition Venue: NCKU Museum of History and Cultural Relics, Yunping Building Display Window.
In her speech, NCKU Vice President Yuh-Neu Chen expressed her gratitude to the Taiwan Comprehensive University System’s Humanities and Arts Center and various distinguished guests for their participation. She stated that the works of Master Qi-Cun Chen were not just "engraved deeply," but could be said to have "engraved into the heart." The creative process of these works is truly a "shaping of the heart," and through this exhibition, viewers are able to gain a deeper understanding of the touching stories behind Master Chen’s works. In addition to experiencing the vibrancy of Master Chen’s life-filled works, the exhibition also showcased the creative achievements of the students led by Chen during the residency.
Tainan’s Deputy Mayor Ze-Shan Yeh expressed that NCKU is an important partner of the Tainan City Government. He was glad to see the exhibition of Master Qi-Cun Chen’s works at NCKU during Tainan’s 400th anniversary celebrations. He noted that Master Chen has been a long-time friend and expressed deep admiration for his lifelong efforts in both traditional and contemporary arts. Master Chen, the youngest Human National Treasure of Taiwan, has also made significant contributions to the transmission of the craft, becoming a model in the art community. Ye praised Master Chen’s self-taught ability and his proactive attitude toward learning.
Master Qi-Cun Chen expressed his gratitude to NCKU for providing such a good environment for the exhibition, particularly thanking curator Gu Pan for the meticulous arrangements. He mentioned that transmission is currently a key mission of his. During the teaching session, he was deeply moved by the creativity and excellent performances of NCKU students, especially in the open-ended creative process. He was particularly impressed by the concepts and works exhibited by the students, who approached the project as beginners. Master Chen believes that this exhibition is not just a showcase of works, but an educational endeavor to emphasize the importance of cultural heritage preservation.
The students involved in the workshop cherished this practical opportunity. They shared that they felt warm encouragement and praise from Master Chen, making them feel accepted despite their shortcomings. Master Chen also donated an unfinished woodcarving work, created with the theme of the Museum of History and Cultural Relics, to the Department of History as a witness to this teaching and creative achievement. He also promised to continue the work when he begins his appointment as a part-time lecturer at NCKU starting next year. Dr. Xing-Juan Tsai, Chair of the Department of History, presented a commemorative gift and shared a touching story she read about Master Chen, who once swallowed wood dust while practicing woodcarving as a beginner. She used this story to encourage NCKU students to maintain a humble attitude toward learning and never forget their original intentions.
Pan Gu, Associate Professor in the Department of History and curator of the exhibition, noted that woodcarving is one of Taiwan’s important traditional crafts. Over the course of a two-month intensive workshop, students observed and sketched NCKU’s collection of Qing Dynasty wood carvings from the Shui-Xian Temple, along with other campus cultural assets. This process was followed by hands-on woodcarving learning, which deepened the students' understanding of cultural heritage through expert explanations, enhanced their appreciation for cultural relics, and fostered a creative approach to revitalizing cultural assets. Additionally, the course included a series of lectures, "Shaping the Heart" and "Choosing One Thing, Devoting a Lifetime," held by NCKU, National Sun Yat-sen University, National Chung Hsing University, and NCKU, where students gained insights into the spirit of craftsmanship and life wisdom from the Human National Treasure.
In addition to showcasing 22 wood carvings created by NCKU students, the exhibition also featured 29 traditional and modern works by Master Qi-Cun Chen. Through these works, visitors were able to experience the essence of traditional woodcarving craftsmanship, understand the life stories of a Human National Treasure, and gain deeper insights into the world of woodcarving through 50 years of dedication. During the exhibition, the organizers also invited visitors to vote for the piece that touched their hearts the most, offering a warm dialogue between Qing Dynasty woodcarvers, contemporary Human National Treasures, and NCKU woodcarving students.
Over the past 50 years, NCKU's Museum of History and Cultural Relics has hosted exhibitions and served as an interactive space for cross-disciplinary teaching. This year, the museum was transformed into the first light art building on campus with the help of alumni donations. Woodcarving, a key collection of the museum, is also one of Taiwan's most important traditional crafts. The Department of History at NCKU hopes to further promote traditional arts and fulfill the university's social responsibility, contributing to the sustainable development of the campus. The public is warmly invited to witness the profound charm and value of traditional craftsmanship.
"Engraving Into the Wood: Human National Treasure Qi-Cun Chen x NCKU Students' Woodcarving Joint Exhibition"
Exhibition Dates: November 1–13, 2024 (09:00–18:00)
Exhibition Venue: NCKU Museum of History and Cultural Relics, Yunping Building Display Window.
The "Engraving Into the Wood: Human National Treasure Qi-Cun Chen x NCKU Students' Woodcarving Joint Exhibition" held its opening event on the 6th, with a group photo of the attending guests.
Vice President Yuh-Neu Chen said that viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the many touching stories behind Professor Chen's works through the exhibition.
Vice Mayor Ze-Shan Yeh praised Master Qi-Cun Chen's self-learning ability and proactive attitude towards learning, which he greatly admires.
Master Qi-Cun Chen(left), a Living National Treasure, and Professor Xing-Juan Tsai(right), Chair of the Department of History at NCKU, exchanged gifts and certificates of appreciation.
Artist Qi-Cun Chen expressed his gratitude to NCKU for providing an excellent environment for the exhibition, and he was deeply moved by the students' works.
The organizers invite the public to visit the NCKU History Museum from November 1 to 13 to experience the world of wood carving craftsmanship.
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