Professor Hui-Wen Lu, Graduate Institute of Art History
“Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.” This principle lies at the heart of our approach to university art museum education.
Since its opening on May 31, 2023, the NTU Art Museum (Fig. 8) has held more than six exhibitions and actively expanded its collection, ranging from Neolithic to Ming- and Qing-dynasty ceramics; 19th- and 20th-century calligraphy and painting; Taiwanese art manuscripts and sketches; and bronze artifacts, inkstones, ancient ink sticks, and woodenware. Our focus extends beyond the objects themselves to the multisensory connections between people and things. By directly observing, touching, and experiencing these historical artifacts, students gain not only an understanding of the artworks but also a deeper appreciation of the complex relationships among historical context, social structures, and the natural environment that shape them (Figs. 9–10).
Students at the University—particularly master’s and doctoral candidates affiliated with the Graduate Institute of Art History, as well as undergraduates in the Asian Art Program—actively participate in exhibition planning and research. From selecting and restoring objects, mounting and framing them, designing the exhibition space, and writing interpretive texts, to guiding educational tours, they are deeply involved in every stage of the process. This hands-on experience transforms the study of art history and visual culture from textbook knowledge into embodied practice. Through these experiences, we believe students do more than remember what they have learned—they gain a profound understanding, internalize the knowledge, and are able to extend it creatively (Figs. 11–12).
Fig. 8. Exterior view of the NTU Art Museum.
Fig. 9. NTU Art Museum’s inaugural exhibition,
Happiness Without End: Exhibition of Donated and Entrusted Han Dynasty Ceramics, May 31–August 19, 2023.
Fig. 10. On May 31, 2023, Professor Ming-Liang Hsieh guided President Wen-Chang Chen and other distinguished guests through Happiness Without End: Exhibition of Donated and Entrusted Han Dynasty Ceramics.
Fig. 11. Striving for Perfection: Special Exhibition of Donated Works by 1949 Painters and Calligraphers Crossing the Sea, curated by Professor Hui-Wen Lu, March 27–June 15, August 21-October 26, 2024; students from the Graduate Institute of Art History participated in the exhibition setup.
Fig. 12. Perceiving Colors: The Chromatic Journey of Early Modern Overglaze Decoration, curated by Professor Ching-Fei Shih, November 29, 2024–February 28, 2025, featuring a vibrant display of everyday painted ceramics.
