National Palace Museum

Prelude to the NPM’s Centennial Exhibition Next Year “Beauty Speaks for Itself” Opens in Splendor on September 26

The National Palace Museum (NPM) joined hands with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Van Cleef & Arpels to present the special exhibition titled “Beauty Speaks for Itself—Selected works from the National Palace Museum, Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Van Cleef & Arpels.” The Opening Ceremony and Media Preview Press Conference was held today (September 24). Cherrypicked treasures from the collections of three parties, ranging from ceramics, jade, furniture, porcelain, garments, sculptures, graphic art, jewelry, and timepieces. With a total of over 260 masterpieces of art, a grand exhibition of splendor shall be on display at the NPM Northern Branch from September 26 to December 29.

President Ching-Te Lai and Premier Jung-Tai Cho of the Executive Yuan sent their congratulatory messages, which were read at the press conference in commemoration of the success of the exhibition. The organizers, Deputy Directors Yung-Tai Huang and Pei-Chin Yu and Secretary General Hsiao-Te Hsu from the National Palace Museum; Yvon Figueras, Director of International Development and Production, and Béatrice Quette, Curator and Head of Asian and Islamic Collections, at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; Catherine Rénier, Global President and Chief Executive Officer, Julie Clody Medina, President of Asia Pacific, Stephanie Liu, Managing Director of Taiwan, and Alexandrine Maviel Sonet, Director of Patrimony and Exhibitions, of Van Cleef & Arpels were present, together with distinguished guests, including Representative David Steinke and Deputy Representative Martina Rubešková from the Czech Economic and Cultural Office Taipei; Morgan Fraisse-László, Cultural Attaché of the French Office in Taipei; and Phonlakrit Warawat, Head of the Information and Protocol at the Thailand Trade and Economic Office (Taipei) to extend their sincere congratulations and best wishes for the exhibition.

NPM Deputy Director Yung-Tai Huang stated that the title of the exhibition, Beauty Speaks for Itself, was derived from the famous quote by Zhuangzi, “Heaven and Earth possess great beauty that speaks for itself.” The quote implies that extraordinary beauty beyond words in the world needs no words for expression. This exhibition brings together precious collections from the National Palace Museum, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and Van Cleef & Arpels, showcasing the pinnacles of craftsmanship from both the East and the West. He also extended the gratitude to the three curatorial teams for their meticulous curating and collaboration over seven years. In addition, as the National Palace Museum is to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, the exhibition will move to the NPM Southern Branch in Chiayi for display from January 23 to April 20 next year. This not only marks a historical moment for the centennial celebration of the National Palace Museum but also establishes a significant milestone for its international exchange and collaboration. Visitors are welcome to pay a visit and appreciate the chefs d'oeuvre from different eras and cultures as well as to relish the timeless beauty that transcends words and resonates within our hearts.

Treasures from the collections of the three parties shall be showcased, including 96 pieces from the National Palace Museum, 80 pieces from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and 85 pieces from Van Cleef & Arpels. These artifacts, varied in time and materials for creation, will be on display in five sections, demonstrating the timeless and borderless charm of art.

The first section “Nature” showcases how the artists have captured the everchanging beauty of Mother Nature. The second section “Movement” displays the diverse poses and dynamic qualities of the works via their myriad materials and shapes. The third section “Fantasy” unveils the extraordinary realms of ethereality and fantasy, reflecting the unique imagination of humanity towards all things in the cosmos. The fourth section “Secrets” embodies the artisanship and craftsmanship of mystery and wonder, inviting visitors to uncover their intriguing secrets. The fifth section “Colors” presents vibrant and diverse lexica of colors through various ingenious works.

Colors, aside from being the artful decoration for art pieces, are applied to foster a distinctive atmosphere in the exhibition. A panel discussion was arranged on the press conference.Representatives from the three curatorial teams, Deputy Director Pei-Chin Yu at the National Palace Museum, Béatrice Quette, Curator and Head of Asian and Islamic collections at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, and Alexandrine Maviel Sonet, Director of Patrimony and Exhibitions at Van Cleef & Arpels, shared the origins of the exhibition, their collaborative experiences, and the content of the exhibition. Architect Tsuyoshi Tane from Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects (ATTA), the firm responsible for the exhibition design, joined the discussion as well. He spoke about how to harness the power of light and colors to create a harmonious narrative space for the works of the three parties, giving birth to an immersive vibe that is captivating and colorfully poetic.

“Beauty Speaks for Itself” shall be on display at the NPM Northern Branch from September 26 to December 29, before moving to the NPM Southern Branch in Chiayi for showcase from January 23 to April 20 next year (2025).

BEAUTY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF—Selected works from the National Palace Museum, Paris’ Musée des Arts Décoratifs and Van Cleef & Arpels
▌Galleries 105 & 107, Northern Branch, National Palace Museum
September 26 – December 29, 2024
▌Gallery S101, Southern Branch, National Palace Museum
January 23 – April 20, 2025