Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center will open an exhibition on Taiwan and Matsu Culture this Wednesday, January 5. The opening ceremony is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. on Friday of the same week and will be presided by Flora Chang, the President of TKU. Even though the winter vacation is about to begin soon, the exhibition will run until the end of the month (27th) so that those students who do not return home immediately will gain this special opportunity to appreciate a piece of Taiwan and Matsu’s arts and cultural history.

There will be over 80 pieces of artwork from at least 20 artists from Taiwan and Matsu on display. These artists include the renowned Cheng Yang-chun, Cheng Ho-cheng and Chao Kai-chih among others, showcasing works in oil, watercolor, print, acrylic and various media. Despite the diverse forms, they all seem to capture the village life, nature and people of Matsu vividly. Due to its special militarily strategic location between Taiwan and China, the island has amazingly preserved the traditional architecture that is typical of the eastern part of Fujian Province. Its relatively unspoiled nature is another result of Matsu’s unique location and history. These images will certainly change the way whoever comes to this exhibition views the place, which used to be known as a bland military outpost.

Furthermore, the money that was circulated during its day as a military outpost was on display. There were altogether 15 types of 43 variations of bills that were printed and circulated locally between 1959 and 1989. They were abolished when the island's financial system became officially integrated into that of Taiwan.

Another highlight of the exhibition is the colorful wedding costumes Ms. Wen Ching-chu, a respected and well-established fashion designer in Taiwan, designed for this special occasion. She uses colors that, she believes, reflect the honest way Matsu people relate to nature, such as pure white (the clouds), sky blue (the sky), turquoise green/blue (the sea) and camel brown (the earth). She applies these colors to her designs that are a cross between the old and the new style--a choice that symbolizes Matsu's future. (~Ying-hsueh Hu)