Art history enters new phase at National Palace Museum

2005-01-14 / Taiwan News, Staff Reporter / By Hungfu Hsueh

Learning art history can be fun, judging by the new interactive quiz game currently on display at the exhibition showroom at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

The National Palace Museum's exhibition, entitled "The Royal Garden of Emperor Sung Huei-tsung" - which runs until March 27 - reflects the museum's recent attempts to incorporate e-learning projects into its displays.

In cooperation with computer manufacturer Acer, two interactive learning platforms were introduced at the exhibition in order to demonstrate how art history can be studied through interaction with computers.

The exhibition venue was chosen to widen the audience of the museum's work.

Lin Man-li, deputy director of NPM, said the museum had recently endeavored to prevent its vast collection from being confined to its base in Shuanghsi, adding that he hoped to bring the works to the masses through a digital museum and virtual exhibition currently being worked on.

Lin said that after the exhibition ended in March, it would then move on to Taichung and Kaohsiung.

"In the past people have to come to visit the museum in order to see the collection and the abundant historical knowledge behind the art work. Now our e-learning program could allow art-lovers to have alternative access to our collection and also an easier way of studying art history," said Lin.

Lin Kuo-ping, Director of the Information Center of the National Palace Museum, said that many people on visits to the Museum only had time to glance at art works due to tight schedules and the sheer volume of collections on display.

"The palace museum is now making an effort to produce more e-learning products; such as online learning programs on our website or interactive digital disks, to introduce the museum's rich collection," said Lin.

According to Lin, the museum's online learning website has already had around 4000 hits from students keen on studying the museum's art history course. The learning program records student participation and progress, and an online tutor is also available.

Source from http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/Society/2005/01/14/1105668240.htm