SHIH, CHENG-YI
Department of Cultural and Creative Industries Management, National Taipei University of Education, Taiwan.
TAIWAN, Taipei
Cheng-Yi Shih, a native of Taipei, Taiwan, serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cultural and Creative Industries Management at the National Taipei University of Education (NTUE), alongside an adjunct role at the Graduate Institute of Museum Studies at Taipei National University of the Arts. Holding a PhD in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, UK, Cheng-Yi's research focal points include museum architecture and spatial design, curation methodologies, narrative environment crafting, museum planning, and design thinking applications.
Drawing from an interdisciplinary background in sustainable design and spatial/environmental planning, Cheng-Yi integrates practice and theory in his work. He has led and contributed to curatorial endeavors across a spectrum of institutions, spanning national museums, local cultural hubs, and quasi-museum spaces. His approach underscores the holistic integration of diverse curation methodologies, encompassing research and fieldwork, exhibition content development, audience engagement assessments, conceptual ideation, narrative crafting, innovative exhibition strategies, and exhibition design planning.
Central to Cheng-Yi's ethos is the creation of inspiring and meaningful museum exhibitions, imbued with contemporary perspectives. Throughout his endeavors, he explores the nuanced interplay and interconnectedness of curatorial methodologies, interpretative content, material artifacts, design mediums, spatial configurations, and audience experiences.
Art as Paratext: How Art Transmits Museum Narratives and Rewrites the Space
This research delves into the transformative capacity of art in communicating museum narratives and reshaping public spaces within museum environments. Centered on specific artworks installed in the newly renovated public areas of the National Museum of Prehistory in Taiwan, the study investigates the role of artworks as paratexts—secondary elements that aid in conveying primary texts. Through an exploration of the interplay between art, space, and museum narratives aligned with the mission and vision of the NMP, this research seeks to elucidate the methods by which art enriches and redefines the visitor experience.
A meticulous analysis of the chosen artworks will examine their influence on the museum's spatial dynamics and thresholds. These artworks, integrated during the museum's recent renovation, not only serve as aesthetic enhancements but also as integral components in the storytelling process. Each artwork interacts uniquely with audiences, embedding itself in and transforming the museum space. Providing subtle hints or cues, these artworks aim to gradually guide audiences into the overarching narrative that the museum's permanent exhibition seeks to convey: the rich tapestry of Austronesian culture and human life from prehistory to the present. Simultaneously, audiences are encouraged to navigate the museum space in novel and meaningful ways.
Employing a multidisciplinary approach, this research draws upon theories of museum studies, narrative environment design, and spatial theory. Methodologies encompass qualitative analysis through visitor observation, staff interviews, spatial analysis, and interpretative content analysis. The findings are anticipated to illustrate how artworks, acting as paratexts, effectively aid museums in conveying their core narratives and values, fostering dynamic interactions between museum spaces and their audiences.
This study aspires to contribute to the broader discourse on museum curation and design by offering insights into the innovative utilization of art to heighten narrative engagement and spatial experiences within the museumscape.
art, paratext, museum narratives, museum space, exhibition design