Hsinchun Chen, Chia-Li Chen
Hsinchun Chen
Curator
Taipei, Taiwan
Hsinchun Chen, is a curator and serves as the President of the Taiwan International Buton Association. She held a master's degree in Building and Planning Studies from National Taiwan University. She has been involved in the historic settlement preservation movement, emphasizing community participation and the construction of public sphere, exploring cross-disciplinary relationships between art and civic engagement. She has also been actively involved in Taiwan's NPO and NGO organizations and platforms.
As an urban activist, she has frequently employed artistic strategies to engage in various projects, including the preservation of the historic Huashan Winery industrial heritage site in Taipei, the Treasure Hill Movement, and the preservation movement for the Sanchong Air Force Village in New Taipei City. From 2015 to 2016, she served as the Chief Cultural Officer of the Dahua 1935 Cultural Park, an industrial heritage site in Xi'an, China, responsible for the overall marketing and operations of the park's theater, galleries, and cultural spaces. Concurrently, she served as the Director of the largest textile museum in Northwest China. In 2018-2019, Hsinchun was the Head of the Department of social innovation and digital humanities of the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab.
Chia-Li Chen
Professor
Graduate Institute of Museum Studies, Taipei National University of the Arts
Taipei, Taiwan
With a Ph.D. in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, Chia-Li Chen’s research has centered on community engagement, the role of memorial museums, and human rights education. She is the author of Museums and Cultural Identities: Learning and Recollection in Local Museums in Taiwan (VDM Verlag), Trauma on Wound: Notes on Memory & Trauma of Museums (Artouch Press), and From Margin to Representation: The Museum & Cultural Rights (National Taiwan University Press). Currently, She serves as a consultant to the National History Museum and National Museum of Human Rights in Taiwan and as the editor-in-chief of the Museum Island Column for the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture.
Chia-Li Chen’s scholarship explores three primary areas: 1) Museums and contemporary social issues, with a focus on the engagement and representation of disabled and minority communities; 2) The intersection of museums, traumatic memories, and human rights; and 3) The history and significance of community and literary museums. Across these domains, her research investigates how cultural institutions can amplify marginalized voices, preserve vital histories and memories, and promote human dignity through museum education and curatorship.
Let’s Enjoy Art and Have Fun: A New Approach to Creative Interaction & Accessibility in Art Museum
How can an art museum embody tolerance and diversity within its mission? Furthermore, how can it foster interactivity and ensure accessibility for all visitors? This presentation analyzes the design of space and exhibition of the Kumamoto Contemporary Art museum, which is located in the heart of Kumamoto city in Japan. The museum features an airy corridor that links diverse spaces: from an open art lab market that welcomes drop-in participation in workshops and shopping, to semi-open areas like a library and kids salon, and three distinct galleries showcasing art exhibitions. The kids salon offers a delightful experience where parents can not only play with their little ones but also consult parenting expert there. Moreover, the museum takes pride in its innovative library that encourages visitors to interact with artworks. Departing from conventional displays, these pieces are subtly embedded within the architecture, fostering a spirit of discovery and engagement. For instance, Marina Abramovic's "Library for Human Use" transforms bookshelves into interactive spaces where visitors can sit or lie down, becoming part of the exhibit itself, dissolving the serious atmosphere typically associated with library settings. Above, James Turrell's "Milk Run Sky" presents a ceiling installation that extends into a serene expanse of blue, inviting meditation and imagination. As evening falls, the color of the sky installation shifts into a warm pink hue, while volunteers grace the space with live piano performances, creating a wonderful music event that adds an enchanting layer to the overall experience.
The innovative design blurs boundaries between art and everyday life and creates a welcoming atmosphere for all. Here, visitors of all ages can relax, enjoy art playfully, and best of all, no need to buy coffee for a comfortable seat - plenty of lounging space and large tables await for resting and engaging conversations!
innovative design of art space, interactive artworks, art museum library, accessibility and diversity of art museum, kids salon