Interviewee・Wu Pei-Yu, Head of the Education and Public

Relations Department, Taichung Art Museum

Interviewer & Text・Wang Yu

In late 2024, the Taichung Art Museum launched “Art Classes on the Green,” an outdoor event series that employs picture books and illustrated books as a medium to merge reading, sensory experiences, and artistic creation. This event underscored the Green Museumbrary’s significance as a cultural landmark that combines a library and an art museum while also making the most of Central Park’s natural surroundings. Moreover, picture books and illustrated books serve as excellent mediums for audiences of all ages to effortlessly engage with art and knowledge.

Art in Daily Life and the Habit of Reading

Wu Pei-Yu, the head of the Education and Public Relations Department, noted that in many countries, people have incorporated reading in parks or public green spaces into their daily habits. In contrast, in Taiwan, people may enjoy outdoor activities such as playing or picnicking on the grass, but their reading habits are largely confined to indoor spaces like libraries, cafes, and bookstores. She emphasized the “Seoul Outdoor Library” initiative introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Library in 2022. This project has successfully fostered outdoor reading throughout the city, connecting people with books and introducing a new trend of shared reading experiences among families and friends in outdoor settings.

The Green Museumbrary, Taiwan’s first cultural landmark integrating a public library and an municipal art museum, represents a novel cultural landscape. Launched by the Taichung Art Museum at the end of 2024, “Art Classes on the Green” began with picture books and ingeniously blended workshops with nature. This event enabled the public to engage in interdisciplinary experiences of art and reading in a leisurely, grassy environment. At the event, contrasting yet harmonious scenes of reading were observed. The library’s mobile book truck offered public access to books, while the art museum also hosts the “Book Picnic” event, where participants sit on the ground in a picnic area, immersing themselves in the fusion of nature and books. These scenes highlighted the diversity of reading experiences and brought a sense of energy and limitless imagination to the event.

The Book Picnic activity showcased at the event have been thoughtfully curated by the Taichung Art Museum, the Taichung Public Library, “The Big Issue”, and Artco Books’ “Artco Kids.” This selection features various and abundant topics and knowledge areas that are typically overlooked, providing readers with a unique and refreshing experience. This selection features various and abundant topics and knowledge areas, embodying the Green Museumbrary’s vision of nurturing diverse cultural exchanges and interdisciplinary discussions. Here, visitors will discover new topics, embarking on a journey of exploration.

Navigating Art through Picture Books

Picture books combine artistic creativity with storytelling, creating a soothing environment for people to connect with art and momentarily escape reality while exploring various worlds. “Book Picnic,” an activity in “Art Classes on the Green,” highlighted picture books focused on themes such as art, architecture, imagination, and nature. These books guided children in exploring interpersonal relationships and emotions, helping them connect with their surroundings. The Taichung Art Museum aims to keep inspiring both children and the general public through engaging and intriguing picture books, fostering their curiosity about museums and encouraging them to explore the architectural features, natural environments, and artworks.

Wu shared examples that have influenced the museum’s perspective. One notable instance is the Hyundai Museum of Kids’ Books and Art (MOKA) in Korea, which integrates imagery and text in picture books to help parents and children appreciate writing and illustration. This method is further applied in the interactive creative sections of exhibitions. Apart from directly reading picture books, “Art Classes on the Green” created an array of additional activities to enrich participants’ experiences. For example, the activity “I Am an Artist,” which was part of the “Book Picnic” event, invited artists Wu Chien-Yi, Lai Yi-Chang, and Shih Meng-Hsin to guide families in sharing stories through picture books. Participants were encouraged to explore the park’s natural surroundings, gathering materials to create their own artworks. In another activity titled “Cyanotype Memory of the Green Museumbrary,” children collaborated with artist Kuo I-Chen, using the picture book The Universe Lost a Baby Tooth as a starting point to explore nature. They applied cyanotype techniques to produce two-dimensional works highlighting natural elements. The event continued into the evening, engaging children in nighttime sketching under a starry sky and fluorescent lights.

An Fusion Platform for Exploring Art and Knowledge

The Taichung Art Museum views picture books as essential resources, not just for children, but also as a vital gateway for adults to engage with art and knowledge, as they stimulate diverse perspectives and creativity. Picture books, with their vivid and accessible forms, connect audiences to art, which is essential for understanding contemporary art. Wu mentioned Honya Bookstore in Taipei’s Dadaocheng, recognized for its focus on picture books and a philosophy similar to that of the Taichung Art Museum. Both institutions aim to cultivate cultural sites that encourage the public to step outside their comfort zones and appreciate interdisciplinary perspectives. The department head also mentioned Art Awakening: A Guide for Curious and Creative, a publication created in collaboration between the Art Bank Taiwan and the artist Huang Hai-Hsin. It features vibrantly engaging illustrations and text that invite readers into the world of art, bridging the gap between them and artistic expression. In this context, picture books act as a gateway for adults to understand art. The Taichung Art Museum strives to embody this philosophy within its space, allowing individuals from all walks of life to explore their unique artistic journeys.

Looking ahead, the Taichung Art Museum will continue to use picture books and illustrated books as a vital medium for sharing art with the audience. There will be two focuses: first, enhancing collaborations that involve art, knowledge, and nature by gathering experts from various fields to create interdisciplinary events that boost public engagement; and second, breaking the limitations of art education that occurs only in a single space by enabling real-time interactions with art during the process of viewing exhibitions. Additionally, the museum plans to produce small interactive areas in both the library and the museum, integrating exhibitions with book resources to provide visitors with experiences of on-the-spot creation, exploration, and reading.