In the history of photography in 1980s Taiwan, one aspect is nearly universally familiar: the images documenting the many political protests and social movements of the day. And one platform was responsible for disseminating these images, a media outlet with considerable gravitas that is widely remembered to this day – the Independence Post.
The Independence Evening Post, with a long history throughout the post-war era, and the Independence Morning Post, founded in 1988, shouldered the heavy burden of competing with the two major newspapers and promoting Taiwan’s native literature movement. In the fields of culture and communications, some discussion has taken place of the cultural significance of the “Independence Post Supplements,” but the role of the Independence Post in promoting photography, the history of photography, and photography awards has been gradually forgotten and is rarely considered.
The documentary exhibition “The Mighty Image: Photos from the Independence Post, 1985-1994” presented by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum Library and Archive, can very well serve as a starting point for the exploration of these visual materials. The subject of this exhibition is “the photography sections of the Independence Post newspapers.” While presenting original documents and related publications and films, it will also feature a series of four symposiums, as introduced below.
Section I: The Independence Post, Taiwanese Photography, and Memories of Generational Collision
Time: May 6 (Sat) 14:00-16:00
Venue: Library and Archive, TFAM
Host: Sharleen Yu (Chief of Research Dept., Taipei Fine Arts Museum)
Participants: Hsieh San-Tai (Photographer/former Independence Evening Post photojournalist)
Participants: Hsu Po-hsin (Visual image specialist/former Independence Evening Post photojournalist)
Participants: Peng Lin-Sung (Former Independence Evening Post journalist)
Participants: Liu Chen-Hsiang (Photographer/director of photography for the Independence Post)
Section II: Between Reporting and Art – The Authorial Identities and the Many Faces of Photographers
Time: May 28 (Sun) 14:00-16:00
Venue: Auditorium, TFAM
Host: Chen Chia-Chi (Photography historian)
Participants: Huang Tzu-ming (Photographer)
Participants: Chou Ching-Hui (Photographer)
Participants: Liu Chen-Hsiang (Photographer)
Section III: The ‘Visual Attack’ of Women Photographers in the 1980s
Time: August 27 (Sun) 14:00-16:00
Venue: Library and Archive, TFAM
Host: Ericamigo Wu (Independent journalist)
Participants: Chang Yung-Chieh (Buddhist nun/photographer)
Participants: Kuo Chuan-Chiu (Artist)
Participants: Lien Hui-Ling (Photographer)
Section IV: Newspaper Supplements and Photography of the Print Media Era – The Meaning of Medium
Time: Sept. 17 (Sun) 14:00-16:00
Venue: Library and Archive, TFAM
Host: Chen Chia-Chi (Photography historian)
Participants: Chang Yung-Chieh (Buddhist nun/photographer)
Participants: Chang Shih-Lun (Visual historian/art critic)
Participants: Kuo Li-Hsin (Professor emeritus, National Chengchi University College of Communication)
Around the time that martial law was lifted in Taiwan, the Independence Post newspapers created a space for discourse, opening up many possibilities for exploring the history of social movements, critical thinking, and local consciousness that continue to this day. Newspapers should not simply be dead documents. This symposium series focuses on photography, aiming to bring new understanding of, initiate a conversation about, and fill in some of the gaps in the history of photography.
Notice
- All backpacks and items exceeding 40 x 30 x 20 cm must be stored in a locker at the Museum Information Center located in the lobby.
- Participating in the documentary exhibition is free of charge. Please purchase an ordinary TFAM visitor’s ticket when entering the museum.
Research Department | 02-25957656 #120