Connecting Art and Science Through Reading: 'Walking to Our Place – Chen Cheng-po at NLPI' Special Exhibition at National Library Until December 13

The National Library of Public Information (NLPI), in collaboration with the National Taiwan Museum and the Chen Cheng-po Cultural Foundation, is jointly launching the special exhibition 'Walking to Our Place – Chen Cheng-po at NLPI.' The exhibition will be held from July 29 to December 13, 2026, at the Arts & Culture Exhibition Hall on the first floor of NLPI.

Centered on the works of pioneering Taiwanese artist Chen Cheng-po, the exhibition integrates reading, art, and science through interdisciplinary curation, transforming them into tangible, participatory learning experiences to create an 'Island Learning Laboratory'面向 the future. Libraries are not merely repositories of knowledge but vital platforms connecting learning, life, and the future.

NLPI explains that the exhibition's core concept is 'walking to (chase) our place,' responding to the vocational education philosophy of 'starting from life and grounded in practice.' Through exhibition design, it guides youth and the general public to re-examine diverse learning pathways and explore their interests and career directions.

The exhibition is structured around 'Reading × Art × Science,' beginning with Taiwan's unique natural environment and expanding to climate, landscapes, oceans, and ecosystems, further connecting to diverse professional fields such as agriculture, fisheries, engineering, design, and information technology. Through Chen Cheng-po's depictions of the Tropic of Cancer landscapes, rural life, oceanic views, and mountainous environments, visitors gain insight into how natural conditions shape industrial development and understand how vocational expertise responds to real-world needs.

Unlike traditional exhibitions focused on passive viewing, this exhibition introduces 'role-based competency experiences' and 'contextual interactive learning,' transforming visitors from observers into active participants and thinkers. Designed on the principle of 'learning by doing and doing while learning,' it cultivates observation, critical thinking, and cross-domain integration skills, embodying the core competencies emphasized in Taiwan's 12-year national education curriculum.

NLPI emphasizes that vocational education is not a single path but a learning journey requiring time, accumulation, and practical refinement. Just as the asteroid named after Chen Cheng-po symbolizes long-term observation and exploration, the exhibition aims to convey that every professional field is the crystallization of sustained effort and practice—a journey that ultimately leads learners to their own place and light.

The curatorial team has specially selected guitar music composed by the independent band 'Zhuang Ka Ren' as the background soundtrack, using sound and melody to immerse visitors in the exhibition's atmosphere. The audio guides feature narration by professional creators from diverse fields, delivered in multiple languages and vocal styles, enabling visitors not only to see the exhibition but also to feel the warmth of stories and the depth of culture through sound.

'Walking to Our Place' is more than an exhibition title—it is an invitation to step into Taiwan, a diverse and rich island, and rediscover the meaning of life and the value of learning amid the interplay of nature and culture. When reading moves beyond books and knowledge enters daily life, every exploration becomes a starting point toward the future.

NLPI sincerely invites teachers, students, and the public across the nation to visit the exhibition. Through the journey of 'walking to,' discover how vocational education connects with the world and opens new possibilities for the future.