The Museum of Applied Arts - Imprints & Marks: Taiwan's Ceramic Traces Special Exhibition

The "Imprints & Marks: Taiwan's Ceramic Traces" special exhibition focuses on "imprints" and "marks" as its perspective. Through the decorative patterns, markings, and inscriptions on ceramic wares, it guides visitors to understand the developmental trajectory of Taiwan's six-thousand-year ceramic culture. From the life wisdom of prehistoric ancestors who etched patterns onto pottery, to artifacts showcasing the exchange and integration of ceramic-making techniques between Han Chinese and indigenous Pingpu people, and even relics like a Buddha incense burner dated to the tenth year of the Tongzhi reign in the Qing dynasty, the exhibition further presents how, after the introduction of written characters, glazes, and printing techniques during the Japanese colonial era, ceramic traces gradually evolved into "ceramic identity cards" marking place names, kilns, and trademarks. This evolution shaped the regional characteristics of areas such as Tainan, Nantou, Taichung, Miaoli, Hsinchu, and the Greater Taipei region. Ceramic traces are not merely decorations and markings on objects; they carry the craftsmanship, socio-cultural aspects, and local memories of different eras, while also reflecting the journey of Taiwan's societal, economic, and cultural transformations.