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Museum sends treasures to woo Vienna's art lovers

"The collection is not the largest the museum has ever sent abroad, but it is the most comprehensive, including masterpieces that connect the 5,000 years of China's history and demonstrate the vitality and fusion of Chinese culture."

Lin Mun-lee, National Palace Museum director

A collection of 116 ancient Chinese artworks from the National Palace Museum are being packed for shipment to the Austrian capital Vienna for a three-month exhibit set to begin on Feb. 25, the museum's curator said yesterday.

"The collection is not the largest the museum has ever sent abroad, but it is the most comprehensive, including masterpieces that connect the 5,000 years of China's history and demonstrate the vitality and fusion of Chinese culture," museum Director Lin Mun-lee (林曼麗) said.

Among the precious items are 88 ancient artifacts, 23 paintings and calligraphy pieces and five rare books and documents, Lin said, adding that 55 of them had never been sent abroad before.

One of the most famous is a scroll painting titled Along the River on the Chingming Festival.

The 11m long handscroll masterfully depicts life and customs in China's Soong Dynasty capital, Bianjing, now called Kaifeng.

"The Vienna exhibition will mark the first time the 270-year-old painting has ever been shipped abroad," Lin said.

It took four years to prepare for the exhibit, which will take place at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Lin said.

Lin said the exhibit was part of a cultural exchange project between Taiwan and Austria. The first phase of the program was an exhibit of Baroque masterpieces collected by the Habsburgs that opened at the museum last October and will run until the end of this month.

Austria is the fourth foreign country to engage in cultural exchanges with the National Palace Museum, home to many of the most famous masterpieces collected by Chinese emperors.

The museum has cooperated with the US, France and Germany in showcasing some of its magnificent art treasures in the past decade or so.

Lin said Belgium had also reached a consensus with the museum on a collaborative exchange program. Belgium has followed the example of the other countries in passing legislation to guarantee that none of the museum's priceless artworks will be impounded because of interference from Beijing, Lin said.

Japan has also shown keen interest in showcasing the museum's art collection.

At a Wednesday news conference, museum staffers explained how the works would be meticulously packed for shipment overseas using advanced technology and materials.

Lin said the collection has been insured for US$220 million.
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