At the beginning of the new year of 2024, the National Library of Public Information is planning a special exhibition titled “Lan Pu Special exhibition on decoding works- Risaburo Kawasumi's paintings in the Bogor Botanical Gardens.” ,which has been in the National Library's collection for nearly a century.

Through Lan Pu's exquisite hand-painted botanical paintings, this exhibition analyzes orchid science and introduces the development of the orchid industry in Taiwan. In addition to its artistic expression and academic research value, this exhibition also symbolizes the spirit of knowledge transmission in the 100-year history of the National Library of Public Information (NLPI). In a special collaboration with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BnF), this exhibition features a selection of contemporaneous orchid images from the BnF's collection, which complement the "Lan Pu".

Lan Pu, the treasure of the museum, makes an elegant debut
Lan Pu is an orchid sketched by Japanese painter Risaburo Kawasumi at the Bogor Botanical Gardens in Java, Indonesia, from 1920 to 1927. A total of 93 paintings of Lan Pu in NLPI's collection are in colorful brushstrokes, which are very realistic; in addition, the name of the genus, species, place of origin, and the time of the sketching of orchid are marked in detail on each of the works, which are all stamped with the "Collection of the Taichung Prefecture Library," the accompanying total index, written on Taichung Prefecture Library letterhead, is a real treasure of the library.

Orchids existed as early as the late Cretaceous period when dinosaurs lived, and their distribution was almost worldwide. By the 19th century, an orchid craze had developed in the West, and the Bogor Botanical Garden was established at that time, where Lan Pu was sketching, thus Lan Pu was connected to an incredible global network.

In this special exhibition, NLPI and the National Museum of Natural Science have cooperated to organize this wonderful exhibition. In addition, NLPI has obtained valuable photos and archival materials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan Orchid Growers Association(T.O.G.A), and Taiwan Sugar Corporation, so that the public can understand how Taiwan has become the world-famous orchid kingdom.

This exhibition features three limited edition bookmarks designed by Lan Pu, inviting the public to participate in NLPI's "iLibGuider Book Guide App" program, complete the tasks and collect rewards,points can be collected at the service counter on the 3rd floor of the Main Building until they are redeemed.

Lan Pu Special exhibition on decoding works
At the National Public Information Library Main Library, 3rd floor, Periodicals section.
January 9, 2024 (Tue) to December 22, 2024 (Sun)

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