The special exhibition on gourds at the National Museum of Natural Science features pyrography art and time-lapse photography

By MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported

 

In Han culture, gourds have long symbolized fortune and prosperity, as well as fertility. In daily life, they serve as both food and everyday utensils, musical instruments, divination tools, crafts, and even survival tools, closely intertwined with human life. The National Museum of Natural Science has launched the special exhibition "Millennial Gourds: Fortune in Human Life," which introduces gourds from various perspectives including botany, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and Chinese fine arts and crafts. Through a rich display of related artifacts, the exhibition explores how different ethnic groups have used gourds, their roles in human life, and the associated craft aesthetics. It also showcases gourd craftworks created using techniques such as openwork carving and pyrography, as well as time-lapse videos documenting the growth of gourds.

This special exhibition runs until June 2, 2013, and displays precious gourd artifacts and craftworks from the Institute of Ethnology at Academia Sinica, the National Museum of Taiwan History, the National Museum of Taiwan, and gourd craft artist Gong Yifang. These include water-carrying gourds used by the Atayal people, Peruvian cha-cha (rattle) instruments from South America, and gourd crafts made using various techniques. Notably, Gong Yifang’s creations—such as the "Knot-Tied Pyrography Wild Goose Gourd," the "Openwork Carved Fortune and Prosperity Gourd," and his zodiac series—demonstrate a variety of carving and painting techniques. Among them, the "Knot-Tied Pyrography Wild Goose Gourd" not only showcases mastery of pyrography but also required the knot at the top of the gourd to be tied during its early fruiting stage, with adjustments made throughout its growth to achieve the ideal shape for crafting. Additionally, the white porcelain gourd-shaped works created by "Ba Fang Xin Qi," which blend classical aesthetics with modern style, offer a new form and aesthetic meaning to the gourd.

To help the public understand the growth process of gourds, the museum has produced a time-lapse video documenting the series of stages from sprouting to flowering and fruiting. Starting with the "Gourd Baby Family," the video captures the sprouting, vine extension, and blooming processes, showcasing the lesser-known vitality of gourds. Through high-definition footage, the special exhibition presents the dynamic and energetic growth journey of plants.

 

 

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