There’s truly a treasure trove in books—Yayoi Kusama and Cai Guo-Qiang even create pop-up books!

Written by / MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network, compiled and reported by Li Xinyi

“Opening a page to reveal a surprise” is the greatest joy of reading pop-up books. The “Fantastic World of Pop-Up Books” special exhibition at the National Museum of History runs from now until September 16. Among the 160 exhibits, there are rare dollhouse books and theater books, the largest and smallest pop-up books in volume, and even a Czech historical storybook that unfolds to an impressive length of 8.2 meters.

National Museum of History Director Chang Yu-teng noted that pop-up books were originally used as educational tools to explain astronomy, human anatomy, machinery, and transportation structures. Though called a book, they are neither traditional books nor e-books. Even blockbuster films like “Titanic,” “Star Wars,” and “Harry Potter,” as well as Taiwan’s historic architecture, can be brought into the pages of a book, creating astonishing scenes on every spread.

Pop-up books aren’t just children’s storybooks—they’re also the best tools for parent-child interaction. The “Fantastic World of Pop-Up Books” centers around the story of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” leading the public to experience the wondrous space of pop-up books. In addition, pop-up books can be combined with contemporary art. “Surprise Visionaire 55: SURPRISE” is a collaboration between the American art magazine “Visionaire” and 11 contemporary artists including Yayoi Kusama and Cai Guo-Qiang, each creating works themed around “surprise.” Eleven pop-up books were custom-designed by paper artists to match the artistic characteristics of each piece, highlighting their visual impact—leaving viewers not just amazed but only able to describe them as “masterful.”

“Fantastic World of Pop-Up Books” Special Exhibition

Dates: Now until 2012/9/16

Venue: National Museum of History

Ticket Prices: NT$200 (full price), NT$180 (discounted)

Website: popup.ishow.gmg.tw

● Related Reading: Eastern and Western Royal Jewels Compete in Taiwan—The National Palace Museum Makes a Glorious Debut

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