• 2023-08-07

The National Central Library and India Taipei Association, from July 7, 2023 to July 14, 2023, held the “Exhibition of Hua Niao Paintings by Harsha Dass: From Strokes to Shapes.” At the opening ceremony on July 6, apart from figures from Taiwan and Indian cultural, educational and business circles, others who participated enthusiastically were diplomatic envoys posted in Taiwan and Taiwan’s own Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Director-General Shu-hsien Tseng of the National Central Library said that the library regards knowledge, culture, learning, experience, innovation and cooperation as its core values, and hopes to open up international exchanges and expand its global influence. In the past decade or so, therefore, it had maintained close interactive cooperation with embassies and representative offices of various countries in Taiwan, including promoting multi-faceted exchange activities, such as exhibitions and events involving reading, language and culture. In recent years, with the support of Gourangalal Das, Director-General of the India Taipei Association, the National Central Library had collaborated with the India Taipei Association on various events. These included the successful “Contemporary India: Talk Series,” held in 2019, and the remarkable “INDIA from the Eyes of Taiwan Photography Exhibition,” in July 2022, as well as the planning, in 2023, of this “Exhibition of Hua Niao Paintings by Harsha Dass: From Strokes to Shapes,” further revealing the commitment to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and India; Director-General Gourangalal Das deserved great credit.

The principal creator of this exhibition, Ms. Harsha Dass, wife of Director-General Das, has lived in Taiwan for the past three years. She not only integrated herself into local life in order to learn Chinese conversation, but also regarded Taiwan as her home, even exploring ink and wash painting, which she had never encountered in India, expanding her artistic horizons from oil painting and mixed media to traditional Chinese danqing painting. She also likes to use her camera to capture the beauty of Taiwan and explore local art. With her brush, she not only captures the charming scenery of Taiwan, but also reflects her friendship for the people of Taiwan and her lived experience here.