• 2026-02-02

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” This celebrated line from the French classic The Little Prince perfectly captures the essence of knowledge, culture, and archival collections. Their true value rarely lies on the surface; instead, it resides within the depths of profound understanding and contemplation.

Renowned for its archival excellence, the National Central Library began constructing its Southern Branch and National Repository Library in Xinying, Tainan, in 2022. This initiative extends national-level preservation services to Southern Taiwan while bridging humanistic heritage with scientific research. By integrating diverse resources, the NCL continues to foster knowledge innovation and cross-disciplinary dialogue on a global scale.

In the long history of human civilization, the exchange of information began with the image. The perception of imagery relies on the eyes, the windows to the soul, capturing light and shadow to transform the myriad things of the world into meaning. As the poet Dongpo Su famously observed, “The reason I cannot see the true face of Mount Lu is that I am standing in the midst of it.” Thus, the act of seeing requires not only a specific perspective but also a reflective distance.

Featuring polarized light and interactive puzzles, this exhibition invites you to rediscover the essence of “seeing.” Explore our special collections, including the recently donated works of Academicians Dr. Yuan-Tseh Lee and Dr. I-Chiu Liao. We invite you to shift your lens and experience the National Library’s valuable heritage. We look forward to meeting you at our future Southern Branch.