National Center of Photography and Images explores Taiwan’s photography history

National Center of Photography and Images explores Taiwan’s photography history

2026-01-08

The National Center of Photography and Images is holding an exhibit exploring Taiwan’s photography history and culture from the 1940s to the present day. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look!

One of the featured works on display is by photographer Chang Tsang-sang. He documented the aftermath of the Jiji Earthquake, which struck Taiwan on Sept. 21, 1999, and became one of the deadliest in Taiwan’s history. Chang visited 50 affected families, capturing their portraits and recording the reconstruction process in the disaster zones. Five years later, he returned to revisit these families, documenting the transformations that had taken place since the tragedy. The exhibition presents these portraits side by side, offering a powerful comparison of life before and after the disaster.

Chang Tsang-sang
Photographer
Right after the incident, many victims lived in tents. In fact, at that time, quite a number of displaced families were staying in military barracks, container houses, or even their own vehicles. During the first stage, in the months following the disaster, I documented around 50 families. As the fifth anniversary approached, I returned to the families I had previously visited, comparing two sets of photographs. In the second stage, I interviewed 37 families. Looking back at the first stage, the affected area was vast, and on site, you could see the current situation of the survivors and what their concerns were during those months. I quickly took the photos and written descriptions and gave them to newspapers, hoping to convey their circumstances. For example, they worried about what would happen when the rainy season arrived, and some people living in container houses had no accessible facilities. These were the kinds of issues I sought to highlight.

Another photographer is Yang Shun-fa. His series "The Submerged Beauty of Formosa" brings to light different buildings that are submerged underwater. Through his work, he hopes to invite viewers to reflect on the relationship between humans and the environment.

Yang Shun-fa
Photographer
What I mainly wanted to explore was: why are these houses in the sea? Why have they been submerged by seawater? Is it due to land subsidence? Global warming? Rising sea levels? After discovering the first house, I decided to use this method, to walk along the entire coastline of Taiwan. Over the course of three years, I surveyed Taiwan’s shoreline. Wherever my car could reach, I stopped every 300 meters to observe and record the condition of the coast.

This is the National Center of Photography and Image’s annual collection exhibition titled "The Realm of Narrative: Witnessing and Inner Voice Behind the Lens," which showcases works by 16 photographers that reflect over 80 years of Taiwan’s photographic development. The exhibit will be held till May 24 at the National Center of Photography and Images in Taipei.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Photography #History #Exhibition #Events #TaiwanHistory #NationalCenterofPhotographyandImages

國家攝影文化中心典藏展反映台灣80餘年的攝影歷程

2026-01-08

國家攝影文化中心舉辦年度攝影典藏展，聚焦1940年代後台灣攝影史的發展。一起來看看!

本次展覽的重點展品之一是攝影師張蒼松的作品。他記錄了1999年9月21日地震的災後景象，這場地震是台灣史上最嚴重的地震之一。張蒼松走訪了50個受災家庭，為他們拍攝肖像，以及災區的重建過程。五年後，他再次拜訪這些家庭，記錄了自災難發生以來的變化。展覽將這些肖像並排展出，對比了災前災後的生活。

[[藝術家張蒼松]]
"第一個時間，很多受害者都住在帳篷，事實上那個時間點，有不少受災戶他們住在營房、貨櫃屋，還有自己自用車等等。然後我第一個階段災後的幾個月，我記錄50個家庭左右，快滿五周年的時候，我再回到我原來訪視過的家庭，兩張照片的比對，第二個階段採訪了37個家庭，所以如果回顧第一個階段的時候，在災區整個受災的範圍很大，現場會看到災民的現階段，那幾個月他們的憂慮是什麼，就會儘快掌握第一時間把稿子跟照片發布到報社，希望把他們的現況傳達出去。比方說，他們會擔心雨季來了這麼辦，然後有的人住的貨櫃屋並沒有無障礙空間，類似這樣的議題。"

另一位攝影師是楊順發。他的系列作品"台灣水沒" 展現了不同被水淹沒的建築。他希望透過作品引發觀者對人與環境關係的思考。

[[藝術家楊順發]]
"我主要是想要探討說，這些房子為什麼會在海裡面?他為什麼會被海水淹沒?是地層下陷嗎?是全球暖化嗎?海平面上升?我發現了第一棟房子之後，所以我用了這個方法，把全台灣的海岸線全部走一遍。我當時用了三年的時間，在這邊做台灣海岸線的踏查，我車子開得到的，我每隔300公尺就下車，去看看那邊海岸線的狀況是怎麼樣。"

這是2025國家攝影文化中心典藏展，名為「敘事的向度：攝影中的在場與獨白」與「時代的側寫：攝影觀點的流轉與重構」，展出16位攝影師的作品，反映了台灣80餘年的攝影發展歷程。展覽在國家攝影文化中心舉辦到5月24日。

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If you’re thinking of a career change, have you ever thought about vehicle wrapping? The salaries are surprisingly high. Owners of high-end luxury cars like to have their precious vehicles wrapped in protective film to prevent minor scratches damaging the paint work. Industry insiders say vehicle wrapping technicians can make more than NT$100,000 a month. Let’s find out more.

When high-end luxury cars are brought in for vehicle wrapping, these technicians pay close attention to detail and carefully trim edges, putting their skills to the test.

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I have a strong passion and interest in cars, which is why I gave up my job at TSMC. As for income, if I work hard, my salary will be comparable to TSMC’s.

As he opens the fuel cap and uses a scraper to finish the job, Mr. Ho has given up a job many people envy to enter the vehicle wrapping industry.

Mr. Ho
Apprentice
I don’t think I’m someone to be pitied. We can use the money we earn from wrapping to invest in TSMC.

Holding the wrapping materials, she practices repeatedly. This apprentice is a university student. She’s using her spare time to learn a skill.

Vehicle wrapping apprentice
Learning the trade
This is a very new industry and I am very interested in wrapping.

Vehicle wrapping technicians earn a base salary plus bonuses calculated on a rate per vehicle. The upper end of their salaries can exceed NT$100,000. Some automotive repair departments in colleges and schools have observed this global market trend and plan to establish educational partnerships with vehicle wrapping companies to cultivate a second skill for their students.

Lin Chien-cheng
Vehicle wrapping technician
Of course, every industry is short of workers, but we are even more short of skilled personnel. If a professional technician can complete the work on a car by himself, it is possible to earn NT$100,000 to NT$200,000 a month.

Chou Chin-chen
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This field is another technical area within the vehicle industry and the salaries are almost four to five times higher than those in the traditional automotive industry.

Professional vehicle wrapping has become both a new industry trend and a popular field of study. And given the shortage of professional technicians, salaries are highly competitive.

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Specialty coffee pioneer launches global research and education headquarters in Taipei

Today, we take you to meet the founder of a specialty coffee brand known for its Gesha coffee beans, Joseph Brodsky. Earlier in 2025, he opened a flagship store in Taiwan, and now, his latest venture is the launch of a global research and education headquarters right in Taipei. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Brodsky to learn about the research and education headquarters.

Renowned for its Gesha coffee beans, this specialty coffee brand opened its flagship store in Taiwan in March 2025, offering micro-lot selections and personalized roasting services. In November of the same year, founder Joseph Brodsky expanded the brand’s presence by launching a global research and education headquarters in Taipei. The new space, brings Brodsky’s “Farm to Table” philosophy to life, providing visitors with a transparent and immersive journey into the world of coffee.

Joseph Brodsky
Founder
Our stores that we open in Taipei, we aim to elevate the level of coffee experience. We want to have people connect to our land and to our products in a more clear and transparent, and luxurious way than anyone is doing in the world. That is what our stores are doing in Taipei now. The atelier is our workshop. It is our workshop for enhancing our brand, for incubating our brand and for receiving our business partners from around the world. So, this is the top, let us say, "origin to market" hosting space in the world.

The atelier serves as a sensory and educational haven, spotlighting rare coffee varieties and innovative fermentation techniques developed by the brand. The space offers exclusive, limited-edition coffees and invites guests to engage in immersive tasting experiences. It also partnered with a high-end French dessert atelier. Brodsky recognizes Taiwan as a global leader in coffee culture and innovation.

Joseph Brodsky
Founder
Taiwan is the leader of what I feel is the top leader of coffee cultural development in the world over the last 20 years. Connected with a lot of my friends and business leaders in Taiwan, and now we are bringing our brand here.

Since founding the company in 2006, Brodsky has championed a process-driven approach to coffee production, inspired by his early explorations in Ethiopia and his vision of elevating coffee to the level of fine wine. His method emphasizes meticulous post-harvest protocols and the precise separation of coffee lots by varietal and terroir.

Joseph Brodsky
Founder
I first started in Ethiopia. I went to find the rarest variety of coffee in the world. I wanted to make coffee into fine wine. This was 20 years ago. I then proceeded to acquire land in Panama. Panama is the best terroir for coffee in the world. I acquired around 500 hectares of the most beautiful properties in the mountains and created the most world champion coffee from those properties, and created a brand.

Brodsky hopes that the atelier becomes a global epicenter for cofffee education, research, and sensory exploration.

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Traveling vegetarian night market attracts crowds in Taipei

Taiwan’s famous vegetarian night market travels around Taiwan with its mobile food trucks, offering everything from classic gua bao to shawarma. Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike line up to try this market’s delicious food.

Pan-fried buns sizzle on a griddle, crisping the bottom while its vegetarian filling stays juicy and tender. People line up to get these delicious buns before they sell out.

I come to this stand most often. I don’t go to the others as much.

At another stand, a chef reimagines gua bao using crispy tofu skin, making the traditional snack lighter and more flavorful. This is a well-known traveling vegetarian night market, whose team of food trucks is constantly moving around Taiwan. The best way to know their schedule and locations is to keep a close eye on their fan page.

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We’re close to the station, so there are a lot of people around. In addition to our regular customers, other people passing by came to check it out.

Outside Nangang Station in Taipei, food trucks line up next to each other to form this little night market, crowded with people looking for a bite.

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The people here are very enthusiastic, and were actually a little surprised to see a vegetarian market like ours. The market opened at 4pm, and by around 7pm,we were already sold out.

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It’s quite special, because usually there aren’t so many options for vegetarian food. It was very crowded when I passed by.

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This stall’s gua bao are made using tofu skin, which is different because most gua bao use white flour. I was looking forward to trying it, so I came here today especially.

Vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike crowd this night market, some bringing their dogs to join the fun. There were even performances close by. This market shows that vegetarian food can be just as exciting as any cuisine.

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Classrooms turn on heating as temperatures drop in Yunlin

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Snowflakes fall from the sky, making for a picture perfect wintry scene. Thursday morning was a snowy one at Song Syue Lodge on Hehuan Mountain, which got a dusting of white.

Chang Chieh-chun
Song Syue Lodge Manager
It started snowing at half past eight, and we got about half a centimeter.

Police restricted traffic along Provincial Highway 14A from Kunyang to Song Syue Lodge, and allowed only vehicles with snow chains. It was a similar scene at Tataka.

It was cold enough for snow up in the mountains. Down in the plains, it was as chilly as it gets, with just 6.7°C in Gukeng, Yunlin. At Jhanghu Elementary and Junior High School, teachers and students had to contend with the biting cold on the way to class. Thankfully, there’s heating indoors to keep the freezing cold outside.

After a while, they all take off their thick coats, and some even roll up their sleeves.

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Jhanghu Elementary and Junior High School
At least it’s warm inside the classrooms. It’s not like it’s cold everywhere.

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We tell new teachers that they shouldn’t open the windows when invigilating exams in winter. If you do, the fog will pour in and you won’t be able to catch students cheating.

Jhanghu Elementary and Junior High School is located 800m above sea level, making it comfortably cool in summer. Here, the government’s air conditioning policy for all classrooms is essentially a heating policy for the winter.

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