Forbes magazine described the Chimei Museum in 1996 as “one of the world’s most surprising art collections.” This remarkable institution is renowned for its extensive collection of Western art, musical instruments, weaponry, and natural history. The museum offers a unique cultural experience, blending art, history, and nature in a captivating setting.
Watch the following video about the Chimei Museum for more interesting images.
Covering an area of about 10 hectares (24.7 acres) in Tainan Metropolitan Park (臺南都會公園), the Chimei Museum is a striking European-style building. It is by far the largest private museum in Taiwan and is referred to as the Louvre Museum of Taiwan.
The founder of the Chimei Museum
The Chimei Museum was founded by Shi Wen-long (許文龍), a Taiwanese businessman and philanthropist. Born into a poor family in 1928, Shi often went to the Tainan Prefecture Educational Museum to appreciate the various exhibits when he was in elementary school. During that period, he thought to himself that if he were to become successful one day, he would build a museum so that the beauty of art could be shared with everyone.
Mr. Shi founded Chi Mei Industrial Co. in 1960, which is now one of the world’s leading suppliers of plastic and rubber materials. Over the decades, Shi expanded into various industries, and today, the Chi Mei Group includes numerous subsidiaries in industries ranging from consumer electronics to medical services to petrochemicals. As an art lover and amateur violinist, Shi Wen-long founded the Chimei Museum, which houses the largest collection of violins in the world.
The history of the Chimei Museum
Shi Wen-Long’s passion for art and culture led him to establish a cultural foundation in 1977 dedicated to collecting and preserving artifacts, works of art, and musical instruments from around the world. In 1992, he founded the Chimei Museum to create a space where the public could access and appreciate a diverse range of artistic and cultural artifacts free of charge.
Over the years, the museum has expanded its collection and enhanced its reputation, attracting visitors from around the world. In 2014, it underwent a significant transformation with the inauguration of its new building in Tainan Metropolitan Park, which increased its capacity to host more extensive exhibitions and accommodate more visitors.
The building of the Chimei Museum
The Chimei Museum’s building is an architectural marvel that blends classical and modern design elements. Inspired by European palatial architecture, the structure features grand columns, a large dome, and expansive exhibition halls. The museum’s design emphasizes spaciousness and light, providing an ideal environment for displaying its vast collections. The interior is designed to guide visitors through a seamless journey of discovery, with well-organized galleries and interactive exhibits.
Construction of the new building began in 2008 and was completed in 2012 at a total cost of NT$1.85 billion (US$61.6 million). The museum complex occupies a 9.5-hectare site provided by the Tainan city government. It includes a lake, a theater, a water fountain, and outdoor art installations, including statues depicting the 12 Olympian gods and goddesses from Greek mythology. The Chi Mei Group donated the main museum structure to the city government shortly after its completion, and the Chimei Museum Foundation, established in 2011, was subsequently granted management rights to the museum and metropolitan park for 50 years.
The landscape of the Chimei Museum
Located in the beautiful Tainan Metropolitan Park, the museum offers a serene and picturesque landscape that enhances the visitor experience. The park surrounding the museum features lush gardens, tranquil ponds, and well-maintained walking paths. The outdoor sculptures and art installations complement the environment’s natural beauty, creating a harmonious blend of art and nature.
Situated in front of the Chimei Museum compound is a replica of the Fountain of Apollo (阿波羅噴泉) at the Palace of Versailles (凡爾賽宮) in France. The fountain depicts the Greek sun god Apollo rising from the sea at daybreak in his four-horse chariot.
Before the replica was transported to Taiwan, it took three years to make the mold of the sculpture in France and another three years to carve the marble in Italy. The Fountain of Apollo is magnificent, but it only erupts at a set time because of water conservation.
Between the museum and the Fountain of Apollo is the Olympus Bridge (奧林帕斯橋), where the statues of 12 gods and goddesses from Greek mythology are mounted on each side. The Olympus Bridge and the Muse Plaza (繆斯廣場) are hotspots where many people like to take their wedding or graduation photos. At the highest point of the building is the Angel of Glory (榮耀天使), symbolizing the glory of the world.
The exhibitions of the Chimei Museum
The Chimei Museum is renowned for its diverse and comprehensive exhibitions. The museum’s collection is divided into several main categories: Fine Arts, Musical Instruments, Arms and Armor, Natural History, and Antiquities.
Over the past decades, the museum has expanded its collection to over 13,000 pieces, mainly in Western art, musical instruments, weaponry, animal taxidermy, and fossils. Currently, about 4,000 items are on display, roughly one-third of its entire collection.
As of 2015, the museum had a violin collection of over 1,362 instruments, including those made by Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesu, Nicolo Amati, Rogeri, Jacob Stainer, Joseph Guarneri, Filius Andrea, Seraphin, Gagliano, Vincenzo Rugeri, Guadagnini, and other famous artisans.
The Chimei Museum houses approximately 1,300 cellos, violas, and violins, including exquisite creations by renowned Italian luthiers of the 17th and 18th centuries. It is also home to the world’s oldest playable cello, made in 1566 by renowned violin maker Andrea Amati. It also holds precious works by the Stradivari and Guarneri families, the world’s two most respected violin-making dynasties, including Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù’s “Ole Bull” — one of the most famous and expensive violins. In fact, Shi successfully bid for it in 1992, and it is the most valuable piece in the Chimei Museum, with an estimated value of about NT$300 million (US$10 million).
These treasured violins and cellos are not only exhibited in the Chimei Museum for the general public to appreciate, but more than 220 of them have been borrowed by over 3,000 performers over the years, including world-renowned Yo-Yo Ma (馬友友) and Cho-Liang Lin (林昭亮), free of charge.
In conclusion, the Chimei Museum is a cultural treasure with a rich and diverse collection that appeals to art lovers, history buffs, and nature enthusiasts alike. It is not only a place to view art, but also a destination to enjoy nature.
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