Days, Years, Lifetimes: The Good Old Times of Lukang
Hsu Tsang-tse (1930–2006) was a documentary photographer who used images as a form of diary. Through his lens, he captured the full spectrum of everyday life, as well as cultural and natural landscapes, creating invaluable evidence for the study of Taiwan’s regional history from the 1950s to the 1990s. In 2007, the Hsu family donated this vast collection of photographs and manuscripts to the National Museum of Natural Science (NMNS), where it was
incorporated into the national collection. The accessioned collection includes 250,000 negatives, 4,500 slides, 178 glass plate negatives, 27 reels of motion picture film, 4 scrapbooks, 3 notebooks, and old newspapers. Hsu Tsang-tse’s photography preserves Lukang’s past, interprets its present, and envisions its future.
The special exhibition is divided into 9 sections centered on the axes of "Space" and "Time." The Space sections include "Changyuan Was the Place We Called Home: Taiwan Culture Base" and "Walking Through Lukang." The Time sections include "Days," "Years," and "Lifetimes." The storytelling sections feature "Becoming a Photographer: Hsu Tsang-tse's Gaze upon Lukang" and "The National Museum of Natural Science: Collection & Management," along with the music and literature sections "Rock ’n’ Roll Lukang Since 1960" and "Comics: Childhood Memories." From fleeting moments of daily life to the trajectory of a lifetime, the exhibition outlines the unique character of Lukang across different scales of time. Through historical imagery, interactive experiences, and AI-assisted digital restoration of archival materials, it leads the audience through the flow of time to rediscover Lukang’s history and culture, reflecting on the town’s position and significance within Taiwan’s social changes. Meanwhile, the exhibition is supplemented by 3D tactile panels to provide a friendly visiting experience for the visually impaired, creating an inclusive exhibition space that integrates interactivity, cultural accessibility, and educational outreach.