‘Sacred Legacy’ offers early American Indian snap shot

The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the National Taiwan Museum are co-sponsoring the exhibit, which runs from Sept. 19 to Oct. 21 at the National Taiwan Museum. It will be shown around Taiwan, then in Hong Kong.

“The exhibition’s staying here four months, the longest of any country on the tour,” said Nick Papp, director of the AIT’s American Cultural Culture. “This is because we’ve had a very strong response, a high level of interest in Native American culture here in Taiwan.”

One reason for the heightened interest, he says, is “Curtis had an amazing ability to capture the soul and sensitivities of life in the early 1900s for American Indians,” Papp said.

The other reason, he says is that “Taiwan is facing many of the same challenges as it struggles to preserve its own indigenous cultures and legacy,” and “Maybe similar photographic projects can be undertaken here to help preserve the indigenous people’s way of life.”

“Curtis was one of the first Americans who devoted his life to cultural preservation — basically he created an encyclopedia. In one sense, he was a pioneer in American cultural preservation,” Papp said.

In 1907, Edward Curtis began an undertaking that would consume him for the next 30 years: the creation of his magnum opus, “The North American Indian,” a 20-volume set of handmade books with 1,500 photos, financed in part by industrialist J.P. Morgan.

Curtis visited more than 80 tribes across the country, north into Alaska and parts of Canada. Eventually, he took more than 40,000 photographs, made over 10,000 recordings of Native language and music, produced lectures, slide shows, and a multi-media Curtis Indian Picture Opera throughout the U.S.; and in 1914 directed “In the Land of the Headhunters,” an innovative, seminal film documentary on the Kwakiutl tribe.

Curtis’ pictures of Native Americans between 1900 and 1930 are the most comprehensive photo-ethnographic record of the North American Indians ever created. In many cases, his material is the only recorded history in existence.

In 1907, Curtis wrote in the introduction to his first volume: “The information that is to be gathered ... respecting the mode of life of one of the great races of mankind, must be collected at once or the opportunity will be lost.”

The online exhibit features some of Curtis’ sepia and blue images, the majority of which were not rediscovered until three decades after his death, in Boston. They are often hauntingly beautiful, portraying his subjects with dignity, wisdom and strength, showing men and women in their daily routines — by the riverside, weaving a carpet, riding horses, at one with their surroundings and nature.

“We’re very happy to bring this exhibit to Taiwan to share with our Taiwan friends, and share such an important element of American culture,” Papp said.

The National Taiwan Museum is open to the public every Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 2, Siang-yang Road in Taipei.

For more information on the “Sacred Legacy” exhibit and an online virtual gallery, log on to the AIT’s Web site: www.ait.org.tw.

Traveling Exhibition Dates & Places

Taipei: National Taiwan Museum: Sept. 18 - Oct. 21

Taichung: National Museum of Natural Science: Oct. 27 - Nov. 25

Taitung: National Museum of Prehistory: Nov. 30 - Dec. 30

Kaohsiung: Kaohsiung Museum of History: Jan. 5 - Jan. 25

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