David on Formosa

The Taipei Fine Arts Museum (TFAM; 臺北市立美術館) currently has an exhibition of photography by Lee Ming-tiao (李鳴鵰). Lee is one of Taiwan’s most influential photographers and the exhibition provides a comprehensive look at his life’s work.

The exhibition begins with Lee’s black and white photos of Taiwan taken during the late 1940s and 1950s. These provide a unique look into life in Taiwan at that time. Many of the shots were taken in Xindian and along the Danshui River revealing a world now physically lost, but still living in the memories of many Taiwanese and Lee’s amazing photography.

The second part of the exhibition features travel photography, shot in color, from Lee’s travels around the world in the 1980s and 1990s. You can see a selection of the photos on the TFAM’s website. The photos are notable for both their technical excellence and fascinating subjects.

The exhibition runs until 5 April 2009. The museum is closed on 25 & 26 January and every Monday. Admission is free during the month of January.