Chimei Museum

{{Short description|Museum in Rende, Tainan, Taiwan}} {{Infobox museum | name = Chimei Museum | native_name = 臺南都會公園奇美博物館 | native_name_lang = zh-tw | logo = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Chimei museum1.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|22|56|4.53|N|120|13|33.23|E|type:landmark_region:TW|display=inline,title}} | former_name = | established = 1992 | dissolved =  | location = No. 66, Sec. 2, Wenhua Rd., Rende, Tainan 71755, Taiwan | type = Museum | accreditation = | key_holdings = | collections = | collection_size = 12,000 (2016)<ref name="Taiwan Topics 2016" /> | visitors = 1.5 million (2015)<ref>{{cite news| url=http://m.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/1582297 |author=吳俊鋒 |title=奇美博物館入場券今年春節還是很搶手 |work=Liberty Times |location=Taiwan |accessdate=10 March 2016}}</ref> | founder = Shi Wen-long<ref name="Taiwan Topics 2016" /> | executive_director = | leader_type = | leader = | director = Ling-Ling Kuo | president = | ceo = | chairperson = | curator = | architect = Tsai Yi-cheng (蔡宜璋)<ref name="Taiwan Topics 2016" /> | historian = | owner = | public_transit = | parking = | network = | website = {{URL|https://www-o.chimeimuseum.org/ml/English/3|www.chimeimuseum.org}} | embedded = }} The '''Chimei Museum''' ({{lang-zh|t=奇美博物館|w=Chʻi²-mei³ Po²-wu⁴-kuan³|p=Qíměi Bówùguǎn}}) is a private museum established in 1992 by Shi Wen-long of Chi Mei Corporation in Rende District, Tainan, Taiwan. The museum's collection is divided into five categories: Fine arts (including painting, sculpture, decorative arts and period furniture); Musical instruments; Natural history and fossils; Arms and armor; Antiquities and artifacts. The museum is known for housing the world's largest violin collection and for its significant collections of ancient weapons and sculptures.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/chimei-museum-taiwan/index.html Taiwan's museum 'for the poor' home to world's largest violin collection]</ref><ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/01/03/2003608367 Tainan's new CHIMEI museum opens with focus on Western art]</ref> Forbes magazine, in its February 1996 article on private collectors in Asia, called the Chimei Museum "one of the world's most surprising art collections."<ref>Chi-Mei Museum, ''Forbes'', February 1996.</ref> The museum moved to its current venue on Wenhua Road in 2014, and it is open to the public except on designated days.

== Background == [[File:奇美創辦人許文龍北埔會友人不拉小提琴換彈曼陀林.jpg|thumb|Founder Shi Wen-long]] thumb|Original building of the Chi Mei Museum The museum was first established and housed in an administration building of the Chi Mei Corporation in 1992 by the company's founder Shi Wen-long, then relocated to the Tainan Metropolitan Park in 2014, and reopened in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=About CHIMEI Museum|url=http://www.chimeimuseum.org/ml/English/3|website=CHIMEI Museum|accessdate=20 March 2019|archive-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105021032/http://www.chimeimuseum.org/ml/English/3|url-status=dead}}</ref> Shi is known for his collection of antique violins housed in the museum. Besides being an entrepreneur, Shi is also an amateur violinist who has performed in public many times. To improve the level of classical music and western art in Taiwan, he founded the Chi Mei Culture Foundation in 1977 and has been providing scholarships through the Chimei Arts Award to developing artists in both classical music and fine arts since 1988.<ref>{{cite web|title=CHIMEI Museum Temporary Exhibition, Hyperrealism Art in Taiwan|url=https://www.chimeimuseum.org/ml/English/3/49/159|website=CHIMEI Museum|date=20 March 2019|access-date=20 March 2019|archive-date=9 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109193854/https://www.chimeimuseum.org/ml/English/3/49/159|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Born in 1928 during wartime to a family of 10 children, Shi found escape at a "small local museum in Tainan."<ref name="Maggie Hiufu Wong">{{Cite web |author=Maggie Hiufu Wong |title=Taiwan's museum 'for the poor' home to world's largest violin collection |url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/chimei-museum-taiwan/index.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=CNN |date=4 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> He later founded Chi Mei Museum in 1992 with the idea of building a museum for all, especially the underprivileged and those "who don't have a chance to travel and see museums abroad."<ref name="Maggie Hiufu Wong"/> He was an amateur performing concert violinist.<ref>Forbes. [https://archive.today/20120731093027/http://www.forbes.com/finance/lists/10/2004/LIR.jhtml?passListId=10&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=N3P6&datatype=Person Wen Long Shi & family]. 25 February 2004.</ref> Shi Wen-long died on 18 November 2023, at the age of 95.<ref name="cnaengobit">{{cite news |last1=Lai |first1=Yen-hsi |last2=Hsiao |first2=Alison |title=Taiwan's Chimei Group founder dies at 95 |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202311180013 |access-date=18 November 2023 |agency=Central News Agency |date=18 November 2023 |quote=Having investments in petrochemicals in China, Chimei Group was said to have started feeling pressure from the Chinese government, with its local partner companies meeting different kinds of difficulties, including tax audits. In 2005, China passed the Anti-Secession Law, threatening to use force if Taiwan inches toward independence, and the DPP and hundreds of Taiwanese civil groups staged a major "democracy and peace protecting Taiwan" parade in protest against the law. Right before the parade, Shi released a public statement renouncing Taiwan's independence and supporting the concept of one China and the law. A local media outlet, citing one of Shi's old friends, reported that the statement was initiated by Beijing and the decision was excruciating for Shi, who cried when he talked about it.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=吳 |first1=秉鍇 |title=許文龍逝世／「錢是要用的，不是要省的」奇美善盡社會責任成美談 |url=https://money.udn.com/money/story/5612/7583212 |access-date=18 November 2023 |work=United Daily News |date=18 November 2023 |language=zh}}</ref>

== Building == thumb|Chimei Museum 奇美博物館 The museum was designed by architect Tsai Yi-cheng based on a design brief that it inspire a cultural renaissance by incorporating the best of western culture. Because of this the museum has a large number of domes, pilasters, and columns. It is energy efficient and has a LEED Silver rating.<ref name="Taiwan Topics 2016" /> Its facades are decorated with all three Classical orders: Corinthian, Ionic, and Doric.<ref name="Museums & Galleries - Chimei Museum "/> The museum's main building cost NT$2 billion to build.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff Writer |title=Tainan's new Chimei museum opens with focus on Western art |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/01/03/2003608367 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |date=3 January 2015 |publisher=Taipei Times |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>

The museum has a complete luthier's workshop to support the instrument collection.<ref name="Taiwan Topics 2016" />

== Grounds == A replica of the Bassin d'Apollo greets visitors at the museum entrance. The 1:1 replica was unveiled in 2014. The museum commissioned French artist Gilles Perrault in 2008 to reproduce the Fountain of Apollo, same as the one in Palace of Versailles. It took three years for modern laser measuring and the plaster mold to be made in France for the reproduction sculpture, and another three years to carve the marbles in the city of Carrara, Italy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/2608127 |title=Fountain of Apollo sculpture unveiled in Tainan |access-date=2019-07-15 |archive-date=2019-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715075359/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/2608127 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Between the Chimei Museum and the Fountain of Apollo sits the "Olympus Bridge", which features statues of the Twelve Olympians on both sides.<ref name="Museums & Galleries - Chimei Museum ">{{Cite web |url=https://www.moc.gov.tw/en/News_Content2.aspx?n=506&s=220120 |title=Museums & Galleries - Chimei Museum |access-date=2024-07-18}}</ref>

The "Muse Plaza" is located between the Olympus Bridge and the main building, named after the Muses, the mythological figures that gave rise to the term "museum".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/chimei-museum-tainan/ |title=Chimei Museum: Taiwan’s Grandest (and Most Unexpected!) Museum|access-date=2025-07-18}}</ref>

== Exhibitions == The museum has several exhibition areas, including fine arts, natural history and fossils, arms and armour, musical instruments, and sculptures. The museum has a collection of European paintings from the 13th to the 20th century, presenting the development of western art. The historic weapon exhibition presents weapons from prehistoric time, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age to modern times. The collection features few artifacts from Taiwan or areas close to it as the main idea of the collection is to allow Taiwanese people to see artwork and pieces that they otherwise would have to travel a long way and spend a lot of money to see. The museum's founder grew up disadvantaged and wants to ensure that local children can be inspired by global culture even if their families do not have the resources to travel extensively.<ref name="Taiwan Topics 2016" >{{cite web |last1=Crook |first1=Steven |title=Chimei Museum's Violins and Tools of Violence |url=https://topics.amcham.com.tw/2016/07/chimei-museums-violins-tools-violence/ |website=topics.amcham.com.tw |date=21 July 2016 |publisher=Taiwan Topics |accessdate=18 July 2020}}</ref>

<gallery> File:Interiors of the Chi Mei Museum-27.2023-07-14.jpg|Fine arts File:An Italian Neapolitan Ormolu-mounted, Vernis Martin and Gilded Wood Sedan Chair. 2023-07-14.jpg|An Italian Neapolitan Ormolu-mounted, Vernis Martin and Gilded Wood Sedan Chair File:Interiors of the Chi Mei Museum-36.2023-07-14.jpg|Clocks File:Interiors of the Chi Mei Museum-25.2023-07-14.jpg|Household silvers </gallery>

=== Musical instruments === Wen-Long Shi, the founder of the museum, was an amateur violinist and the Museum's collection began as his own personal collection.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Andrew |title=A PILGRIMAGE TO TAIWAN'S EXTRAORDINARY INSTRUMENT COLLECTION |url=https://www.classical-music.uk/features/article/a-pilgrimage-to-taiwan-s-extraordinary-instrument-collection |website=classical-music.uk |publisher=Classical Music |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> The museum collects musical instruments of historical significance, in particular violins and other string instruments by Antonio Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù, Jacob Stainer, Amati, Rogeri, Joseph Guarneri Filius Andrea, Vincenzo Rugeri, Seraphin, Gagliano, Guadagnini and other famous artisans.<ref>[http://cm2.chimeimuseum.org/tw/filter.aspx Chimei Museum Instrument Database]</ref> The collection is noted for the Guarneri del Gesù "Ole Bull" violin of 1744, which is believed to be the last work of the famed artisan.<ref>[http://cm2.chimeimuseum.org/tw/entry.aspx?id=Ita0014 Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, 1744]</ref> {{As of|2019}}, the museum houses more than 1,370 violins and has allowed more than 3,000 violinists to borrow from the collection, with more than 220 violins out on loan.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2015/07/06/2003622394 Chimei Museum promises to continue loan of violins]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/news/art/30365070 |title=Lost in the treasures |date=March 2019 |access-date=2019-03-20 |archive-date=2019-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090844/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/art/30365070 |url-status=live }}</ref> The museum loans the antique instruments to distinguished musicians free of charge. In 1999, Yo-Yo Ma borrowed the ''Pawle Stradivarius'' cello for a concert in Taipei.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Magnate And His Music |website=Forbes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807151227/https://www.forbes.com/global/2012/0806/heroes-of-philanthropy-shi-wen-long-taiwan-violin-magnate-and-his-music.html |archive-date=2022-08-07 |url-status=live |url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2012/0806/heroes-of-philanthropy-shi-wen-long-taiwan-violin-magnate-and-his-music.html}}</ref><ref>[http://cm2.chimeimuseum.org/tw/entry.aspx?id=Ita0028 Antonio Stradivari ca.1730]</ref> In 2015, Yu-Chien Tseng won the silver prize (no gold prize was awarded)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tchaikovskycompetition.com/en/news/106.htm|title=Results of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition in the Violin category have been announced!|website=tchaikovskycompetition.com|accessdate=18 July 2015}}</ref> at the 15th International Tchaikovsky Competition with the ''Castelbarco-Tarisio Guarnerius'' violin from the museum.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Taiwan|first1=Today|title=ROC violin talent gets leg up from Chimei Museum|url=https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=10&post=21559}}</ref><ref>[http://cm2.chimeimuseum.org/tw/entry.aspx?id=Ita0272 Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, 1732]</ref> {{As of|2021}} the collection was the world's largest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guarding the world's largest violin collection |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/video/004338175 |website=focustaiwan.tw |date=21 September 2021 |publisher=Focus Taiwan |access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>

==== Notable instruments ==== * Viotti Stradivarius

=== Artworks ===

* ''The Madonna of Humility'' - Paolo di Giovanni Fei (Italy, 1345–1411)<ref>[http://cm.chimeimuseum.org/wSite/ct?ctNode=307&mp=chimei&xItem=15276 Website of the Museum]</ref> * ''Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me'' - Lucas Cranach the Younger (Germany, 1515–1586)<ref>[http://cm.chimeimuseum.org/wSite/ct?ctNode=307&mp=chimei&xItem=25655 Website of the Museum]</ref>[[File:Two Cyclists.jpg|thumb|''Two Cyclists'' by Yevgeniy Prokopov and Nikolay Oleynik]] * ''Saint Martin and the Beggar'' - El Greco (Spain, 1540/50-1614)<ref>[http://cm.chimeimuseum.org/wSite/ct?ctNode=307&mp=chimei&xItem=25656 Website of the Museum]</ref> * ''Charity'' - Jacques Blanchard (France, 1630–1638)<ref>[http://cm.chimeimuseum.org/wSite/ct?ctNode=307&mp=chimei&xItem=15525 Website of the Museum]</ref> * ''The Last Tears'' - Narcisse Virgilio Díaz de la Peña (France, 1807–1876) <ref>[http://cm.chimeimuseum.org/wSite/ct?ctNode=307&mp=chimei&xItem=15273 Website of the Museum]</ref> * ''Charity'' - Friedrich von Amerling (Austria, 1803–1887)<ref>[http://cm.chimeimuseum.org/wSite/ct?ctNode=307&mp=chimei&xItem=16505 Website of the Museum]</ref> * ''The Blessing of the Wheat'' - Jules Breton (France 1827–1906)<ref>[http://cm.chimeimuseum.org/wSite/ct?ctNode=307&mp=chimei&xItem=15744 Website of the Museum]</ref> * ''Two Cyclists'' - Yevgeniy Prokopov (Ukraine, 1950), Nikolay Oleinik (Ukraine, 1953-2014).

<gallery> Image:Pierre Auguste Cot-Dionisa-1870.jpg|Pierre Auguste Cot ''Dionysia'' (1870) File:Seignac Guillaume the awakening of Psyche.JPG|Guillaume Seignac ''The Awakening of Psyche'' File:Gustave Caillebotte - La femme à la rose.jpg|Gustave Caillebotte ''La femme à la rose'' File:Four Allegories of Music 1871-1873 Hans Makart.jpg|Hans Makart ''Four Allegories of Music'' (1871-1873) File:Edouard Dantan A Casting from Life.jpg|Édouard Joseph Dantan ''A Casting from Life'' File:Adriaen Coorte - Still life with a spray of gooseberries.jpg|Adriaen Coorte ''Still life with a spray of gooseberries'' File:Portrait of the Artist by Michel Martin Drolling 1819.png|Michel Martin Drolling ''Portrait of the artist'' </gallery>

== Reproductions from the museum == The museum has offered reproductions such as canvas posters, simulating sculptures made from bonded marble powder, stationery items and many classic CD recordings performed by top Taiwanese musicians on the rare instruments from the Chi Mei Collection since 1997. The museum has also published the hardcover book "Chi-Mei Collection of Fine Violins" featuring 15 world-famous string instruments made by the Italian violin makers of the 17th century.<ref>''Chi-Mei Collection of Fine Violins'', Chi-Mei Museum.</ref> Through the Shining Collection in New York, one can inquire about and purchase these reproductions.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

== Location and hours == thumb|Museum entry hall The museum address is: No. 66, Section 2, Wenhua Rd., Rende District, Tainan, Taiwan. The museum is open to the public from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, and it is closed on Wednesdays and other designated days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=奇美博物館 · 717015台灣台南市仁德區文華路二段66號 |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E5%A5%87%E7%BE%8E%E5%8D%9A%E7%89%A9%E9%A4%A8/@22.9354108,120.2224966,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x346e747aaaaaaaab:0xa88c13e665c7f4a6!8m2!3d22.9345608!4d120.2260268!15sCg_lpYfnvo7ljZrnianppKiSAQZtdXNldW3gAQA?hl=zh-TW&shorturl=1 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=奇美博物館 · 717015台灣台南市仁德區文華路二段66號 |language=zh-TW}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2025}}

==Transportation== The museum is accessible within walking distance from Bao'an Station of Taiwan Railway.

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category|Chi Mei Museum}} * [http://www.chimeimuseum.org/ml/English/3/ Official Website] * [https://walkinto.in/tour/-1f5Dz9gWXZJlM9DMqebm Museum Virtual Tour] * {{facebook|chimeimuseum}} * [https://www.gillesperrault.com/chi-mei-culture-foundation-from-passion-to-museum/ Chimei Culture Foundation, from passion to museum]

Category:CHIMEI Group Category:1997 establishments in Taiwan Category:Art museums and galleries in Taiwan Category:Decorative arts museums Category:Museums established in 1997 Category:Museums in Tainan Category:Music museums Category:Musical instrument museums Category:Music organizations based in Taiwan