Skip to main content

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture launches Kuroshio Odyssey: Maritime Memories, Culture, and Landscapes

  • Date:2023-10-17

Kuroshio Odyssey: Maritime Memories, Culture, and Landscapes

The Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington collaborated for the first time on the exhibition "Kuroshio Odyssey: A Kuroshio Odyssey: Maritime Memories, Cultures, and Landscapes," which featured Taiwanese artifacts from their collection. The opening was held on October 14, 2023 at the wɫǝbʔaltxʷ - Intellectual House on the University of Washington campus.


Led by Robin Little Wing Sigo, members of the local Suquamish and Duwamish tribes, makes the land acknowledgment and welcome/bless this exhibition. In return, fellow Taiwanese Indigenous living in Seattle sang Amis songs.


The Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles mentioned that decolonization and transitional justice to drive civil societal change have been longstanding concerns in the Northwestern United States. In recent years, the Burke Museum has organized various research and exhibitions related to Taiwan, such as " Memory, History, and Storytelling- Re/visit the Indigenous Taiwanese Holdings at the Burke Museum." This collaboration builds upon the past research related to Taiwan's Indigenous peoples and uses the museum's exhibition space to prominently feature a Tatala (an assemblage boat of the Tao People) at the entrance. This canoe serves as the main focal point, guiding visitors along the exhibition route to explore the nearly century-old collection of Taiwan's Indigenous peoples.


The exhibition will be on display from October 14 to November 28, 2023, offering the audience the opportunity to engage in dialogues with four Taiwanese Indigenous artists: Uki Bauki, cultural workers Sra Kacaw, Dumai Manaaki, and Sayang Anang. Additionally, the exhibition will host screenings and post-screening discussions of films such as "Mutralun・與山," "Mainay.男人," and "巴拉冠誓約.Solemn," and an online forum on marine culture and land rights. There will also be activities covering traditional Amis cuisine and culture, Paiwan tribal tattoo culture, workshops on Taiwanese Indigenous handbags and beadwork, reading group, and other diverse events, creating immersive experiences for participants and promoting cross-cultural understanding and communication.


For more information, please visit: https://reurl.cc/OjjNdr