Exhibition – ‘A Dialogue between Animals and Taiwanese Literature’

Following on from the 2025 exhibition dedicated to Taiwanese puppet theatre, the Chair in Taiwanese Studies at INALCO will continue its exploration in 2026 of ‘the exhibition as another possible space for exchange and dialogue with Taiwan ’. In collaboration with the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, it is presenting the exhibition ‘Animals and their relationship with human beings in contemporary Taiwanese literature: the Taiwanese experience’.
Dessins d'animaux terrestres et marins
Illustration de l'exposition « Dialogue entre les animaux et la littérature taïwanaise » © Christopher Boyd‎

Animals and their relationship with humans in contemporary Taiwanese literature: the Taiwanese experience

What would become of the world if, for a moment, we were to step out of our role as ‘human beings’?

How does a dog see the city? What does an ox remember whilst working? How do the animals that inhabit the mountains and forests intertwine with human life, memory and beliefs? When birds, fish, insects and wild animals enter literature, do they not also invite us to rethink our own place in the world?

The French illustrator Christopher Boyd was commissioned to design the visual identity for this French edition. This invites the French public to explore 21st-century Taiwanese literature through the figure of the animal, but also to take a fresh look, through literature, at Taiwanese society and the world in which human beings live.

Around the exhibition

Origami and colouring workshop on the theme of animals: ‘Animals in our hands and in our hearts’
12 October – 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm, in the Foyer

Through origami, colouring and craft activities, this workshop invites young and old alike to imagine, fold, transform and colour their own animals. Birds, fish, pets or imaginary creatures: everyone can give free rein to their imagination and create a unique piece, made from paper, hand movements and colours.

Opening of the exhibition ‘Dialogue between Animals and Taiwanese Literature’
12 October – from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, at the Gallery 

For the opening, the organisers invite participants to come wearing a small animal-themed accessory. This can take any form: an item of clothing with an animal print, an accessory, a piece of jewellery, make-up, a mask, a small object or any other element inspired by the animal world.

The idea is simple: to let everyone bring, in their own way, a symbol, a colour or an animal-themed element, to make the opening an even more lively, creative and fun occasion.

Project team

Project leaders: Chen Chiu-ling, Liu Chan-yueh
Exhibition organisation: Tseng Yu-jung
Illustrations and visual identity: Christopher Boyd
Layout and graphic design of the exhibition: Chen Yi-wen
Exhibition curator: Liu Chan-yueh

Inalco - Chaire en études taïwanaises 拷貝
Logo du National Museum of Taiwan Literature