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Who we are
Asia University founders Tsai Changhai, Lin Tsenglien and Board of Trustees established Taichung Healthcare and Management College in 2001. Within four years, it was upgraded as Asia Univeristy. Aware of the general scarcity of resources on school campuses in Taiwan and the relatively few chances for students to have contact with art works, Dr. Tsai hoped to influence students through the environment and give them the opportunity to accumulate aesthetic experiences to cultivate their characters.
On May 4, 2007, Dr. Tsai presented the project plan and officially invited Mr. Tadao Ando to design an art museum for Asia University. Therefore, the main purpose of inviting Tadao Ando to design the museum was to educate students and create the opportunity for them to have contact with art works from masters of international status.
In Sep. 2013, the museum was officially named Asia University Museum of Modern Art.
Director
TSAI Ming-Jiun Deputy Director
∕ Education
MFA in Curating, Department of Art, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UKMFA in Fine Art, Department of Fine Arts, The College of Fine Arts and Creative
Design, Tunghai University, Taichung, TAIWAN
∕ Present
Deputy Director of Asia University Museum of Modern ArtAssistant Professor of Center for General Education of Asia University
∕ Experience (selected)
Assistant Professor (Full-time), Department of Fine Arts, Tunghai University, TAIWAN
2021 - 2023 Regional Representative, Mekong Cultural Hub, TAIWAN
2023, Chief Curator, Listening to the Overtones of Fissures - Green Island Human
Rights Art Festival, TAIWAN
2021, Co-curator, A Rhythm of Tree Forming the Forest, Chiayi Art Musuem, TAIWAN
2020, Co-Curator, Survival of the exceptional, Tainan Art Museum, TAIWAN
2020, Co-planner, Arts of Coming Down to Earth in ‘Taipei Biennial 2020 - You can I
Don’t Live on the Same Planet’, TAIWAN
2019, Curator, The Desired End of Spirit – Lee Chu-Hsin Solo Exhibition, Yu-Hisu
Museum of art, TAIWAN
2019, Co-Curator, 2019 Madou Sugar Industry Art Triennial, TAIWAN
2017, Co-curator, Post-Ecolonialism Project – Practice Rooted in Communities, TAIWAN
2016, Creative Director, I Land – a collaborative performance, Asian Cultural
Council, New York City, U.S.A
2016, Curator, Situation of existence – Contemporary realistic art in East Asia, Yu
Hsiu Museum of Art, TAIWAN
2014, Curator, RE EXHIBITING & RE WRITING : Hantoo Art Group, TAIWAN
2013, Curator, To Be Continued at ‘Intersecting Vectors – Experimental Projects
from the TFAM Collection’, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, TAIWAN
Architecture
The main structure of the Asia Museum of Modern Art of Asia University is constructed with bare concrete and curtain walls. The interior is 1,244 ping and the surrounding area measures 6,000 ping.
Design by Architect Tadao Ando, the equilateral triangle is adopted as the basic element. Innumerous numbers of equilateral triangles are stacked up irregularly to form the three stories of the building. The atrium space created with the crisscrossing arrangement and outdoor terraces function as the sculpture display and outdoor café areas.
To cope with the conditions of being in a seismically active area, no vertical pillars are used. Behind the glass curtain wall are the V-shaped columns that are used for compression in most places, and for tension where the top floor of the museum is extended and cantilevered to form a shelter for the entrance plaza below.
The exterior of this avant-garde and challenging architectural design is low-key peaceful and pure, while the interior is precise and calm. It is the intention of Tadao Ando to allow people, art and nature to meet and have dialog here.
Design by Architect Tadao Ando, the equilateral triangle is adopted as the basic element. Innumerous numbers of equilateral triangles are stacked up irregularly to form the three stories of the building. The atrium space created with the crisscrossing arrangement and outdoor terraces function as the sculpture display and outdoor café areas.
To cope with the conditions of being in a seismically active area, no vertical pillars are used. Behind the glass curtain wall are the V-shaped columns that are used for compression in most places, and for tension where the top floor of the museum is extended and cantilevered to form a shelter for the entrance plaza below.
The exterior of this avant-garde and challenging architectural design is low-key peaceful and pure, while the interior is precise and calm. It is the intention of Tadao Ando to allow people, art and nature to meet and have dialog here.
Timeline
Launch
∕ 2013.10.24
was partaken by more than 750 distinguished guests from local and abroad, including Taiwan President Ying-jeou Ma, Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu, Ms. Chiung-wei Wu Lin (wife of Mr. Lin, late co-founder of the Asia University), President of the Asia University Jing-Pha Tsai, and Director of the Museum Yu-tung Liu, in the presence of founder Mr. Chang-hai Tsai and Mr. Tadao Ando.
∕ 2013.10.23
The Asia University invited Mr. Tadao Ando to speak at the Museum Opening Speech hosted in The Grand Hotel in Taipei. The topic of his speech was: “The Opening of Asia University Museum of Art”.
Test operation
∕ 2013.09.28
Test operation kicked off: Sleepover—A Night at the Museum.
Construction completion
∕ 2013.09.04
The Museum was formally named Asia Museum of Modern Art (Asia Modernfor short) in view of its short-, medium- and long-term collections and exhibition plan.
Inspection and acception
∕ 2013.07.31
The inspection and acceptance was completed.
∕ 2013.06.09
The second level floor and the third level floor were all redone.
∕ 2013.06.08
The Asia University granted its first honorary doctorate degree to professor Charles H. S. Kao, founder of Commonwealth Publishing Group in the 99.9% completed Museum lobby.
∕ 2013.06.06
Artech Architects, founded by Kris Yao, brought the spirit of Construction Site Exhibition back from Taichung and organized a Practical Construction Workshop, sharing the construction and supervision processes with the public.
∕ 2013.05.27
Founder Mr. Tsai invited consultant to the Museum Mr. Ni to assist in preparing the inauguration of the Museum, former Secretary General of Taiwan Art Gallery Association Ting-yi Chu to serve as deputy director of the Museum, and Wan-ping Ni who had extensive experience in arts management to serve as head of the operations center.
∕ 2013.05.17
When conducting the final inspection and acceptance, Mr. Miura commented the concrete floors were not satisfactory. To obtain the best quality, Founder Mr. Tsai decided toredo the floors.
∕ 2013.03.29
Tsai-chin Ni, consultant to the Museum, connected Vice President Mr. Liu to important leaders of fine arts organizations and curators in Beijing:internationally renowned curator Mr. Xian-ting Li, Professor Qing-sheng Zhu at Peking University, President of China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Gong-kai Pan and Curator of CAFA Art Museum Huang-sheng Wang, and Director of National Art Museum of China Di-an Fan
∕ 2013.01-15
The 100thconstruction-site meeting was held.
∕ 2013.01-15
Taichung City Mayor Jason Huassisted the Museum to develop an international exchange program with the world’s major museums includingLouvre Museum, the British Museum, the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, and Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The main part of the building was completed
∕ 2012.11.23
The main part of the building was completed. Mr. Ando completed the inspection and affirmed that the construction was high quality, close to first class.
∕ 2012.11.20-21
The Asia University organized the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration in which directors of museums/arts centers from six universities, i.e. Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, Oxford University, University of Tokyo, and Asia University, gathering in Taiwan and visiting the Museum construction site.
∕2012.07.20
Vice President Yu-tung Liu visited the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and Museum Director Paul Smith agreed to attend the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration.
∕2012.07.18
Vice President Yu-tung Liu visited the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge, and Museum Director James C.S. Lin agreed to attend the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration.
∕2012.06.14
Vice President Yu-tung Liu visited the University Museum at the University of Tokyo, and Museum Director Yoshiaki Nishino agreed to attend the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration.
∕2012.05.30
President Jing-Pha Tsai visited theCantorCenter for Visual Arts atStanfordUniversity, and Connie Wolf, Director of the CantorCenter, agreed to attend the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration.
∕2011.12.20-2012.01-20
A daily construction meeting was held every day for 30 days.
∕2012.01.06
The Chang-hai Tsai Education Foundation sponsored the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth Construction Site Exhibition.
∕2011.12.03
The Chang-hai Tsai Education Foundation sponsored the seventh, eighth, and ninth Construction Site Exhibition.
∕2011.11.26
The Chang-hai Tsai Education Foundation sponsored the fourth, fifth, and sixth Construction Site Exhibition.
∕2011.11.09
Vice President Yu-tung Liu visited theCarpenterCenter for the Visual Arts atHarvardUniversity, and David Rodowick, Director of theCarpenterCenter agreed to attend the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration organized by the AsiaUniversity.
∕2011.10.18
Founder Mr. Tsai invited fine art heavyweight Mr. Kuang-nan Huang, former director of several major national museums in Taiwan and former president of National Taiwan University of Arts, to serve as Chief Advisor, and former Director of Taipei Artist Village Yao-hua Su as Deputy Director of the Museum.
∕2011.10.15
Sponsored by the Chang-hai Tsai Education Foundation, the Asia University supervised and Eslite Bookstore organized the first, second, and third Construction Site Exhibition.
∕2011.10.11
The construction was suspended for 2 months for upgrading constant temperature and humidity system and gas fire suppression system in all exhibit rooms to European construction standards like the Picasso Foundation’s .
∕2011.07.02
The 1:1 two-story mock-up passed all requirements.
∕2011.05.05
The first Consultative Meeting on Museum’s Development and Operations was convened with participants including Kuang-nan Huang (former Director of Taipei Fine Arts Museum, former Director of National Museum of History, President of National Taiwan University of Arts, Minister of the Executive Yuan), Tsai-chin Ni (former Director of National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Professor of Fine Arts at Tunghai University, Chairman of Shyi Der-Jinn Foundation), Man-li Lin (former Director of National Palace Museum, Director of Taipei Fine Arts Museum),Mao-lin Shih (former Minister of Justice) who has a profound understanding of arts, and Cheng-kuang Ho (President of Artist Magazine).
Start
∕2011.01.24
The groundbreaking ceremony was held.
∕2011.01.02
The project formally kicked off and the construction site was ready to break the ground.
Final model and construction model
∕2010.12.22-25
The Taiwan-Japan joint team met in Osaka, discussing construction specifications and execution strategies for meeting the “Osaka standards”.
∕2010.10.29
The third tender: A Taiwan-Japan joint team passed the “Osaka standards” requirements in the committee’s first and second evaluation rounds.
∕2010.10.18
A note from Mr. Miura was received: Mr. Ando managed to invite six fair-faced concrete specialists from Ishida Construction Company, Japan, to join the project
∕2010.03.31
Five Taiwanese construction companies and five Japanese construction companies rejected the University’s invitation to construction.
∕2010.03.17
The second tender: The construction committee required mock-ups in order to understand tenderers’ ability to meet the “Osaka standards”. Three tenderers all failed.
∕2009.12.23
The first tender: To ensure the world’s highest fair-faced concrete construction standards set by Ando for the past five decades, Mr. Ando sent his second-in-charge Mr. Fumihiko Iwama to join the tender committee. The committee members reviewed 6 construction works in Taichung,Kaohsiung, and Taipei, and found three tenderers unable to meet the “Osaka standards”.
∕2009.09.25
On the eve of the groundbreaking ceremony, Mr. Ando sent a letter indicating he wouldn’t make the trip toTaiwan for the coming year because of his illness and surgery. The groundbreaking ceremony had to be delayed.
∕2009.04.05
Mr. Ando, founder Mr. Tsai, and Ms. Chia-chi Lin (member of the Board of Trustees) went to Artech Architects’ office in Taipei for a construction drawings meeting.
∕2009.02.18-21
The Tadao Ando Architect & Associates and the AsiaUniversity co-organized “2009 Travel with Tadao Ando”.
∕2008.12.22
Mr. Ando presenting himself at the press conference in Taiwan on announcement for his design concept for the Museum was selected as one of the Top Ten Visual Arts News inTaiwan in 2008.
Detailed design documents
∕2008.11.25
Mr. Miura and delegates from Artech Architects briefed design details with fonder Mr. Tsai and the Board of Trustees.
∕2008.07.22
Mr. Miura and delegates from Artech Architects discussed design detailswith founder Mr. Tsai and the Board of Trustees.
∕2008.04.21
The AsiaUniversity and the Taichung City Government co-organized the Tadao Ando Lecture at theAsiaUniversity attracting an audience of 5,000 people.
Design development
∕2008.04.21
Mr. Ando and Architect Kris Yaopresented Founder Mr. Tsai, the Board of Trustees, teachers and students with their final design in scale drawings and models.
∕2008.03.03-06
The Tadao Ando Architect & Associates and the Asia University co-organized “2008 Travel with Tadao Ando” attracting 200 participants.
∕2008.01.10
Mr. Ando spoke on the AsiaUniversitycampus at a forum and guided teachers and students through the construction site and his triangle design concept.
Schematic design
∕2008.01.09
Mr. Ando presented himself at the press conference in Taipei on announcement for his triangle design concept—equilibrium among the environment, architecture, and human beings.
∕2007.12.28
The AsiaUniversity purchased Rodin’sThe Thinker as the highlight object of the Museum collection.
∕2007.12.22
Representatives of the AsiaUniversityand Taiwan-based Artech Architects (founded by Kris Yao) went to Mr. Ando’s Osaka Office for initial design scheme discussion
∕2007.10.25
Mr. Ando sent Mr. Tomonori Miura and other delegates to visit the construction site in Taichung.
∕2007.08.07
Founder Mr. Tsai visited Mr. Ando’s famous works, including the Church of the Light.
∕2007.08.06
∕2007.06.09
Founder Mr. Tsai waited for nearly 6 hours at the Taipei Arena for Mr. Ando’s 1 minute of free time (after his speech to thirteen thousand people) to personally request his favor.
∕2007.05.04
Founder Mr. Tsai waited for nearly 6 hours at the Taipei Arena for Mr. Ando’s 1 minute of free time (after his speech to thirteen thousand people) to personally request his favor.
【Architectural Exhibition of Ando Tadao 】
Architectural Philosophy of Tadao Ando：Triangular Facets of Humanity, Environment and Architecture
Asia University Museum of Modern Art is composed of fair-faced concrete and glass curtain walls, with an indoor area of 4,112 square meters and an outdoor area of 19,834 square meters. Following architect Mr. Tadao Ando’s concept, equilateral triangle is the basic design element, which represents humanity, environment and architecture. This extremely simple yet symbolic shape is displaced and stacked in three dimensions and planes to produce complex and diverse spaces and scenes, as well as a spiral-like viewing flow-line.
Although the equilateral triangular shape seems simple, it is a challenging structure from the architectural point of view. In response to the geographical conditions of the Wufeng earthquake zone, the museum is supported by V-shaped pillars. These V-shaped pillars not only have strong visual characteristics and strengthen the aesthetic image of the equilateral triangle shape, but also resist the lateral forces and vertical loads of earthquakes, meeting the structural requirements of seismic resistance.
Another major feature of the museum is the delicate fair-faced concrete almost in a homogeneous texture. In order to achieve the "world's highest standard of fair-faced concrete construction" established by Mr. Ando in Osaka, Japan, the construction of the museum was carried out under the guidance of on- site supervisors from a Japanese construction company and Japanese formwork craftsmen. With the cooperation of the Taiwan-Japan joint construction team, the construction passed the "Osaka Standard" selection in the third bidding, and ocially broke ground in 2011.
Timeline
2007.05.04
Founder Mr. Chang-Hai Tsai sent a formal invitation letter to Mr. Tadao Ando for architectural design of the Museum.
2007.06.09
Founder Tsai waited for nearly 6 hours at the Taipei Arena for Mr. Ando's 1 minute of free time(after his speech to thirteen thousand people) to personally request his favor.
2007.08.17
Founder Tsai invited Mr. Kris Yao to be the "Executive Local Architect".
2008.03.03
Co-organized "2008 Ando Trip" with Mr. Ando's office.
2008.04.21
Co-organized “the Tadao Ando Lecture” with Taichung City Government.
2010.10.29
A Taiwan-Japan joint team passed the "Osaka standards" requirements in the committee's first and second evaluation rounds.
2011.01.24
The groundbreaking ceremony was held.
2011.10.15
Sponsored by the Chang-hai Tsai Education Foundation, the Asia University supervised and Eslite Bookstore organized the Construction Site Exhibition.
2012.11.20
Organized the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration in which directors of museums/arts centers from Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, Oxford, Tokyo, and Asia University.
2012.11.23
The main part of the building was completed. Mr. Ando completed the inspection and affirmed that the construction was high quality.
2013.01.31
The 100th construction-site meeting was held.
2013.05.17
When conducting the final inspection and acceptance, Mr. Miura commented the concrete floors were not satisfactory. To obtain the best quality, Founder Mr. Tsai decided to redo the floors.
2013.06.06
Artech Architects, founded by Kris Yao, organized a Practical Construction Workshop, sharing the construction and supervision processes with the public.
2013.07.31
The inspection and acceptance was completed.
2013.10.23
Invited Mr. Ando to speak at the Museum Opening Speech hosted in The Grand Hotel in Taipei.
2013.10.24
The Grand Opening Ceremony was partaken by more than 750 distinguished guests from local and abroad, including the then Taiwan President Ying-Jeou Ma, the then Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu,Ms. Chiung-wei Wu Lin (wife of Mr. Lin, co-founder of Asia University), President of the Asia University Jeffrey J.P. Tsai in the presence of founder Mr. Chang-Hai Tsai and Mr. Tadao Ando.
Asia University Museum of Modern Art is composed of fair-faced concrete and glass curtain walls, with an indoor area of 4,112 square meters and an outdoor area of 19,834 square meters. Following architect Mr. Tadao Ando’s concept, equilateral triangle is the basic design element, which represents humanity, environment and architecture. This extremely simple yet symbolic shape is displaced and stacked in three dimensions and planes to produce complex and diverse spaces and scenes, as well as a spiral-like viewing flow-line.
Although the equilateral triangular shape seems simple, it is a challenging structure from the architectural point of view. In response to the geographical conditions of the Wufeng earthquake zone, the museum is supported by V-shaped pillars. These V-shaped pillars not only have strong visual characteristics and strengthen the aesthetic image of the equilateral triangle shape, but also resist the lateral forces and vertical loads of earthquakes, meeting the structural requirements of seismic resistance.
Another major feature of the museum is the delicate fair-faced concrete almost in a homogeneous texture. In order to achieve the "world's highest standard of fair-faced concrete construction" established by Mr. Ando in Osaka, Japan, the construction of the museum was carried out under the guidance of on- site supervisors from a Japanese construction company and Japanese formwork craftsmen. With the cooperation of the Taiwan-Japan joint construction team, the construction passed the "Osaka Standard" selection in the third bidding, and ocially broke ground in 2011.
Timeline
2007.05.04
Founder Mr. Chang-Hai Tsai sent a formal invitation letter to Mr. Tadao Ando for architectural design of the Museum.
2007.06.09
Founder Tsai waited for nearly 6 hours at the Taipei Arena for Mr. Ando's 1 minute of free time(after his speech to thirteen thousand people) to personally request his favor.
2007.08.17
Founder Tsai invited Mr. Kris Yao to be the "Executive Local Architect".
2008.03.03
Co-organized "2008 Ando Trip" with Mr. Ando's office.
2008.04.21
Co-organized “the Tadao Ando Lecture” with Taichung City Government.
2010.10.29
A Taiwan-Japan joint team passed the "Osaka standards" requirements in the committee's first and second evaluation rounds.
2011.01.24
The groundbreaking ceremony was held.
2011.10.15
Sponsored by the Chang-hai Tsai Education Foundation, the Asia University supervised and Eslite Bookstore organized the Construction Site Exhibition.
2012.11.20
Organized the 2012 University Museums Symposium on Global Collaboration in which directors of museums/arts centers from Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, Oxford, Tokyo, and Asia University.
2012.11.23
The main part of the building was completed. Mr. Ando completed the inspection and affirmed that the construction was high quality.
2013.01.31
The 100th construction-site meeting was held.
2013.05.17
When conducting the final inspection and acceptance, Mr. Miura commented the concrete floors were not satisfactory. To obtain the best quality, Founder Mr. Tsai decided to redo the floors.
2013.06.06
Artech Architects, founded by Kris Yao, organized a Practical Construction Workshop, sharing the construction and supervision processes with the public.
2013.07.31
The inspection and acceptance was completed.
2013.10.23
Invited Mr. Ando to speak at the Museum Opening Speech hosted in The Grand Hotel in Taipei.
2013.10.24
The Grand Opening Ceremony was partaken by more than 750 distinguished guests from local and abroad, including the then Taiwan President Ying-Jeou Ma, the then Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu,Ms. Chiung-wei Wu Lin (wife of Mr. Lin, co-founder of Asia University), President of the Asia University Jeffrey J.P. Tsai in the presence of founder Mr. Chang-Hai Tsai and Mr. Tadao Ando.
