Islands Dialogue: Keelung, Penang, Manila —— A Walk through the Imagination of Space-Time Relics

Using a city networks approach, this project explores the historical encounters of Keelung, Manila, and Penang, which gradually evolved into exchanges between the three cities. Islands Dialogue focuses on the preservation of urban cultural heritage and contemplates the role of artistic creativity in the revitalization and innovation of cultural resources. The project is curated by the Cultural Taiwan Foundation and the Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, and involves the collaboration of film documentation, design, book selection, and curatorial teams.

Starting from the historical development of the Age of Discovery, the project explores the historical memories, material culture, colonization, and economic and trade networks among port cities over the past century. Through reading about and visiting the historic sites, the project aims to enter the space of these monuments to understand the cultural links between Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries and the challenges they face together. The exhibition is divided into four sub-themes: Island Navigation, Archaeology of Port Cities, Prayer for Sea Cities, and Island Co-Prosperity. The exhibition is titled “Islands Dialogue:  Keelung, Penang, Manila—A Walk through the Imagination of Space-Time Relics”. The exhibition will include lectures by experts from the three countries, historic site tours, book selection display, archaeological documentary screenings, and podcasts. It is hoped that together, we are able to figure out how to achieve creativity and value via sustainable development of historic spaces.