As the New Taipei City Art Museum (NTCAM) prepares for its official opening and the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts (KMFA) celebrates 30 years of development, both institutions emphasize the relationship between art museums and their audiences. In this dialogue, NTCAM Director Lai Hsiang-Ling and KMFA Exhibition Director Tseng Fang-Ling discuss the challenges of how art museums balance mainstream and alternative, local and international contexts.

Tseng reflects on KMFA’s founding, underscoring the importance of focusing on local artists while introducing international art to establish the museum’s value. She notes that exhibitions must not only be artistic but also engage audiences to foster strong relationships with them. For example, the 2019 exhibition “Sunshower: Contemporary Art from Southeast Asia 1980s to Now” at KMFA attracted large audiences and enhanced engagement through interactive tours. Lai highlights NTCAM’s diverse audience, which presents an opportunity to rediscover the potential of local artists. She believes that modern art museums must provide comprehensive experiences that allow visitors to feel the allure of art as soon as they enter.

In their conversation, the two experts emphasize the crucial role that museums play in contemporary society. Museums are not just venues for displaying art but are also key components of a city’s cultural fabric. As society evolves, so do the expectations and methods through which audiences engage with art. This makes it essential for museums to adopt innovative curatorial approaches that foster deeper interaction with visitors, enriching their cultural and social significance.