2017–Present Building Social Consensus and Enacting Transformation

In February 2017, the Ministry of Culture officially launched the transformation of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall into a neutral space that places arts and culture first. In addition to continuing to host indoor and outdoor arts and cultural exhibitions to boost the scene in Taiwan, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall has also begun to invest in projects researching Taiwanese democracy, freedom, and human rights, and organizing its own human rights exhibitions, promotional activities, and educational efforts. At the same time, the Ministry of Culture has also begun the work of building social consensus through the deliberative Democratic Vision Workshop in preparation for the next phase of transformation.
In March 2021, the Ministry of Culture further launched a phased transformation project for the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall with the goal of “de-authoritarianization.” In addition to continuing and expanding research, exhibitions, and studies on Taiwan’s democratic movement, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall has introduced the concept of transitional justice into the aforementioned activities, linking up with the resources of the National Human Rights Museum and the Memorial Foundation of 228 to hold joint activities. In addition, new guided tours have been introduced, and the physical buildings themselves are undergoing review, with any words or symbols linked to the worship of authoritarianism being removed.
On April 7, 2022, Taiwan’s Freedom of Speech Day, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall launched a permanent exhibition entitled “Taiwan’s Long Walk to Freedom of Speech,” establishing a new resource in the explication of transitional justice.

Year | Date | Major Events |
2022 | 4/7 | “Taiwan’s Long Walk to Freedom of Speech” is launched in the Permanent Exhibition Hall. |
1/17 | Minister of Science and Technology Wu Tsung-tsong visits the 4th Exhibition Hall for the exhibition “The Diverse Art of Wu Meibao.” | |
1/14 | Former Vice President Annette Lu visits Gallery (3F) for the special exhibition “Taiwan Under the Rule of Chiang Kai-shek.” | |
2021 | 12/29/2021–8/14/2022 | The “Amazing Taiwan: 3D Trick Art Exhibition II” is held in the Central Hallway. |
12/28/2021–4/14/2022 | Gallery (1F) holds the exhibition “A Symphony of Form & Color: Collections of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.” | |
12/27 | Renovation of the bathrooms in the main hall is completed. | |
12/19 | François de Rugy, former President of the French National Assembly and current chairman of the France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, visits Taiwan with a delegation from the National Assembly, including a visit to the “Taiwan Under the Rule of Chiang Kai-shek” exhibition. | |
12/18/2021–4/5/2022 | The “Eternal Mucha—The Magic of Lines” exhibition is held in the 1st Exhibition Hall. | |
12/2 | Renovation of the signs on the Gates of Great Loyalty and Great Piety is completed. | |
11/30 | The Memorial Hall publishes “Lei Chen’s Later Years and Taiwan Politics: An Analysis from the Perspective of Democracy and Human Rights.” | |
11/22/2021–2/7/2022 | Gallery (3F) hosts the special exhibition “Taiwan Under the Rule of Chiang Kai-shek.” Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te attends the opening ceremony. | |
11/9 | The Memorial Hall is awarded first prize in the 2021 Gender Equality Assessments by the Ministry of Culture. | |
10/29–12/19 | The 3rd Exhibition Hall hosts “Back to the Day of Judgment—An Exhibition of the Works of Chen Wuzhen.” Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te attends the opening ceremony. | |
10/23–10/31 | Taipei Veterans General Hospital sets up a Covid vaccination station at the Memorial Hall, completing a total of 31,874 vaccinations in nine days. On October 24, Premier Su Tseng-chang, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, and Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te visit the Management Office. | |
10/11 | The Memorial Hall hosts the indigenous performing arts show “It’s Been a Long Time Since We Got Together” in the Auditorium. | |
10/7 | Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te attends the opening of the “Craft and Charity, Lighting Up Taiwan: The 12th Annual Handicapped Persons and Prisoner Art Exhibition.” | |
9/18–9/30 | For National Heritage Day 2021, the Memorial Hall conducts online tours of historic sites and online sketching activities for the first time. | |
8/21–11/7 | The Memorial Hall holds 36 experiential learning activities under the banner “An Adventure through the Past: Navigating Eastern Route 3!” | |
8/5–12/12 | The Memorial Hall holds the “Exploring Tomorrow: Women in Motion” exhibition in the Central Hallway in cooperation with the Taiwan Women’s Center. | |
8/1–10/6 | Gallery (1F) holds the “Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Collection Exhibition X Chen Ching-Jung's Exhibition.” | |
6/29 | For the first time, the Memorial Hall organizes an online exhibition: “Returning to the Roots: 1980.” | |
6/7–9/3 | The Memorial Hall, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, holds Arts and Culture Relief 4.0, with a total of 3,569 applications processed. | |
5/15–7/12 | In line with the pandemic prevention measures of the Ministry of Culture and the Central Epidemic Command Center, the Memorial Hall is closed from May 15th to July 12th, reopening on July 13th. | |
May–July | The introductory guide for the Memorial Hall is revised, with updated editions in Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai. | |
4/29 | The Memorial Hall’s Democracy and Human Rights Network goes online. | |
4/17–12/11 | The Memorial Hall organizes 2021 seminars on transitional justice-related themes, with a total of 14 sessions. | |
4/1 | A park grounds maintenance and renovation project is completed. | |
2/6–3/15 | Gallery (3F) hosts the “Power of She Exhibition: A Brief History of the Female Service Clerks Uniforms at the CKS Memorial Hall.” | |
1/9–12/31 | The Memorial Hall holds a total of 59 arts and cultural performances on Democracy Boulevard, for Chinese New Year, and in the Gate of Great Piety square. | |
1/9–11/28 | The Memorial Hall offers live online streams of arts and cultural events, with a total of 30 performances. | |
2020 | 12/31/2020–4/5/2021 | The 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Halls host the “Grimm’s Fairy Tales: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” exhibition. |
12/29/2020–4/9/2021 | Gallery (1F) holds the exhibition “Blooming 40: Collections of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.” | |
12/25/2020–4/5/2021 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “I Love Banksy” exhibition. | |
11/13 | The Memorial Hall and Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei organize the “Nostalgic Tour of the Old Indigenous People Iron Workers Involved in the Construction of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall” in a tribute to the iron workers who were involved in building the hall. | |
10/10–10/11 | The Memorial Hall holds the large-scale indigenous art performance and cultural market “Awakening: The Force Blossoms” on Democracy Boulevard. | |
9/25/2020–3/3/2021 | The “Eye Taiwan: Taiwan 3D Art” exhibition is held in the Central Hallway. | |
9/19 | Roofed corridor rooftop tiling maintenance and renovation project is completed. | |
9/16 | Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te attends the opening of the “Craft and Charity, Lighting Up Taiwan: The 11th Annual Handicapped Persons and Prisoner Art Exhibition.” | |
9/3–11/29 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “Matsu Art Array, Earth Sigils: Lin Chi-hsin Invitational Exhibition.” | |
6/7–12/6 | The Memorial Hall offers live online streams of arts and cultural events, with a total of 30 performances. | |
5/7 | Front archway cleaning and base painting work is completed. | |
4/17 | Renovation of the exercise areas’ flooring and bonsai-area railings is completed. | |
4/15–6/15 | The Memorial Hall holds the “100 Looks of Contemporary Women” exhibition in the Central Hallway in cooperation with the Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development and the Taiwan Women’s Center. | |
1/22 | The first cultural and creative food and beverage complex, Tea House, opens in the Memorial Hall park. | |
1/18–4/19 | The 1st Exhibition Hall holds “The History of Ukiyo-E” exhibition. | |
1/18–4/7 | Gallery (3F) hosts the special exhibition “The Supreme Great Leader: Contemporary Human Rights Film and Video Exhibition.” | |
1/17–4/5 | The 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Halls host the “Tutankhamun—The Golden Pharoah” exhibition. | |
1/16–4/5 | Gallery (1F) holds the exhibition “The Eyes of the Dragon—An Exhibition of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Collection.” | |
2019 | 12/10 | A bag of red ink is thrown at the bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek in the 4th-floor Bronze Statue Hall. |
11/21/2019–3/22/2020 | The “Strength from the Mountain and the Sea Indigenous Art Exhibition” is held in the Central Hallway. | |
10/25 | Waterproofing improvement of the three-level main hall plinth and removal of paint on the sloped railings is completed. | |
10/25 | The bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek in the 4th-floor Bronze Statue Hall is splashed with paint. | |
10/21 | The Memorial Hall gains Muslim Friendly Environment Certification (MFE-006). | |
10/10–10/20 | The National Day Float Carnival is held on Democracy Boulevard. | |
10/10 | The Memorial Hall holds the indigenous music performance “Jump: The Voice of Inheritance” on Democracy Boulevard. | |
8/1 | The Memorial Hall holds the indigenous culture and music performance “Footprints” on Democracy Boulevard for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. | |
July | The Memorial Hall publishes “Lei Zhen and Taiwan's Political Development in the 1950s: The Transitional Justice Perspective.” | |
6/29–9/22 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “Reshaped Reality. 50 Years of Hyperrealistic Sculpture” exhibition. | |
6/28–10/30 | The “Fishwear: Vibrant Ocean Art” exhibition is held in the Central Hallway. | |
6/25–9/15 | “Garfield’s 40th Anniversary Special Exhibition—Another Adventure” is held in the 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Halls. | |
5/21–6/4 | The Taiwan Development and Cultural Interchange Association holds the “Special Exhibition on the 30th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Incident in China” in the Central Hallway and Democracy Boulevard. | |
5/17 | Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chun visits “The Landscape of Love: Danny Lee 2019 Solo Exhibition.” | |
2/27 | Squid congee is thrown at the bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek in the 4th-floor Bronze Statue Hall. | |
2/25 | Improvement work on Yun Han Pond is completed and the pond is reopened for use. | |
2/19 | The Memorial Hall is awarded “Outstanding” and “Best Foreign Language Services” awards in the 2018 Taipei City Sightseeing and Recreation Attractions Awards. | |
1/19–4/18 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts “Studio Ghibli Layout Designs” exhibition. | |
1/19–1/27 | Democracy Boulevard hosts the huge installation piece “Companion” by famous artist KAWS. | |
1/9–4/14 | The 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Halls host the special exhibition “Andy Warhol Pop Art.” | |
2018 | 12/25 | The completed Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Buildings and Environment Guide website goes online. |
12/20/2018–8/2/2020 | The Multimedia Human Rights Exhibition Area on the 3rd floor hosts “Approach & Discover: A Clash between Authoritarianism and Democracy.” | |
12/10/2018–3/17/2019 | Gallery (3F) hosts the special exhibition “Under the Great Leader: Contemporary Human Rights Film and Video Exhibition.” | |
11/22/2018–3/17/2019 | The “Malang: Aboriginal Contemporary Art Exhibition” is held in the Central Hallway. | |
7/4–9/19 | The 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Halls host the “Treasures of the Natural World” exhibition. | |
July | The Memorial Hall publishes “Voices of Freedom on the Road to Democracy: A Collection of Documents on Taiwan’s Democratic Reform.” | |
6/29–9/24 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “Pili Fantasy World of Puppet Art” exhibition. | |
6/28 | A Guang Hua Pond improvement project is completed and the pond reopened for use. | |
5/11–8/26 | The “Family Memo—Island of Memory and Migration: Southeast Asia New Immigrant Themed Contemporary Art Exhibition” is held in the Central Hallway. | |
4/29 | The Chinese Taipei Diabolo Sports Federation holds an event to set a Guinness World Record, with 100 people juggling diabolos at once on Democracy Boulevard. | |
4/18–5/9 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “38 Years Collection of CKSMH” exhibition. | |
3/13 | A Hoop Pine Walkway improvement project is completed and the walkway reopened for use. | |
1/27–4/15 | The 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Halls host the special exhibition “We’re All Smurfs!” | |
1/26 | Maintenance and renovation of the main hall’s exterior marble tiling is completed. | |
1/25 | For the first time, Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chun attends “La Nuit des Idées,” organized by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the French Office in Taipei and the Taiwan Art Space Alliance. | |
1/12–4/8 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “Einstein: Life in Four Dimensions” exhibition. | |
1/8 | The publications “Gaze and Dialogue: A Blueprint of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Across Time” and “An Age of Magnificence: The Architectural Beauty of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall” are licensed to the National Library for the production of interactive e-books for TV versions. | |
2017 | 12/9/2017–4/8/2018 | The Central Hallway hosts the “Post Martial Law: Imagining Memorial” exhibition. |
12/5 | The Act on Promoting Transitional Justice passes its third reading in the Legislative Yuan. | |
9/14/2016–11/26/2017 | The Central Hallway hosts “From Dong-San Boulevard to Zhongshan South Road Special Exhibition on Urban History.” | |
7/26 | Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chun announces the official launch of the “Social Discussion Project on the Transformation of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall” and two-stage legislative work. | |
6/29–9/10 | The 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Halls host the “Miniature Life Exhibition.” | |
6/24–9/17 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “Fun Learning with Snoopy” exhibition. | |
5/14 | President Tsai Ing-wen attends the “2017 Buddha’s Birthday: Bathing Buddha, Filial Piety, Gratitude and Blessings” event held by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation at Democracy Boulevard and Liberty Square. | |
5/5–6/11 | The Central Hallway hosts “Daylight Breaking: Video and Artistic Interpretations of the Development of Taiwan’s Democracy (1987–1996).” | |
4/15–6/11 | The 1st Exhibition Hall hosts the “Zheng Shan-hsi’s Colorful Perspective Invitational Exhibition,” with Minister of Culture Cheng Li-chun attending the opening event. | |
2/24 |
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2/6 | Leadership of the Management Office changes hands, with eighth director Lin Hui-fen stepping down and turning over the reins to Lin Jin-sheng, with Deputy Minister of Culture Yang Tzu-pao presiding. |