The Enigma of the Encounter - The Scorpion and the Frog: Masterworks from the YAGEO Foundation Collection Curatorial Talk

【Talk Description】

In The Scorpion and the Frog: Masterworks from the YAGEO Foundation Collection, a sixteenth-century cardinal shares a room with a twentieth-century pope dissolving into distortion, and a still life of wild strawberries from 1704 faces a mirror-polished Balloon Dog.

Exhibition Curator Philip Larratt-Smith discusses how a fable about reason, instinct, and human nature provided him with the framework for a series of dialogues among artworks spanning five centuries that freely mix period, medium, style, and genre.

Professor Tseng Shao-Chien of the Graduate Institute of Art Studies, National Central University, responds from the perspectives of art history and visual culture. Focusing on the representation of the body and “the visceral eye,” she explores with the curator how juxtaposition opens new interpretations of artworks and offers another reading of art history.

 

【Speakers】

Philip Larratt-Smith | Curator     

Shao-Chien TSENG | Professor, Graduate Institute of Art Studies, National Central University

 

【Talk Information】

Date｜ November 20, 2026 (Friday), 3:00–4:30 PM

Check-in Time｜ 2:30–3:00 PM

Venue｜ Auditorium, B1, Taichung Green Museumbrary
(No. 2201, Zhongke, Xitun District, Taichung City 407011, Taiwan)

Audience｜ General public

Capacity｜ 150 participants

※ Advance registration is required. Registered participants are requested to complete check-in by 3:00 PM. Any unclaimed spots after 3:00 PM may be released to walk-in participants, subject to on-site availability.

※ To use the audio guide devices provided by the Museum. A valid ID (National ID card, driver’s license, National Health Insurance card, or passport) must be presented for borrowing the device.

※ By participating in this event, participants authorize Taichung Art Museum to photograph, film, use, edit, and publicly display their likenesses (including photographs and video recordings), names, voices, and oral statements. Participants also agree that Taichung Art Museum shall hold full copyright to works photographed or recorded during the event and may reproduce, publish, publicly present, or otherwise use all or part of the authorized content through various media and channels without further notice or additional consent.

【Transportation】

By MRT(Metro)&Bus

1. Take the Taichung MRT Green Line to Wenxin Yinghua Station, then walk to the bus stop “Changan Elementary School” and transfer to Bus Green 4 or Green 4 E(Extension). Get off at “TaichungGreen Museumbrary(Zhongke Rd.)” and you will arrive at the museum.
2. Take the Taichung MRT Green Line to WenHua Senior High School Station, then walk to the bus stop “WenHua Senior High School Station (Wenxin Rd.)” or “Wenxin Henan Rd. Intersection” and transfer to Bus Green 4 or Green 4 E(Extension). Get off at “TaichungGreen Museumbrary(Zhongke Rd.)” and you will arrive at the museum.

 

By Bus

1. Take Green 4, Green 4 E(extension), 23, or 555 to the stop “Green Museumbrary (Zhongke Rd.)” and you will arrive directly at the museum.
2. Take , 88, or 525. Get off at “Jingmao-Jingmao 7th Intersection,” then walk about 5 minutes (350 meters) along Section 2 of Jingmao Road toward the intersection of Jingmao 7th Road to the museum.
3. Take buses 6, 8, 54, 61, 108, 500, or 850 to the stops “Zhongqing Tongrong Rd. Intersection” or “Maoyi Village 3.” From there, walk approximately 10 minutes (650 meters) along Jingmao 7th Road to reach the museum.
4. Take buses 8, 157, 157 E(extension), or 529 to the stops “Jingmao & Liming Rd. Intersection” or “Liming Zhongke Rd. Intersection,” then walk approximately 10 minutes to reach the museum.
5. Take bus routes 8, 157 (including extension), or 529 and get off at the [Exhibition Center (Conference Center)] stop. Walk along Zhongke Road toward Jingmao 7th Road for about 400 meters to reach the museum.

 

By Car (Parking at the Taichung Green Museumbrary:335 small car spaces,386 motorcycle  spaces)

1. From National Highway No. 1 Zhongqing Interchange (Southbound)—turn right onto Section 2 of Huanzhong Road—turn left onto Zhongke Road.
2. From National Highway No. 1 Zhongqing Interchange (Northbound)—turn right onto Section 2 of Huanzhong Road—turn left onto Zhongke Road. 

 

By High-Speed Rail

1. Take the High Speed Rail to HSR Taichung Station. After arriving at Taichung Station, take a taxi directly to the venue (approximately 12 km away), with a travel time of around 20 minutes.
2. Take the High Speed Rail to HSR Taichung Station. After arriving at Taichung Station, you may transfer to the MRT or a bus. Please refer to the MRT and bus routes for details.

 

Parking

Taichung Green Museumbrary Parking Lot:

The Taichung Green Museumbrary’s paid parking lot for cars and motorcycles is available through Zongke Road and Jingmao 7th Road. It includes 296 general car parking spaces, 8 electric vehicle charging stations, 7 accessible car parking spaces, 7 parent-child parking spaces, 378 general motorcycle parking spaces, and 8 accessible motorcycle parking spaces.