TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A new exhibition titled “Flowers of Freedom,” which documents Taiwan’s transformation from authoritarian rule to democracy, opened Monday at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
The exhibition traces Taiwan’s struggle for freedom from 1945 to the present, highlighting key events in its democratization and aiming to help foreign visitors understand Taiwan’s path toward a more equitable society, per National Education Radio.
Three years ago, the CKS Memorial Hall hosted “Taiwan’s Long Walk to Freedom of Speech,” organized by the National Human Rights Museum. It was the first exhibition to introduce Taiwan’s democratization process and later drew 350,000 visitors.
Culture Minister Lee Yuan (李遠) introduced the new exhibition on Monday. Attendees included victims of political persecution and their families, as well as students and principals from various schools.
Lee said the CKS Memorial Hall, established in 1980 to commemorate a single figure and restrict public gatherings, has since become a site that has witnessed major movements for freedom and democracy. He expressed hope that “Flowers of Freedom” would draw even more visitors than the previous exhibit, especially from overseas, so more people can learn about Taiwan’s pursuit of freedom.
Lee referenced the film “A Foggy Tale” (大蒙), which depicts the White Terror era and the obscured truth of that period, per the report. He said that although Taiwan is now a free and democratic country, discovering historical truth remains a challenge. He emphasized that truth-seeking aims at reconciliation rather than criticism, adding that only by confronting historical reality can reconciliation occur.
He urged the public to face the past with honesty, saying it is the only way to bridge divisions among different groups.
Flowers have long symbolized civic movements worldwide. In Taiwan, the Wild Lily and Sunflower movements represented pro-democracy activism, while Portugal’s Carnation Revolution played a similar role. The exhibition draws on themes of nonviolence and democratic aspiration.
“Flowers of Freedom” features interactive technology and extensive archival materials from the martial law era and has been fully updated to be bilingual in Chinese and English.
The exhibition is organized into five sections, per the report. The first, “Waves of Change,” reviews global democratic and human rights movements after World War II and introduces Cheng Nan-jung (鄭南榕), a publisher and key figure in Taiwan’s fight for freedom of speech.
The second section, “The Era of Imposed Silence,” illustrates the social controls used during martial law, including banned songs, restrictions on native languages, curfews, coastal and mountain defense regulations, and a recreated interrogation room.
The third section, “The Road to Freedom of Speech in Taiwan,” recounts the island’s history from 1945 to the present, highlighting the efforts of people from all backgrounds who risked their lives to challenge authoritarian rule and lay the foundation for democracy.
Another section, “Trauma,” explores the personal stories, letters, and final words of White Terror victims, helping visitors understand the profound impact of state persecution on individuals, families, and society.
The final section, “Brilliant Blossoms,” invites visitors to read books, comics, picture books, and audiovisual works on contemporary democratic and human rights issues and encourages them to reflect on Taiwan’s history and share their own thoughts.
