Island Threads: Ancient Austronesian Clothing and Ornaments Special Exhibition (島嶼織縷：古代南島衣飾特展)

Clothing replaced hair to provide humans with functions such as warmth, sun protection, covering, and shielding the body from external injuries like scratches, stabs, cuts, and abrasions. From the earliest animal skin garments to tailored and sewn clothing, and later to garments made by pounding plant fibers, spinning thread, and weaving, human attire has evolved along with time, environment, and technology, with ethnic groups in different regions developing distinct clothing traditions. Furthermore, clothing carries cultural and social symbolism; the style, color combinations, and patterns used all convey representative meanings and traditional spirits. Centered on the Austronesian-speaking peoples, this special exhibition explores ancient clothing techniques—from bark cloth and weaving to modern new crafts—allowing us to re-understand the cultural connotations of Austronesian attire and appreciate the sustainable wisdom of ancient people who took from and used nature in harmony.