Wedoany.com Report-May 10, China Medical University (CMU) has launched construction of the CMU Museum of Fine Arts at its Shui-Nan campus in Taichung, Taiwan. This cultural landmark aims to blend art, education, and innovation, strengthening Taiwan’s presence in the global cultural scene.

The museum’s design features use of folded metal sheets and “undulating” stainless steel.

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, the museum is described as his only major architectural work in East Asia. The project, a significant milestone for Taiwan’s cultural and architectural landscape, was initiated under the vision of CMU and Healthcare System Chairman Dr. Chang-Hai Tsai. Dr. Tsai has long sought to expand CMU’s influence beyond medicine, education, and biotechnology into the realms of art and architecture.

Dr. Chang-Hai Tsai said: “Through architecture and art, and through the hand of a master architect, we hope to offer the world a glimpse of Taiwan’s spirit.”

The Shui-Nan campus plan, developed in 2014 with New York-based firm SOM, centers on a museum that fosters creativity, identity, and innovation. Dr. Tsai personally invited Frank Gehry, renowned for deconstructivist architecture and one of over thirty living Pritzker laureates, to design the project. Gehry, who now accepts projects only by invitation, crafted a museum tailored to Taiwan’s cultural and environmental context.

The museum’s design incorporates folded metal sheets and undulating stainless steel, creating a dynamic interplay with natural light and the sky. Its façade, described as a “living canvas,” reflects shifting colors like a watercolor painting, responding to changes in sunlight and weather. This innovative design aims to make the building a distinctive landmark.

The CMU Museum of Fine Arts will serve as a hub where academic and aesthetic education converge, connecting Taiwan to the global cultural community. It is set to collaborate with the Asia Museum of Modern Art and prestigious institutions such as Harvard’s Fogg Museum, Stanford’s Cantor Arts Center, Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum, and Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum.

Chairman Tsai said: “World-class cities are home to world-class universities—institutions that not only excel in academic research, but also house world-renowned museums. Universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge exemplify the seamless integration of scholarship and the arts.”

The museum is poised to elevate CMU’s role as a leader in both education and cultural innovation. By fostering partnerships with global institutions and showcasing Taiwan’s artistic heritage, the project aims to inspire creativity and dialogue, contributing to a vibrant cultural landscape in Taichung and beyond.