HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Thanh Giang, a 12-year-old student in Hà Nội, was impressed by a photo of the Sphingidae Moth Caterpillar terrifying predators with its snake-like shape.

“I thought it was a snake at first sight, but when I read the photo caption I learned it is a caterpillar living in the south of Việt Nam,” said Giang.

Giang was attending an exhibition titled “Pulsation – Biological Diversity in Việt Nam and Taiwan,” which opened on Friday at the Hà Nội Museum and is also sponsored by the National Museum of Taiwan. It is divided into two exhibit spaces featuring the natural diversity of Việt Nam and Taiwan.

“Now I know that the Formosan sambar deer is the largest native animal species in Taiwan and Dahanshan Cookeina sinensis fungus grows in clusters on the floor of humid forests,” Giang said. “At first glance, they resemble little white cups, adorable in appearance.”

The Taiwan section showcases the works of landscape and ecological photographers who have long been recording the mountains, rivers and diverse life-forms of Taiwan, according to Shih-yu Hung, director of the National Museum of Taiwan.

“Framed as works of art, this collection brings life and new visual style to traditional landscape and ecological photography,” he said. “Through these images, one can observe the beauty of life arising from the rich ecological system and establish an emotional connection with nature.”

The exhibition offers visitors a visual tour to various places in Taiwan such as Da An River, Mutelebu Peak, Xueshan Range and Lanyang River.

It is divided into five major themes exploring Taiwan’s geographical and biological diversity.

The first one, "Rhythms of Nature", reveals how the diverse terrain of Taiwan combined with its humid climate have nurtured a highly variable ecosystem.

Nearly 60 per cent of Taiwan is covered by forests. The interdependency of organisms in this setting is highlighted in "Cosmos in the Forest".

In "Secrets under Water", images taken underneath the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Taiwan reveal a variety of beautiful and mystical life forms.

"Urban Nature" demonstrates the “concrete forest”, a unique ecosystem present in highly developed areas, maintained by humans and animals together.

"For the Love of Diversity" shares four on-going stories of ecological conservation.

The exhibition also displays Việt Nam’s diversity of landscapes such as deserts, mountains, tropical forests, sub-tropical forests, cave systems, wetlands, rural villages and cities.

Việt Nam is home to about 322 species of mammals, 900 birds, 450 reptiles, 250 amphibians, nearly 10,000 species of insects and 700 species of fresh water fishes, according to Nguyễn Tiến Đà, director of the Hà Nội Museum.

The exhibition reflects the richness of the local nature through photos of stunning beauty spots, national parks and nature reserves as well as of rare species living in Việt Nam such as the red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus), which is an endangered species living in Sơn Trà Nature Reserve in Đà Nẵng.

Director Đà said he expected that the exhibition’s use of new technology in lighting and video art would bring visitors rare experiences.

“It’s not only watching photos displayed on easels. We want visitors to feel close to the nature and approach the flora and fauna naturally and emotionally at this exhibition,” he said. “Visitors can also interact with the nature by choosing photos of beautiful landscapes as backgrounds and taking photos. These photos will appear immediately in a digital album of the exhibition. Above all, we want to evoke the love for nature in people’s hearts.”

The exhibition will run until February 25 at the Hà Nội Museum, 2 Phạm Hùng Street, Nam Từ Liêm District, Hà Nội. — VNS