Over ten thousand artifacts left behind by the late director Edward Yang (楊德昌) will be donated to the Harvard Film Archive and the Harvard-Yenching Library, both part of the Harvard Library system, ensuring his legacy reaches a global audience of scholars and cinephiles.
These artifacts were entrusted to the Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute (TFAI) in 2019 at the request of Yang’s widow, Peng Kai-li (彭鎧立). The TFAI subsequently undertook the task of categorizing and cataloging the collection.
Before the artifacts were digitized, the TFAI carefully cleaned and restored them, including letters, photographs, posters, and videotapes. The project faced significant challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the TFAI’s research team joined the project, systematically chronicling the artifacts and interviewing Yang’s collaborators to reconstruct his creative journey behind the screen.
The findings were presented at “A One and A Two: Edward Yang Retrospective,” an exhibition organized by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in 2023. Over the course of three months, more than 200,000 visitors explored the life and work of the iconic filmmaker.
Haden Guest, Director of the Harvard Film Archive, traveled to Taiwan to personally thank Peng Kai-li for her generosity and to commend the TFAI for its meticulous stewardship of Yang’s archive. He expressed hope for further collaborations to expand the reach of Yang’s cinematic legacy.
“Edward Yang’s voice will continue to inspire and influence audiences and scholars worldwide, resonating with new generations,” Peng said.
