The Paper Play – A Forgotten Media

Min-Chuan Chiang

In today’s age of big data and ad-blockers many of yesterday’s media are forgotten. Yet the era of paper-based mass communication through paper has not yet truly ended. A Taiwanese collector, Mr Min-Chuan Chiang, has collected matches, matchbooks, and matchboxes produced across the world spanning over a century of history.

Back in the day, performances, films, marketing by international brands, and even health education were delivered through paper ads glued onto matchboxes and matchbooks. Mr Chiang will exhibit some of his collection, related to Taiwanese, Japanese, and Canadian culture. Some highlights include the Japanese Emperor’s inauguration commemoration, pictures of the British Royal Family, advertising for the original Godzilla movie, Japanese fund raising during WWII, and Canadian tourism ads. History of the 20th century can be traced through this Forgotten Media.