National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) in Caotun, Nantou County, and National Library of Public Information (NLPI) in Taichung will jointly hold "The Crafts with Aesthetics Touch Our Hearts" exhibition from Dec. 30, 2020 to March 7, 2021 at NLPI to explore the everyday aesthetics found in the local handicrafts from Taiwan, Thailand and Japan, transcending national and cultural boundaries.
To highlight the relationship between crafts and life, NTCRI and NLPI have incorporated outdoor environment as well as public and living spaces into the exhibition's setup, curating the exhibition under the themes of "life perspective," "life devices," "dining table view," and "appreciating books about crafts."
Presentation of the section of "appreciating books about crafts" is fused with NLPI's innovative reading perspective and coupled with handicrafts of distinctive local characteristics from Taiwan, Thailand and Japan, allowing visitors to obtain knowledge about crafts through books published by NTCRI related to artisans, techniques, and materials. It is hoped that the public may come to experience the rich aesthetic value of handicrafts while viewing them.
NTCRI director Hsu Keng-hsiu (許耿修) indicated that unlike most exhibitions requiring visitors to keep distance from the exhibited items, "The Crafts with Aesthetics Touch Our Hearts" exhibition is open to visitors to touch most of the exhibited items in order for them to experience and appreciate the everyday aesthetics found in the handicrafts of different countries from various angles.
Visitors may approach, touch or sit on the handicrafts, learning and feeling the materials and techniques applied by the craft artisans.
Through the interplay of the senses and handicrafts found in everyday life, visitors may experience the down-to-earth and rustic essence of Taiwanese ceramic art and the exquisiteness of Japanese bamboo weaving, according to Hsu.
NLPI director Liu Chung-ching (劉仲成) pointed out that crafts are the most representative form of local culture since the materials used are gathered from the surrounding and the crafts are produced on the spot based on the needs of daily life and inner aspiration.
For instance, Nantou County is well known for its bamboo handicrafts since bamboo is widely produced locally, while Miaoli County is famous for its ceramic art since the best clay can be found there. The main purpose of creating handicrafts is for people to use them in everyday life, he added. It is the same in the development of handicrafts in Thailand as well as Japan.
"The Crafts with Aesthetics Touch Our Hearts" exhibition will enable the public to experience the many faces of the crafts industry, he said.