Nian Bi-hua (粘碧華), an embroidery artisan, was named the recipient of the National Crafts Achievement Award 2023 by the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI). The National Crafts Achievement Award is the highest honor in Taiwan’s crafts sector, and this marks the first female winner since its establishment in 2007.
Born in 1947 in Lukang Township (鹿港鎮), Nian loves to draw and make handcrafts since she was young. Influenced by her mother, who was an expert in art and stitching, she took on the path of embroidery naturally. She was trained in traditional embroidery by one of the national living treasures, Chen Sih-syue (陳嗣雪), and then went to the U.K. for further studies to deepen her knowledge of textile and jewelry design.
In terms of embroidery craftsmanship, Nian’s achievements in research, creation, talent cultivation, transmission, and promotion are remarkable.
Nian is famous for being able to fuse Eastern and Western styles of embroidery with themes connected with cultural artifacts, totemic symbols, and literary allusions. She wrote several books about the history, design, and techniques of embroidery, including an encyclopedia showcasing a hundred ways of stitching, which are invaluable for passing down the traditions.
Working in universities, she is a dedicated educator, leading the education of embroidery art through organizing multiple events such as exhibitions and seminars over the years. Concerned with the disadvantaged, she also gives classes to local communities in rural areas as well as kids in indigenous villages.
As an inheritor of traditional crafts, Nian not only gives back to society through research and education, but she also constantly seeks breakthroughs in traditions by merging art with philosophy, life, and culture. Her achievements are proof of the vibrant energy of Taiwan's contemporary embroidery scene.