To display local crafts and stories from Taiwanese and Japanese communities, the "Behind the Craft" exhibition will be held from Oct. 17 through Nov. 17 at Kaohsiung's Pier-2 Art Center. The international exhibition aims to facilitate dialogue between the two neighboring nations, Taiwan and Japan, and to encourage viewers to interact and understand the connection between artistic crafts and daily life.
The exhibition will be displaying the works of highly revered artisans from Japan, including vine-based woven goods from Fukushima Prefecture's Mishima Town, wood-grain-patterned lacquerwares from Ishikawa Prefecture's Kaga City (Yamanaka region), and paper art that stem from 1,500-year-old Japanese traditions. From Taiwan, the exhibition brought together 40 community crafts and 15 interdisciplinary works. The public will be able to enjoy a close-up of the regional aesthetics and people behind each craft community.
The "Behind the Craft" exhibition is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Council of Agriculture, and organized by the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) and Soil and Water Conservation Bureau (SWCB). This exhibit is also a display of recent achievements from the SWCB’s rural training program, an initiative supporting the inheritance of local craft trades to enhance economic and creative output.
A craftwork is a representation of culture, and an artisan is a carrier of cultural values. By using craftsmanship born from daily demands to highlight the creative spirit of Taiwan, the exhibition hopes to help viewers sense and see the beauty of crafts in everyday life.
Unlike traditional exhibitions, "Behind the Craft" will be delivered in the form of pop-up shops. Visitors to the Pier-2 Art Center can leisurely walk into the pop-up stores and view the special artworks and crafts within. The displays will mainly include pottery, lacquerware, carved bricks, and plant-dyed fabrics.
‘Behind the Craft – Taiwan-Japan Crafts International Exchange Exhibition’
Date: Oct. 17 – Nov. 17, 2019
Venue: C8-4
Location: Dayi Area of Kaohsiung Pier-2 Art Center
Address: No.1 Dayong Rd., Yancheng District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (ROC)
Site: https://pier-2.khcc.gov.tw/