With support from the Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Taichung City Government collaborated with Miaoli Indigenous Peoples Craft Association (苗栗縣原住民工藝協會) and tribal weavers to conduct research on the textiles of indigenous tribes located in central Taiwan, using Museum Of Fiber Arts (MOFiA)’s collection.
Curated by Atayal textile artist Yuma Taru (尤瑪．達陸), the exhibition showcases a collection of findings based on the research that was done during the past three years. Through screening documentaries and displaying works, it presents the challenges and hopes of reviving the traditional tribal weaving technique.
On April 16, Director Chang Jen-Chi (張仁吉) of the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) attended the opening on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and said that the creations of indigenous people are the closest to our land and nature. There are three distinctive aspects of the Atayal culture: facial tattoos, Lubuw (a traditional instrument of the Atayal music culture), and clothing.
The exhibition "decrypted" the weaving patterns of the collections from MOFiA for the first time, revealing the long-lost making process of traditional textile, along with the weaving device and pieces of work. Director Chang expressed appreciation for Yuma Taru and Lin Shu-li (林淑莉)'s contributions. Both of them worked hard for three decades - researching, analyzing, and passing on the weaving craftsmanship. Yuma Taru was named the "National Living Treasures" by MOC, and Lin Shu-li was certified by Taiwan Crafts Workshop as an outstanding craftsman. He added that this is a successful exhibition which can be seen from its display. It connects the traditional environment, attitude, knowledge, and implementation to contemporary society, displaying the exhibits in modern styles and themes.
Director Chang also mentioned that NTCRI has been building a database to gather and record the hard work of all the craftspeople and making them available to the public, in order to continue to enrich Taiwan's culture.