Ministry of Culture-Performance Venues & Architectural Heritage

To promote the ingenious Taiwanese craft culture on the international stage, the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) will participate at Internationale Handwerksmesse (IHM), a hub for all crafts trade in Munich, for the first time from March 11 through 15 under the theme "Taiwan Crafts Spectrum."

The NTCRI delegation will comprise 14 Taiwanese master artisans from 20 different trades, including lacquer arts, bamboo design, silk-wrapped floral art, ceramics, metallic goods, enamel art, and rush-woven products. A display board of 36 different types of rush weaving made by Taitung Prison inmates will also be showcased.

The Taiwan Pavilion will also host workshops featuring six highly skilled artisans from Taiwan who will be demonstrating rush weaving, threaded-lacquer sculpturing, bamboo weaving, natural dyeing, silk wrapping, and leather carving.

NTCRI will also invite local German craft masters and cultural institutions to visit and explore the Taiwan Pavilion on March 13. Such exchanges will showcase the diverse artisanal cultures nurtured by Taiwan's rich natural resources and folk history, and help craft fans from all over the world discover Taiwan's beautiful and intricate craftsmanship.

The annual Internationale Handwerksmesse is Munich's leading international trade expo for the crafts industry where participants discuss the current trends and latest technologies. In 2019, more than 1,000 exhibitors from 31 countries participated and visitors exceeded 110,000 in total.

NTCRI is Taiwan's official craft institute dedicated to the research, development, and promotion of Taiwan's artisanal industry. In addition to preserving traditional craft skills and refining crafting techniques, the Nantou-based organization cultivates new generations of skilled craftspeople and draws on the latest design trends to inspire new products.

More information is available from the German Trade Office in Taipei.

Featured Artists

Lacquer Arts:
- Liao Sheng-wen (廖勝文)
- Yi Yu-an (易佑安)
- Liang Chih-wei (梁晊瑋)

Bamboo Design:
- Lin Chian-cheng (林建成)
- Chen Kai-jing (陳愷靜)
- Tu Su-ying (涂素英)

Silk Wrapping:
- Chen Hui-mei (陳惠美)

Ceramics:
- Li Tsung-ju (李宗儒)

Metalwork/Enamel:
- Su Xiao-meng (蘇小夢)
- Wu Ching-chih (吳竟銍)

Rush Weaving:
- Lu Chia-hui (陸佳暉)
- Taiwan Yuan-li Handiwork Association (台灣藺草學會): Wu Shu-fen (吳淑芬), Chen Er (陳娥), Cheng Ai-tzu (鄭愛子)
- Taitung Prison, MOJ's Agency of Corrections (法務部矯正署臺東監獄)

Workshop Artisans

- Rush weaver Cheng Mei-yu (鄭梅玉)
- Threaded-lacquer sculptor Ko Kun-liang (柯坤良)
- Bamboo weaver Hsieh Chia-chen (謝佳珍)
- Natural dye artist Wang Chao-hua (王昭華)
- Silk-wrapped flower artist Yao Yen-hsuan (姚妍萱)
- Leather carver Beak Ho (何進昌)

2020 Taiwan Crafts Spectrum

Dates: March 11 – 15, 2020
Venue: Fairground Messe München
Location: Willy-Brandt-Allee, 81829 München, Germany
Hours: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Site: https://www.ihm.de/en/ 
Pavilion: Stand 130 (Hall B2)