As part of the 2023 Craft Week, the National Taiwan Craft Research Institute (NTCRI) will be showcasing over 30 sets of weaving works that reflect Taiwan's rich cultural diversity under the theme of "Weaving Taiwan: The Multicultural Textiles and Baskets" at Cromwell Place in London from May 10 to 14.
This year, the participating artists include Seta Bakan (張鳳英), Awaiy Butah, Chang Hsien-Ping (張憲平), A-Gui Chen, Shu Yueh Chieh, Huang Yu-jung (黃玉蓉), Ili, Rinda Ma (馬月娥), 'away a ta:in Sa:wan (章潘三妹), Tsai Yu-shan (蔡郁珊), Sayun Yuraw (彭玉鳳); Laiji Village (來吉部落) and LALABAN Xinshe Banana Silk Workshop (新社香蕉絲工坊).
Rinda Ma, the representative of participating artists, shared that she has been immersed in Taiwan's multicultural society for years, and the experience she gained from her hometown in Indonesia motivated her to experiment with using coconut leaves in Taiwan to create a variety of weaving products.
Director of NTCRI Chang Jen-chi (張仁吉) said that London Craft Week is an important annual international event held in May, and NTCRI has never missed participating in it. In 2020, contemporary lacquer art and metalwork from Taiwan were featured at the exhibition, and in 2021, the craft of rush weaving from Dajia District in Taichung was showcased.
According to Deputy Culture Minister Lee Ching-hwi (李靜慧), the key feature of crafts in the field of art is the use of hands to create. Therefore, in addition to showcasing the exhibits, NTCRI also strives to design experiential activities and share details behind the craft-making process through a video to enable the public to gain a better understanding of the process and its cultural context. She added that NTCRI continues with the theme adopted in 2022 London Craft Week – namely the Color Theatre: Taiwan Fiber Crafts – the exhibition in 2023 switches focus from dyeing to "braiding" as well as "weaving," and expanding the scope from natural elements of dyes and colors to that of humanity-oriented demonstration.
For more information, please visit the 2023 London Craft Week's website.