To celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit, Asian-Canadian Special Events Association (ACSEA, 加拿大亞裔活動協會) organized the 2023 LunarFest under the theme "Year to Imagine," featuring crafts from Taiwan in collaboration with the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) on Jan. 28 and 29.
A series of events including an exhibition titled "Colours of Formosa (臺灣色)" as well as arts and crafts workshops were held. The exhibition focused on the connection between the craft of natural dyeing and different aspects including art, life, community, research, and more. According to the introduction, in addition to sharing their breathtaking works, the artists in this exhibition also hope to convey the concept of environmental protection and reusable resources.
Taiwan has been restoring natural dyeing and utilizing materials found in nature as a source of natural dyes, such as the roots, stems, fruits, flowers, and leaves of local plants. Dyes can also be obtained from animal bodies, for example, red shades can be extracted from cochineal insects; while mineral compounds are also used to color textiles.
Director of NTCRI Chang Jen-chi (張仁吉) stated that Canada and Taiwan are both multi-ethnic societies. In a multicultural society like Taiwan, NTCRI has been promoting diverse craft development in communities in order to achieve "Craft for All." NTCRI hopes to set Taiwan's image as "Taiwan Craft So Well" and convey the message that Taiwanese craft pays attention to humanities and cultures, nature, and society.
Starting in 2009, LunarFest aims to cooperate with Asian communities, Indigenous peoples, and other ethnic groups to foster the collaboration of Canadian and international cultural presenters to create new forms of artistic expression. LunarFest is a festival that brings together soul, art, and life on one stage.