Plant Craft Studying

| Projects > Plant Craft Studying

| Local Plant Craft Studying

Since ancient times, human behavioral patterns have been closely associated with their surroundings. Therefore, human civilization has developed different crafting techniques and cultures based on their environmental conditions. Nowadays, many people that live in urban, man-made spaces have limited interactions with the natural environment, and are gradually losing a sense of connection to nature. The value of handicraft creation is realized through the material aesthetics and meticulous craftsmanship of artisans, allowing us to experience the metaphysical inner sublimation in life. Through the practice of handicraft, one can gain valuable insights into the characteristics of various materials, and perhaps come to love and appreciate the sanctity of life. In the teaching of fiber arts creation, I hope that the students’ learning will go beyond just understanding the properties of the plants and their fibers, but also recognizing the possibilities of applying fiber materials to their daily lifestyles, and developing further interest in the field of crafting. The objective of learning handicraft skills is not simply about becoming a craftsman, it is also about gaining an invaluable tool for self-expression.

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| 2022-23 School Campus Plant Craft Studying (Foundational Materials Course)

Foundational-level Plant Fiber Handicraft Creations 1 (Mulberry Fiber)

Foundational-level Plant Fiber Handicraft Creations 2 (Mulberry Fiber)

Foundational-level Plant Fiber Handicraft Creations (Lotus Stem)

Foundational-level Plant Fiber Handicraft Creations (Final Product Images)

| 2018 Shan Jiao Elementary School: Rush Grass Fiber Paper-making Workshop

Yuanli is the heartland of Taiwan’s traditional, hand-woven hat and mat industries. In the past, women from many households would work as rush grass weavers to make a living, and for most locals, the practice of weaving was a source of happiness for the whole family. However, after the 1970s, Taiwan's industrial economy and lifestyle transformed rapidly, causing the hats and mats to lose their market appeal. In addition, most young, local women chose to work outside of Yuanli, instead of learning to weave rush. These factors led to the gradual decline of this century-old traditional handicraft industry. The Shanjiao Community in Yuanli, like other rural communities in Taiwan, is facing problems of population outflow and aging. In 2019, we collaborated with Shan Jiao Elementary School to carry out the “Local Plant Craft Studying" project, an educational course for the students. They would collect leftover rush grass scraps from the aunties in the neighborhoods that weaved the hats and mats, and reuse them to make sheets of paper that were then bound into books. Through this project, we hope to encourage the local children in Yuanli to learn and appreciate the importance of rush grass in the local area, to engage in dialogue with their elders about rush weaving through hands-on experiences, and to practice the concept of recycling and reusing materials for sustainable design creations.

| 2022 Dabang Elementary School ✕ Mountain Plants

The Dabang Elementary School in Alishan, Chiayi, is located upstream of the Zengwen River and the Sakura River. It is the first indigenous elementary school in Taiwan, and has a history of over 100 years. It is not only an educational institution for local children, but also a cultural hub for the Dabang (達邦) and Tefuye (特富野) tribes of the Tsou (鄒) indigenous people. We partnered with the school to conduct the “Local Plant Craft Studying" workshop, which comprises weaving, dyeing, and extraction of plant fibers, enabling students to learn about the inseparable relationship between plants, the environment, and life, and to gain a deeper appreciation for the heritage of the various ethnic groups. The three-day workshop involves: 1) Collecting wild local plants, namely mulberry and wild banana leaves, to learn about the characteristics of the local plant ecology and environment; 2) Cutting and cooking the plants, then washing and mashing them to extract the plant fibers, to learn about the fiber decomposition process that turns the plants into crafting materials; 3) Stamping the fiber material into sheets of paper, then hand-sewing them into notebooks, as souvenirs for the students and a tribute to the plants.

Through this workshop, we hope that the students will be able to enjoy working with, and learning about, the local plants and their fiber materials. This workshop also aims to provide college students with the opportunity to enter the community and explore the living environments, crafts, and cultures of different tribes in the region. Ultimately, we hope to inspire a new generation of creativity and nurture new life into Taiwan's handicraft culture.

Mountain Landscapes, Picking Mulberry Trees

Dabang Elementary School Entrance and Students

Elementary School Students Carrying Banana Leaves, Documenting the Creation Process

| 2023 Japanese Hana-Igusa Straw Mats ✕ Taiwan Yuanli Hand-woven Mats

In February 2023, we held a "Taiwanese Rush Weaving Workshop" at the Kurashiki Monogatarikan1 in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, as part of a handicraft exchange exhibition between the Okayama Prefectural University (OPU) and our organization. The workshop introduced the participants to the traditional straw hat and mat weaving materials and techniques from Yuanli, Taiwan. Taiwan and Japan share many climatic and geographical similarities. Through handicrafts, we were able to explore how similar materials were applied differently within the two cultures. The southern region of the Okayama Prefecture in Japan, including Kurashiki, was once a shallow sea called "Kibi Senkai." The high salt content of the soil precluded rice cultivation, so cotton and rush grass were grown instead. As an example, the Hayajima Igusa (早島藺), a type of round rush, is cultivated here and used to make tatami mats. By adding dyed rush to create patterned mats, the "Hanagoza" mats were born and became a local specialty. The Kinkan'en mats (錦菀莚) were developed by designer Isozaki Minki, who improved the structure of the jacquard loom to create exquisite, brocade-like jacquard straw mats. The Taiwanese straw mat industry has a long history of over 300 years. Unlike Japan’s rush grass, the triangle rush grass grown in Yuanli, also known as the "Dajia grass" (大甲草), has a delicate and soft texture. It has traditionally been hand woven into hats and mats with a simple, natural design that emphasizes the handmade quality and characteristics, and are often regarded as precious gifts for families and friends. 1 The Kurashiki Monogatarikan Museum - Located at the entrance to Kurashiki’s scenic historic district, the museum opened in 2009 after renovations to the former residence of the Higashiohashi family (東大橋家) during the Edo period. The nagayamon gate, warehouses and surrounding streetscape atmosphere convey the iconic “Kurashiki style” architecture still seen today.

Kurashiki Monogatarikan Museum Fiber Weaving Workshop

Floral, Brocade, Textured Mat Designs

Hand Weaving Process, Kurashiki Monogatarikan Museum Building

Journaling and Documenting the Weaving Process