Walk in Taiwan – Taichung – Taiwan Fiber Art Connection 

在研究台中有什麼地方可以參觀的時候，看到台中纖維工藝博物館就非常有興趣，除了我跟女兒都是工藝控以外，它還可以免費參觀，真是非常的佛心。台中這個地方的人太有情，很多博物館都免費，非常合我這個勤儉持家家庭主婦的胃口。我們沒做什麼功課，只期盼人家是有開門的，一進去就有人很和善的跟我們說哪裡有展覽可以看。我們這麼愛導覽的一家，一定會問有沒有導覽，很可惜，週間因為人不多沒有導覽可以預約，但是那裡工作的小姐，非常熱心，因為平常聽導覽聽太多，自己都會背了，於是她自告奮勇當起我們的導覽，細心地講解她知道的作品給我們聽。

這個展的策展人是顏名宏，他自己本人也是一位有名的台中在地藝術家，而且他在博物館的地下室也正舉行一個展覽。一進去這個「翻浪經緯線-文化工藝的美學實踐」

展，馬上看的是雷曉臻的「小時候的好味道」，她的藝術作品都是我們小時候常吃的早餐食物，燒餅油條，蛋餅，紅龜粿，和大肉包，有趣的是她用羊毛氈細心地做出這些逼真的食物當作包包，連我平常對藝術品興趣缺缺的老公，也直說他要買一個包包回家用！藝術家的巧手和巧思真的讓我們想起小時候懷念的味道！接下來的藝術家也用各種不同的材質做出精美的藝術品。黃桂珠的「雙錢紋飾花器」，利用桂竹、籐心、籐皮編織出美麗的花器，工作小姐跟我們說，這個技法快要失傳，因為做的過程太辛苦，很難找到可以傳承下去的人，我覺得好可惜，這麼美麗的東西一定要後代的人繼續可以看到。王婷瑩「藺一個地方」是利用大甲有名的藺草作為材料，做出大甲媽祖遶境時，人們可以用得上的行動電風扇，藝術家透過這樣的方式讓我了解到原來藺草在大甲的重要性，用著藺草做的電風扇不但保平安，擋煞還有維持人身涼爽，享受藺草香味的實用性。

During my research into places to visit in Taichung, I came across MOFIA, Taichung, which interested me. Both my daughter and I are fans of crafts and the fact that it offered free admission made it even more appealing. Taichung is a city known for its many museums, and the free access was a wonderful surprise, aligning perfectly with my frugality.

Arriving at the museum without much prior knowledge, we simply hoped it would be open. As we entered, a friendly staff member warmly directed us to the ongoing exhibitions. My family and I are enthusiasts of guided tours, so we inquired about tours, but we were informed that during weekdays, they weren’t offered due to low visitor numbers. However, one of the staff members, who memorized the content of the guided tours, offered to guide us personally, providing detailed explanations of the artworks.

The curator of the exhibition was Yen Ming-Hong, a renowned local artist in Taichung. In addition to the main exhibit, there was also an exhibition of his work in the museum’s basement. Upon entering the “Taiwan Fiber Art Connection ” exhibition, we were immediately drawn to the artwork by Lei Xiao-Zhen titled ” the memory taste of childhood.” Her creations were lifelike representations of breakfast items we often enjoyed in our childhoods, such as scallion pancakes, fried dough sticks, egg pancakes, red turtle cakes, and large meat buns. What made them fascinating was that she crafted these familiar foods using felted wool, making them look remarkably realistic. Even my husband, who generally isn’t very interested in art, was so captivated that he wanted to purchase one of these felt wool food bags. Lei’s work skillfully evoked nostalgic flavors and memories.

The other artists in the exhibit also showcased their expertise using various materials to create exquisite art pieces. Huang Gui-Zhu’s “Double Coin Pattern Decorative Vase” was made using rattan, bamboo, and rattan skin, woven into a beautiful vase. The staff informed us that this weaving technique was slowly disappearing because it’s labor-intensive and difficult to find apprentices to pass it on to. It’s a shame because such beautiful craftsmanship deserves to be preserved for future generations to admire.

Wang Ting-Ying’s “Another place” used the famous Lin Cao (a type of bulrush) from Dajia to create handheld fans. These fans are designed for people to use during the Mazu pilgrimage in Dajia to bring blessings, ward off evil spirits, and stay cool during the procession. The artist creatively utilized Lin Cao in her artwork, and through her work, I gained a deeper appreciation for the significance of Lin Cao in Dajia, as well as its practical uses beyond traditional beliefs.

Overall, the Taichung MOFIA’s “Taiwan Fiber Art Connection ” exhibition left us not only appreciating the remarkable craftsmanship but also understanding the cultural and historical significance behind these materials and techniques. It was an enriching experience that celebrated the intersection of art, culture, and heritage.

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