Readers’ Photos

Taiwan in Woven Bamboo (Zhang Xiuhuang)

“Taiwan Garden,” a landscaped garden located in the Global Garden Area of the 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, used large numbers of bamboo plants as well as woven bamboo features to create a tranquil atmosphere which became even more entrancing after nightfall.

Woven Bamboo at the Taichung World Flora Expo (Liu Zhaojun)

The Bamboo Pavilion in Huludun Park in Taichung’s Fengyuan District was built for the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition. Created from woven bamboo, the structure combines the imagery of seeds and the Central Mountain Range. Strolling through the semi-open space, one can feel the movement of light and wind, and the architectural design and woven form evoke the patterns of a bamboo forest. The pavilion demonstrates Taiwan’s bamboo construction skills and urban aesthetic, while showcasing the beauty of Taiwanese craftsmanship.

Making Bamboo Hats (Liu Zhaojun)

The large conical bamboo rain hats made in Kaohsiung’s Neimen District are the product of traditional craft skills developed in Taiwan’s formerly mainly agricultural society. The hats are used by farmers to keep off rain and shade their faces when they are working. The hats have a covering of bamboo leaves that are placed closely together and held in place by a rim of bamboo strips. A skilled craftsperson can complete a hat in little more than 20 minutes.

Handmade Straw Rope from Minxiong (Chen Xiumei)

In Chiayi County’s Minxiong Township, rice straw from the winter harvest is used to make rope. After being dried in the sun the straw is hand-twisted into rope, which is an eco-friendly way of using a waste material.

Weaving Bamboo Strips in Zhushan (Wang Mingxian)

Zhushan Township in Nantou County produces large amounts of bamboo (Zhushan means “Bamboo Mountain”). Local artisans weave bamboo strips into a range of products, using different weaving techniques depending on the items to be made.

Bus Shelter Art (Li Shengzhang)

This bus shelter built of woven bamboo is a work produced by Hualien artist Lin Jin-zhan. The arch-shaped shelter, located outside the main gate of Yudong Junior High School in Hualien’s Yuli Township, is inspired by the Xiuguluan River. On one side stands a tree embellished with large bamboo balls which represent the 15 indigenous communities scattered along Provincial Highway 193, while the indigenous motifs in the top of the shelter symbolize the blood that flows through the artist’s body. This piece of installation art incorporating local cultural elements has attracted a great deal of attention from the public.

Ring Toss (Chen Qixuan)

Rings twisted from rice straw left over after the harvest make for very environmentally friendly recreational equipment. This games area set up next to a paddy field enables people to try out traditional craftsmanship at first hand.

Weaving (Xu Chengrui)

The Amis indigenous community of Hacining in Hualien’s Ji’an Township is a center of weaving of ramie (Boehmeria nivea). The textiles produced by individual weavers each express different meanings, and the weavers use changes in weaving techniques and patterns to convey the thoughts they have in mind. Whether these thoughts are about missing an elder, dearly loving a child, or upholding traditional culture, each finished piece has its own unique character.

Symbiosis (Li Shengzhang)

Mapolong sa’icelen (Symbiosis), located in Jiqi Village in Hualien County’s Fengbin Township, is a work by the Amis indigenous artist Kaling Diway. Woven out of bamboo strips, the boat shapes in the design symbolize the skills of the Amis, Kavalan, and Sakizaya peoples in using marine resources, while the arrow symbolizes the hunting skills of the Bunun people. Each element has its own separate existence but they are all linked together, an analogy for the close relationship that develops between different groups on the cultural margins of society who find themselves co-existing within geographic boundaries.