TAIWAN CRAFTS JOURNAL

Nov. 2018 / Vol.70

|Feature

Craft × Selection – Diverse Aesthetics and Colorful Life

The unique natural landscape and history of Taiwan nurture its rich and diverse craft culture. We are living in an “era of taste” that goes beyond aesthetics when it comes to choosing and using a thing, but more on how it comes from, how its story resonates with the users and how it creates a special experience. That is exactly what the opinion leaders in arts and culture and select shop owners are aiming for. Innovative ideas in local life become important elements in arts and culture hotels that give travelers a chance to immerse themselves in the experiences they find nowhere else. A lifestyle that comes from a local community therefore dives deep into people’s hearts in a trip, stays and finally becomes however people want it to be. A thing with great stories, a person who tells great stories and a life with great style, what more can you ask for?

Finest Crafts of Taiwan that Stand the Test of Time – NTCRI Selected Goods

Working tirelessly to promote and cultivate both craft culture and industry in Taiwan, the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) has been trying on various selecting and mentoring mechanisms to introduce quality works that live up to its esthetic standards and sophisticated taste to the general public. Out of which, the “Taiwan Crafts Workshop” is focusing on the achievements of individual artists, while the “Taiwan Good Crafts (C-Mark)” is to recognize the functionality, fashion sense, aesthetics and beautiful shape of craft work. From here, we could have a taste of what the modern craft in Taiwan is all about – “modern

design and aesthetics”, “use of eco-friendly and natural materials”, and “research & development on technology and diverse materials.”

How to Choose? Ask People with Great Taste

Craft works are closely linked to our lives and that is why the works or design pieces people need, people want or people desire will later become an integral part of their lives, which along with nature and local customs contribute to a collective culturati live in. This article goes deep into the life of a cultural doer, a designer/curator and a connoisseur in art and culture: Chen Yu-ping, Chen Chun-liang and Yeh Yi-lan respectively. We explore how they choose what they want and use what they choose, giving us a glimpse into their life philosophy and cultural taste facilitated by crafts, as well as the spectacular world behind all the beautiful “objects” they have.

Select Shop Life Style: A Visit to Taiwan’s Craft & Design Shops

With growing emphasis on taste in life, shopping at select shops has become a trend in Taiwan. The style of the shop shows who the owner is. Clothing or dining, it is the owner’s job to pick the best items for the customers. That has an impact on the craft

industry in Taiwan, making it more competitive and sophisticated. Branding and personal style become something that no shops can live without. We trace back the development history of craft & design shops in Taiwan and use “Liv’in Riverside” and

“Lovely Taiwan” as the examples that decide to go their own way and provide services like no others by focusing on promoting Taiwan’s tourism and good craft works from local communities.

Open to the World: Taiwan’s Cultural Landscape

Arts and culture hotels are the stars in the hospitality industry that blend innovative aesthetics and local culture into the space and the things they choose in the hope that travelers have a “deeper” experience during their short stay there. The two hotels “Folio Daan Taipei” and “Home Hotel Daan” here seamlessly combine the facilities and amenities with local craft works, art pieces and the artists’ styles to create an extremely immersive and intimate experience, just like opening a window to the world to see the beautiful cultural landscape in Taiwan.