臺灣第一代西畫家顏水龍1937年開始長達五個多月的全台火車環島行，進行臺灣工藝產業的田野調查，這一趟環臺旅程影響著顏水龍由美術創作擴及工藝領域的轉向。「國立臺灣工藝研究發展中心」前身為顏水龍於1954年7月促成設立的「南投縣工藝研究班」，成就許多臺灣重要的第一代工藝家，模塑臺灣的工藝發展。
以「大樹」串起工藝生態發展的脈絡，國立臺灣工藝研究發展中心是臺灣工藝發展的源頭，經由「風」的傳遞，將工藝種子散播到各地，歷經70年的紥根茁壯，在各地皆已大樹成林，展現不同水土在工藝表述上的獨特風貌。
我們藉由「工藝遶境」展覽，展開六個地區的跨域「巡」禮，巡字左邊走字，代表工藝遶境的行動，中央川字代表河界、也就是地域的界線，呼應工藝遶境是以山川地區形成的自然環境生態區域，展現出在地工藝與人創作形成的獨特面貌，分別為我們帶來生命美好的價值與啟發，實踐「活工藝 工藝活」的相生循環。
臺南歷史悠長，曾是大航海時代的重要貿易中心。為祈求生計平安，當時的商賈仕紳紛紛興建廟宇作為精神寄託。臺南的古蹟、供奉各種神明的廟宇以及各式傳統建築，充分展現古城深厚的歷史文化底蘊與人情味。民間信仰與廟宇工藝緊密結合，包括粧佛、神明帽衣、彩繪、刺繡、剪粘、木作、鑿花等，透過虔誠敬神的信念淬煉出卓越的工藝技藝，成為臺南文化神性的重要代表作。
As Taiwan's first-generation artist in Western-style painting, Master Shui-Long Yen, embarked on a train trip around Taiwan for more than five months to conduct field research in craft industry in 1937. This journey prompted Master Yen’s drift away from art creation to the field of crafts.
National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute was formerly known as Nantou County Craft Research Training Program founded by Shui-Long Yen in July 1954. It has since influenced many prominent first-generation craft artists in Taiwan and shaped the course of Taiwan's crafts history and industry.
Using the image of "big tree" to symbolize the evolution and development of craft ecology, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute is the origin of Taiwan's craft development. Through the “wind” the seeds of crafts have been spread all over the country, and taken root after 70 years. Today the craft has taken various forms and evolved into many diverse styles throughout the island.
By launching the “Craft Pilgrimage,” we begin a cross-regional “tour” in six areas. The character of “tour” in Mandarin includes “walk” on the left-hand side, and “river” in the middle, which refers to as the boundary of respective regions and perfectly echoes that the “Craft Pilgrimage” is nurtured by mountains and rivers, natural environment and ecological areas. It shows that the unique appearance formed by local crafts and creative artworks bring us the value and inspiration of beautiful life, creating a productive cycle of "living crafts and crafts in living.”
Tainan has a long history which was a center as important business area of age of discovery. To pray for peace and stability in livelihood, merchants and gentry tended to build the temples to have places for spiritual comforting. Tainan’s historic sites, temples dedicated to various gods, and various traditional buildings fully demonstrate the ancient city’s profound historical and cultural heritage and human touch. Folk beliefs are closely integrated with temple craftsmanship, including making Buddha statues, deity hats and clothes, painting, embroidery, cutting and gluing, woodworking, carving flowers, etc. Excellent craftsmanship is developed through devout faith, and it has become an important representative work of Tainan's cultural divinity.
展覽名稱：工藝遶境_第五境風格臺南
展期：2025-02-14 ~ 2025-03-23
地點：國立臺南生活美學館
地址：臺南市中西區中華西路二段34號 第二展覽室