Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan, and the Taipei Representative Office in the UK, three young, talented Taiwanese artists: Yu-an Yi, Chi-hong Lee, and Ching-chih Wu, are taking part in the world-famous London Craft Week, and are about to shine on the international stage.
Yu-an Yi is an award winning young artist and the winner of international prizes from Japan, Germany and the USA, in recognition of her inventive approach to lacquering. Breaking away from the tradition of using only dark and restrained colours, Yu-an Yi’s work is characterised by the use of bright colours and interesting shapes to create playful designs, through which she has redefined perceptions of lacquer art.
Yu-an Yi believes that craft art should be embedded in people’s daily life and vice-versa. In order to practice this philosophy, she gathers her inspiration from every-day objects, and gives them new life by creating a fresh look for them. Visitors to the exhibition will become more familiar with the concepts behind Yu-an Yi’s work, in what is set to become one of the highlights of London Craft Week.
Chi-hong Lee has dedicated himself to lacquer art since studying at university. Embracing his graphic design background, he explores the possibilities in applying lacquer to new materials such as paper and fabric, rather than using traditional materials such as wood, ceramics and bamboo. Whilst embracing an experimental approach, he is also a fan of simplicity. He uses simple shapes and classic colours like gold, black and red, which give a sophisticated style to his work.
Like Yu-an Yi, Chi-hong Lee believes craft work should be both aesthetic and functional. Consequently, his work includes a wide range of every-day objects from cups to clothing accessories, and will doubtless gain a lot of attention and plaudits at the London exhibition.
Lacquer art is originally from East Asia and has a long history. These two lacquer artists’ innovation and creativity has not only brought a modern take to this ancient art, but has also taken the traditional craft to a higher level.
In additional to lacquer art, interdisciplinary artist Ching-chih Wu will also be participating in the festival. Ching-chih Wu is well-known for his metalwork and enamel designs, which focus on the relationship between humanity and the natural world. He applies heat at various temperatures to create different levels of colour and details in his work. By using this approach, his work can reflect the changes of the seasons, and the ways in which plants reflect light differently at different times of the year.
Ching-chih Wu’s extraordinary work has earned him international recognition at a very young age. He has been awarded several prizes in various countries including Japan, Italy, and Lithuania, and was invited by French luxury brand Hermès to be one of their speakers at a design workshop in Hong Kong. Ching-chih Wu’s vision is to promote Taiwanese enamel design and metalwork by reaching out globally, and celebrating this special art form with a wider audience of art lovers.
It is the fourth time the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan has sponsored Taiwanese artists to take part in London Craft Week. The reason for naming the exhibition ‘Transcending Boundaries’, is to break down the boundaries between traditional craft and contemporary art, and to bring art work into people’s daily life.
London Craft Week is one of the biggest annual art festivals specifically focused on craft, and this year is its sixth edition. In order to celebrate outstanding British and international creativity and craftmanship, this year the festival brings together over 250 established and emerging makers, designers, brands and galleries from around the world. It reflects a global trend of international collaboration, and bridges the gap between iconic heritage and contemporary art.
Authenticity is at the heart of London Craft Week, which is why the organisation has recognised these Taiwanese artists as being worthy of support. Yu-an Yi, Chi-hong Lee, and Ching-chih Wu will have a huge impact on the British audience with their sophisticated craft skills and originality.
For more information, please visit the London Craft Week Website
