Huang Lishu - Craft House Introduction
Huang Lishu is the first person in Taiwan to combine bamboo weaving and lacquer art. She was a disciple of the late lacquer master Chen Huo-Ching, and she casually references domestic and international anecdotes about lacquer art. Now, after retirement, her focus in life is entirely on promoting lacquer art: "Creation is a personal expression and a dream. It is essential to resonate with the audience; the joy of sharing the beauty of lacquer art is more meaningful than creating it myself." ■ Crossing Fields and Exploring Independently Huang Lishu’s entry into the glamorous world of lacquer art was not deliberate. Initially, she taught graphic arts at Zhushan High School in Nantou County without any knowledge of bamboo weaving. In the first two months after the school introduced a bamboo weaving course, she quickly sought a master to learn on the spot and even apprenticed under bamboo weaving master Huang Tuzhan. Later, Huang Lishu served at the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, working in the design team focused on product development and responsible for designing bamboo products. However, due to the high moisture content of bamboo, which makes it susceptible to mold and reduces its lifespan, Huang Lishu pondered over how to enhance the added value of bamboo products more than twenty years ago. She discovered that Japanese flower arrangement utilized many black lacquered bamboo baskets as vases, made with natural lacquer. She purchased some to experiment with. Without any precedents to follow, Huang Lishu explored the intersection of bamboo weaving and lacquer art on her own and eventually carved out a successful path. ■ Fated to Lacquer, Filled with Mission Perhaps it was her destiny to work with lacquer art; while many people are allergic to natural lacquer, she not only remains unaffected by the natural enzymes in lacquer but has also fallen in love with it. After caring for her family and having dinner each day, she returns to the research institute's factory to continue creating lacquerware. "Now, lacquer art has long become a part of my life, inseparable.” The display cabinet in her studio showcases beautiful lacquer works, all treasures by Huang Lishu. Practical lacquer items such as clogs, plates, and wooden bowls serve as proof of how lacquerware has entered everyday households. Lacquerware still occupies a niche market in Taiwan, and while Huang Lishu creates lacquer items, she also carries a strong sense of mission. Besides teaching at the Cultural Heritage Maintenance Department at Yunlin University of Science and Technology and the Yilan Traditional Arts Center, she promotes the beauty of lacquerware and traditional culture in communities through hands-on experiences. ■ Teaching and Researching, Joy in It Huang Lishu voluntarily teaches community mothers at the Nantou County Life Reconstruction Association to make lacquerware. After the 72 Water Disaster, the century-old Nuomi Bridge in Guoxing Township was damaged, becoming a nationally recognized attraction. Community mothers created lacquer plates featuring the Nuomi Bridge pattern. "During classes, both teachers and students enjoy themselves, and some mothers plan to make a few more to give each daughter a lacquer item as a dowry," she said. A batch of Edo-style maki-e lacquerware from the Governor-General's Office during the Japanese occupation period was entrusted to Huang Lishu by the Cultural Heritage Center for research. Over the past year, she has led students to document each lacquer piece's techniques and features, as well as to investigate their history and dates. She often finds herself busy in the studio, but despite the hectic schedule, Huang Lishu is filled with happiness. (Text and images from the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute)
