Huang Lishu - Craft House Introduction
"Combining bamboo weaving and lacquer art, Huang Li-shu is the first person in Taiwan. She is a disciple of the late lacquer art master Chen Huo-qing and can seamlessly reference various domestic and international lacquer art anecdotes. Now retired, her focus is entirely on promoting lacquer art: 'Creation is a personal expression and also a dream; it is very important to resonate with the audience. Sharing the joy of lacquer art's beauty is more meaningful than creating by oneself.' ■ Crossing Fields and Self-Exploring Huang Li-shu did not intentionally step into the glamorous world of lacquer art. Initially, she taught graphic arts at Zhushan High School in Nantou County, having no knowledge of bamboo weaving. In the first two months of a bamboo weaving course at her school, she quickly sought a master to learn on the spot and even apprenticed with bamboo weaving master Huang Tu-shan. Later, Huang Li-shu joined the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute, where she worked in the design group responsible for product development of bamboo products. However, bamboo is high in moisture, prone to mold, and has a short lifespan. More than twenty years ago, Huang Li-shu contemplated how to enhance the added value of these products. She discovered that Japanese Ikebana uses many lacquered bamboo baskets as flower containers, employing natural lacquer. So, she purchased some to experiment with and, with no precedents to follow, began independently exploring the intersection between bamboo weaving and lacquer art, eventually paving a broad path for herself. ■ A Fateful Connection with Lacquer, Filled with Mission Perhaps it was destiny for her to engage in lacquer art. Many people are allergic to natural lacquer, but she is unaffected by the natural enzymes in lacquer and has even fallen in love with it. After caring for her family, she returns to the factory at the research institute every day to continue making lacquerware. 'Now, lacquer art has already become a part of my life; it is inseparable.' Each beautiful lacquerware piece displayed in her studio showcases her treasures; practical lacquer items like clogs, plates, and bowls demonstrate her success in bringing lacquerware into ordinary households. Lacquerware remains a niche market in Taiwan, and while creating lacquer products, Huang Li-shu feels a strong sense of mission. In addition to teaching at the Department of Cultural Heritage Maintenance at Yunlin University of Science and Technology and the Yilan Traditional Arts Center, she also promotes lacquer art in communities, helping people understand the beauty of lacquerware and traditional culture through hands-on experiences. ■ Teaching and Research, Finding Joy Within Huang Li-shu voluntarily teaches community mothers from the Nantou County Life Reconstruction Association to make lacquerware. After the 72 Floods, the century-old Nuomi Bridge in Guoxing Township was damaged and became a national landmark. The community mothers created lacquer plates featuring the Nuomi Bridge design. She says, 'During class, both the teacher and students are enjoying themselves, and some mothers plan to make a few more to gift each daughter a piece of lacquerware as a dowry.' During the Japanese colonial period, a batch of Edo-period maki-e lacquerware was left by the Governor-General's Office, and Huang Li-shu took on a commission from the Cultural Asset Center to conduct research. For over a year, she has led her students in documenting each piece's techniques and characteristics, as well as verifying their historical context and dates. Often busy in the studio, Huang Li-shu is filled with happiness despite the workload."
