Ye Ji-Xiang - Craft House Introduction
Ye Ji-hsiang is a rare young bamboo carving artist in Taiwan. Growing up witnessing the decline of his family-run traditional bamboo processing factory, he chose not to give up on bamboo but rather to open up new avenues in bamboo carving creation. During his time studying in the design department at Zhangshan High School, he developed a deep affection for bamboo carving, often traveling to Taichung to learn from masters. After completing his military service, he immediately established a studio to pursue his creative endeavors. Under the guidance of the renowned master Chen Ming-tang, his works quickly gained recognition in the craft community. ■ Finding Inspiration from Life and Making it Relatable With a deep understanding of bamboo, Ye Ji-hsiang has a unique perspective on bamboo carving. In the past, craftsmen mostly carved various facial expressions on bamboo faces; however, he boldly carved away the face's bamboo joints, employing the technique of透雕 (透雕) to create amusing works with characters singing joyously, referred to as the "Human Realm" series, which received high acclaim. Ye Ji-hsiang is also adept at creating lotus flowers and meticulously depicts insects, birds, and frogs. He states that these distinctive works are inspired by his observations of rural life. Having engaged in bamboo carving for nearly two decades, his achievements are evident. However, perhaps due to witnessing the bamboo industry’s rise and fall, Ye Ji-hsiang feels that there are too few bamboo carving artists in Taiwan, making it difficult to form a collective force, and that the general public is quite unfamiliar with bamboo craft. Therefore, after achieving success in bamboo art creation, he has recently moved towards creating functional art, making bamboo products that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical, using simple lines combined with the unique texture of bamboo. He emphasizes that only through a relatable representation can the public become closer to bamboo art products and thus come to appreciate bamboo craftsmanship, which is the fundamental way to elevate bamboo carving art. To pass on bamboo carving craftsmanship, Ye Ji-hsiang has started teaching in bamboo carving classes organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau. Perhaps in his eagerness for quality, he has often intimidated many during the basic courses, so he has since adjusted his methods to focus on sparking students' interest. He suggests that starting with cultivating individuals who appreciate bamboo art before moving on to bamboo art creation may be a more practical approach. (Text and images from the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute)
