Ye Ji Siang - Crafts House Introduction
Ye Ji-xiang is a rare young bamboo sculptor in Taiwan. Growing up watching his family's traditional bamboo processing factory decline, he not only persevered in working with bamboo but also chose to explore bamboo carving as a new path. He developed a passion for bamboo carving while studying in the art department at Zhushan High School, frequently traveling to Taichung to learn from masters. After completing his military service, he immediately established a studio to pursue his creations; under the guidance of renowned master Chen Ming-tang, his work quickly gained recognition in the craft industry. ■ Finding Inspiration from Life and Making It Lifelike With a strong understanding of bamboo, Ye Ji-xiang has a unique perspective on bamboo carving. While traditional masters often portrayed various facial expressions in bamboo carving, he boldly hollowed out facial bamboo nodes, using透雕 (pierced carving) techniques to create whimsical works named the "Human World Series," which received high acclaim. Ye is also skilled in creating lotus flowers and has meticulously carved insects, birds, and frogs. He claims that these distinctive works stem from his observations of rural life. Having worked in bamboo carving for nearly twenty years, his achievements are evident. However, having experienced the bamboo industry's rise and fall, Ye feels that there are too few bamboo carving artists in Taiwan to form a strong community, and that the general public is largely unfamiliar with bamboo craft. Therefore, after achieving success in bamboo art, he has turned his focus in recent years to creating lifestyle crafts that combine simple lines with the unique texture of bamboo, producing bamboo art products that are both visually appealing and practical. He emphasizes that the fundamental way to elevate bamboo carving art is through expressions that make bamboo art products more accessible to the public, allowing them to appreciate it. To pass on the bamboo carving craft, Ye Ji-xiang has started teaching in bamboo carving classes organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau. Perhaps being eager for quality, he often scares away many students in basic courses, so he has adjusted his methods to aim at raising student interest. He states that starting by nurturing those with an appreciation for bamboo art may make the transition into bamboo craft creation more practical. (Text and images from the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute)
