Starting March 29, the Taichung City Government’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs presents the exhibition “Tshiú-Lōo: The Art of Rattan Living” at the Museum of Fiber Arts(abbreviated as MoFia). Featuring nearly 80 works across six themed sections, the exhibition showcases the evolution of rattan craftsmanship in Taiwan through a selection of nearly 40 curated pieces from the museum’s collection, six master artisans, ten local community stories, and three renowned furniture brands.

Based on the exhibition, MoFia is organizing a series of engaging programs, including outdoor learning, the writing about rattan related stories and the handmaking classes. These events invite the public to explore the unique charm and cultural richness of rattan artistry. The exhibition runs through June 29.

Director-General of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chen Chia-chun, remarked that rattan furniture—particularly the classic rattan chair—is deeply embedded in the memories of many Taiwanese households. Rattan is not only used in furniture and crafts but also plays a role in traditional medicine, making it a material closely tied to daily life. As the only museum in Taiwan dedicated to fiber arts, MoFia has curated this exhibition to spotlight the role of rattan in everyday craftsmanship. Curated by Hsu Che-yu, the exhibition brings together precious pieces from the museum’s collection, along with various hand-crafted skill shaped by artisans and innovative brands across generations. Visitors are invited to rediscover how rattan has evolved from a utilitarian material into a refined artistic medium.

“Taiwan’s rattan heritage was shaped by generations of hands weaving not only practical objects, but also the stories of their time,” said curator Hsu Che-yu. Titled “ Tshiú-lōo” (from the Taiwanese term), the exhibition explores the unique skills and creative expressions of different generations of artisans. It showcases a diversity of rattan materials, construction techniques, and finished works—ranging from functional household items to contemporary furniture, interior design, and art pieces—demonstrating rattan’s transformation from material to masterpiece, from utility to beauty.

The exhibition includes six thematic sections: Material in Hands, Time on hand, Hands of Heritage, Points of Departure, The Road Ahead, and Rattan Along the Way. In Hands of Heritage, the museum highlights the stories of master artisans such as National Living Treasure and National Craft Achievement Award recipient Chang Hsien-ping; Tainan’s Shen Mao-lai and Kuo Shu-hui (a couple preserving traditional handwoven rattan techniques); contemporary furniture designer Chen Chih-kang; founder of Yong Chang Rattan Furniture in Pingtung, Lai Teng-fang; and Lin Ting-yuan of Lin Feng Yi Trading Company in Taipei, a business with more than a century of heritage. Together, their works and personal histories paint a vivid landscape of Taiwan’s rattan legacy.

To further explore Taichung’s cultural connection to rattan, MoFia partnered with the Taichu Renaissance Association to conduct field research across the city, beginning in the Dali District where the museum is located. Through this collaboration, the team explored businesses, neighborhoods, and cultural sites throughout Taichung that hold historical or cultural ties to rattan. The stories uncovered through this research are featured in the latest edition of Taichu Issue.

During the exhibition period, a series of public programs will also be held, including outdoor learning, writing about rattan related stories and the handmaking classes. offering participants the opportunity to explore the history, personal and cultural memories, and contemporary applications of rattan craft. Full event details and registration information are available on the museum’s official website and Facebook page(https://mofia.taichung.gov.tw/).

Contact:
Miss Chen
Museum of Fiber Arts Exhibition & Performance Center
Tel: +886-4-24860069 ext. 205