What colors come to mind when you think of Yilan—brick red, kumquat orange, or canary yellow? The Museum of Fiber Art in Taichung launches Colors of Lanyang: The Natural Dye Palette of Yilan, the third installment of its Natural Dye × Local Power series. With eight zones and 117 works, the exhibition reveals how Yilan’s landscapes and traditions are transformed into color through the art of natural dyeing.

The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Yilan Dye Workshop Development Association, which has spent nearly a decade surveying plants and testing dyes across Yilan’s twelve townships. The results are on view through 552 fabric swatches dyed with more than forty plant species—including kumquat and pear—alongside artworks that embody both Yilan’s roaring seas and its fertile land.

According to association chair Sun Tsui-Lan, the imagery of “turtle” and “snake” reflects Yilan’s Turtle Island and the 101-kilometer stretch of sand dunes winding like a serpent along the shoreline. Together they stand as natural guardians of the Lanyang Plain. Since 2016, guided by dyeing experts Chen Ching-Lin and Ma Yu-Hsiu, the Yilan Dye team has traveled across all twelve townships to collect plants. Over a decade of fieldwork and experiments, they have tested forty-six local species—including kumquat and pear—gradually drawing out the natural colors of Yilan’s soil.

Among the highlights of the exhibition is a vibrant “Color Maze,” composed of Yilan’s signature hues—canary yellow, brick red, kumquat orange, and golden yellow—which has quickly become a favorite spot for visitors to explore and capture in photos.

Colors of Lanyang: The Natural Dye Palette of Yilan runs through September 14 at the Museum of Fiber Art. Visitors can also join the special hands-on event Tracing the Colors of Dali. More details are available on the museum’s website https://mofia.taichung.gov.tw/

 or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/mofiataichung