Contributions to Taiwan
The Impact of the International Chawan Festival on Taiwan
The International Chawan Festival transcends local boundaries as a premier global platform, showcasing over 400 tea bowls by 74 distinguished artists from 20 countries. This exhibition celebrates a remarkable diversity of ceramic artistry, where each piece reflects a unique cultural narrative and technical mastery.
Representing Ukraine, Volodymyr Kozhukalo is celebrated for his rugged textures and irregular silhouettes. His work offers a captivating sensory contrast: while his glazes remain smooth, the surfaces retain the organic undulations of hand-pinched clay. Most strikingly, the raw hues and textures of the unglazed sections evoke a profound emotional resonance. From Singapore, Alvin Ng utilizes a "hand-pinching" methodology refined through years of experimentation with wood-firing and indigenous clays. His practice involves rigorous kiln firings to explore the high-temperature synergy between local soil and wood ash, resulting in minimalist forms that balance traditional essence with personal identity. Furthermore, Martina Dielen from the Netherlands embraces Eastern minimalist aesthetics through her signature use of "Shino glaze," creating pieces distinguished by their warm, creamy-white finishes and elegant, fluid forms.
By introducing these diverse ceramic traditions, the festival significantly enriches Taiwan’s cultural landscape. We aspire to attract even more international talent in the coming years, further elevating Taiwan’s visibility and influence within the global artistic community.
Different Snake Kiln Works
photo by our team
Lectures on the Beginnings of Tea Ceremony
photo by our team
The lecturer gave me a bag of black tea.
photo by our team
Lecture content on the basics of tea ceremony
The lecture featured international guest speaker Tei-Mu, who explored two primary themes: The Philosophy of the Tea Ceremony and The Narrative Significance of the Tea Bowl.
The session opened with a practical demonstration where attendees were served hand-brewed tea using premium leaves from Sun Moon Lake, Nantou. The speaker highlighted a common oversight in modern tea discourse: while technical production is frequently discussed, the spiritual essence of "Tea" is often neglected. He emphasized that tea serves as a medium to rediscover one’s "original intention" , encouraging a slower pace of life and fostering connections between nature and society under the principle of "cultivating friendships through tea"
During the cultural analysis, the speaker noted that while tea traditions vary globally—ranging from the lidded bowls (Gaiwan) of the Ming Dynasty to the Japanese emphasis on tranquility and focus—Taiwanese tea culture is uniquely characterized by its diverse integration of styles. Despite the prevalence of automated brewing technology, the speaker underscored that "hand-brewing" (Temaye) remains the most authentic and culturally vital method. He further posited that the craft of tea, much like the etymology of the character for "work" (工), symbolizes a profound connection between heaven and earth. The lecture concluded with each participant receiving a commemorative Chawan and a selection of tea leaves, symbolizing the continued practice of these traditions.
photo by our team
photo by our team
