Taiwan workshop of natural printing and wool felting 臺灣教學遊

 

I was in Taiwan for a series of teaching in the last two weeks. It's a delightful trip of three sessions of natural printing and nuno felting with students from different parts of Taiwan for workshops held in Taipei and Taichung. Natural printing techniques are mainly of indigo dyes with resist or discharge effects which I learnt from master Irit Dulman.  The nuno felt technique is to make a reversible seamless tunic with textures.

Natural prints of other skills were also taught.

 

Before the official kickoff of workshop in Taichung in the tranquil village, nice setting with my samples and welcome pack of natural printed card and the wool felt printed tag.

My sincere welcome to students.......

With the indigo vat prepared by the organiser all students immersed in the atmosphere of dyeing

The ambiance of the studio is so tempting with lily pond, rice fields and birds singing......

First to do a few indigo dyed panels......

The spacious studio with everything handy....

 

pretty layout of plants on fabric....

 

After 1.5 hours of boiling they're ready to unwrap

Prints on cotton and silk are so impressed.

Prints on silk and wool are particularly bold and colorful

 

Aren't they happy with the outcome?

During the first day learning lots of panel samples were done.

They have to decide what they're going to do in the next day

Some more natural colors incorporated in the making for different effects.

 

Apart from the eucalyptus from florist, some local weeds are so pretty too.

The two species of imported eucalyptus are of different shades of orange

 

Dyed with onion skins for this effect is interesting

The onion skin dyes and some rose flowers print.

During the two days session in Taichung students made lots of prints.  Most of them are the first time to get involved and pleased with the techniques..

Back to Taipei I taught the skill of nuno felting with indigo dyed and printed yardage.

A tunic with textures and reversible is what I taught.

One side mainly with white merino wool on the top, both with textures that make two looks of one reversible garment.

 

Natural prints and dyes were done earlier,  in a day of wool laying, rubbing and fulling all done.

We're going to make an art journal with
these pretty natural printed papers...........

Binded signatures then with nuno felt cover that made with remnants from tunic project......

 

A set of natural printed tunic and art journal of same tone was done  

Student YL is so nice and we spent a day in the sea shore also to take shots of her works. 

I wrapped my wonderful teaching in Taiwan with my last stop in Taipei

with good company.

It's quite windy but we still managed to capture nice shots.

Yeliu GeoPark is amazing with rocks formation.

Yangmingshan's hot spring is famous

My two weeks in Taiwan was great with arrangements from YL, Meg and Mary.  Not only teaching but also nice time to explore the beautiful region and fancy coffee as well leisure walks in the town.

Thank you my goods friends and all the students in Taiwan made me a wonderful trip.

Days in Taiwan other than teaching 從台中到台北的日子

Other than the formal teaching in Taipei, my main purpose of visiting Taiwan was also catching up with friends. In Taichung I had a great time with Meg and Mary for the indigo dye experiment.

我的台灣行從台中的第一天染缸與新知舊雨開始.........往奧萬大國家公園，參觀朋友獲奬作品，台北校園教學，從藍天白雲的市內到山城九份雨中行，踏著友人風驅小電馬悠遊淡水新舊風情，十天的假期教學今天完美結束。感謝台灣學生及朋友們熱情款待！

Visit to the textile museum was wonderful with inspiration. These sets of nuno felt garment are Meg's awarded exhibits. Proud of my friend Meg.

Meg took me to the high mountain national forest (奧萬大國家公園）for hiking

Brilliant mountain views with a suspend bridge over the river

I am fit for hiking but scare of height!  When I tried to cross over the bridge only a third I returned. What a shame !

Arriving Taichung, checked in the hotel arranged by student.  The rowing clouds over the sky in a beautiful morning. Such inspiration for my work.

A walk with student YL in the beautiful Taiwan National University ........

and treats from lovely student YL in the campus.

The natural prints workshop taking place in the spacious and well equipped university campus.

After formal teaching I went to the old mountain village Jiufen (九份）in a rainy day.

The village with lots remains of mining history from the old days.

The old streets lined with traditional snacks shops and souvenirs.  They're too commercial now.

I rather like seeing some still old things. The tea house and the ceramic exhibits are just pretty.

The vivid fish in the tea house. Sometimes they're still as among the exhibits

I went into a photo gallery in the old mountain stone house.  The photo displayed most are black and white.  Some are the changing views of the mountain village in seasons. Quite a deep expression of life and history of the mountain village. 

A nice chat with the photographer and appreciation of the photo.

Passing by a temple........The cat was scratching in the front of "donation " box of the temple. 

This day I took the metro transport to Tamsui (淡水）to meet my friend.  Arriving Tamshui I explored myself in the harbour.

Peaceful fishing boats by the bank

I went to the arts centre transformed from a godown. A painter was just painting

Then met my friend C.X. She's so warm to show me around her town

She drove me in her scooter to see the interesting spots up and down the slopes and the harbour

The old streets of Tamsui with many wood and brick buildings

As well some historic western building from the ancient European occupancy and religious 

The other side, nearly developed fishmen's pier with bustling business

We've a nice time till sunset.

Thank you YL. Because you invited my teaching in Taiwan I got the chance of travelling your region and met my other friends of the same passion. Taiwan people are so warm and nice.

The cats in a arts gallery are quite sweet

She expects guest.......

I feel the hospitality.  Thank you all my friends I met in Taiwan. I back to Hong Kong after the 10-day fruitful trip.  Another project is in the preparation.....