2020 Taiwan, Embellished with Splendor｜Southern Branch of NPM.

"Taiwan, Embellished with Splendor"

Artist | Cheng Ruo-Han | 2020

Location: Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum

Walking into the embroidery workshop, I stumbled upon a palette of green, white, yellow, red, and black—the colors of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Qilin, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. The master craftsman spoke of one shape, two forms, and three colors. I asked, "But could it be paper-cut and metal, and then colored?"

The traces of needle and thread on the fabric are deeply rooted as proof of Taiwan's folk beliefs. Let me, from a perspective closest to the land, adorn the steadfast conviction of the people.

Creative Inspiration

When I first received the invitation to create this piece, I thought to myself, what could possibly be placed on such a vast and immense prairie? Even the largest work would seem like a mere embellishment, right?!

Stepping into the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum and carefully appreciating the exhibits, I saw that the main focus of the museum is on rare East Asian textiles, Buddhist culture, and the stories of tea. I pondered how an outdoor artwork for the Southern Branch could be made to feel closer to the land.

So, I walked into a traditional Taiwanese embroidery workshop, hoping to explore the secrets of embroidery and life. It was there I discovered the profound interdependence between folk religion and Taiwanese textiles.

The artwork is set to quietly face the main museum building across the lake. On a clear day, the backdrop of the piece clearly features the ridgeline of Taiwan's Yushan (Jade Mountain). Looking at it from afar, it appears as if five huge pieces of fabric are descending from the heavens, in silent dialogue with the rare exhibits inside the museum.

It echoes textiles, echoes beliefs, tells the story of Taiwan, and adorns the earth.

I particularly love the metal patterns with raised golden edges—they are the cotton on the embroidered cloth, but also the golden thread.

織布上頭針線穿梭的痕跡，深植著台灣民間信仰的證明；
容我用最貼近土地的距離，妝點上人們深信不疑的堅定。