Craftsoul
This documentary series delves into the human stories of Taiwanese artisans and explores the exquisite techniques they employ.
Beyond Words: Taiwanese Typographer Teresa Mou - CRAFTSOUL Ep1
Typeface shapes our first impression towards a text, and a well-designed font family could take up to a decade to develop. Focusing on Hanzi font design, Taiwanese typographer Tere
From Literature to Petals: Artistic Approach to Flower Arrangement - CRAFTSOUL Ep2
As a literature graduate, floral designer Lin Che-wei transforms words into pleasing bouquets. By carefully listening to his customers’ needs, Lin creates floral design that resona
Silhouettes of Yin and Yang: Paper Cutting Artist Yang Shih-yi - CRAFTSOUL Ep3
Taiwanese artist Yang Shih-yi sees paper cutting art as a way to share blessings with others. By using techniques such as intaglio and relief carving, Yang creates beautiful silhou
Crafting Beauty With Fire: Taiwanese Jewelry Maker Lu Jei-chih - CRAFTSOUL Ep4
Enamel jewelry is a fine craft that requires patience and finesse to make. Drawn by the beauty of enamelwork and metalwork, Taiwanese jewelry maker Lu Jei-chih strives to create pi
The Artistry Behind Taiwanese Wrought Iron Window Grilles - CRAFTSOUL Ep5
Wrought iron window grilles in Taiwan are visually pleasing security measures that are installed on old building facades. While the demand for handcrafted window grilles is in cons
Ink and Needles: Taiwanese Tattoo Artist Ho Fan - CRAFTSOUL Ep6
Tattoo is an intimate and embodied form of self-expression. Taiwanese tattoo artist Ho Fan attends to the stories and personal significance behind his works, as they would be worn
The Sound That is Alive: Taiwanese Drum Maker Wang Hsi-kun - CRAFTSOUL Ep7
The difference between a drum and a decent drum is in the sound. In pursuit of sonorous sound, Taiwanese drum maker Wang Hsi-kun employs century-old techniques to craft thunderous
Reliving the Good Old Days of Taiwan in Miniature - CRAFTSOUL Ep8
Taiwanese miniature artist Hank Cheng recreates scenes from the past with attention to detail. To depict the passage of time, Cheng applies multiple layers of textures to his model
The Austronesian Craft of Turning Tree Bark Into Textile - CRAFTSOUL Ep1
Austronesian people in Taiwan have a great many applications of tree bark, and one of them is turning tree bark into textile. Instead of shredding bark and recomposing it as fabric
Taiwanese Craftsman Modernizes Lacquerware for Everyday Usage - CRAFTSOUL Ep2
The Lai family in Taichung has been practicing the art of lacquerware for three generations. As exquisite as lacquerware could be, its hefty price tag has been its Achilles heel in
The Unconventional Method of Dyeing Fabric With Rust - CRAFTSOUL Ep3
One person's trash is another's treasure. While rust stains may be unwelcomed by most, Taiwanese artisan Chen Ying-ting sees them as the evidence of the passage of time. By careful
Glassware That Captures the Fleeting Moments - CRAFTSOUL Ep4
Taiwanese artisan Lin Jing-rong has been exploring the materiality of glass through many of her stunning and visually deceptive pieces. By kneading baking soda into layers of glass
Crafting Oil-Paper Umbrella in the Authentic Hakka Way - CRAFTSOUL Ep5
To the Hakka people in Taiwan, oil-paper umbrella is a practical tool as well as a cultural object. At a Hakka wedding, the matchmaker would cover the bride with an oil-paper umbre
Farm to Workshop: The Indigo Color Grown Locally in Taiwan - CRAFTSOUL Ep6
Tang Wen-jun is a Taiwanese dye artisan obsessed with indigo pigment. To attain the blue color that is uniquely Taiwanese, Tang acquires farmlands and grows her own indigo plants s
Artisan Furniture Inspired by the Landscapes - CRAFTSOUL Ep7
Located at the foot of Yangming Mountain, furniture studio Liipo is inspired by the majestic natural surroundings of Taiwan. Its signature piece Mountain-Sea Chair instantiates the
Breathing New Life Into Classic Scenes: Taiwanese Photo Colorist Wang Tzu-so Ep8
Unlike AI tools that rely on probability and data sets to colorize old photos, Wang Tzu-so relies on in-depth historical research to do the job. Throughout his career, he has color
The Rebirth of a Century-Old Wood Carving Workshop in Taiwan-Craftsoul Ep.4
Chen’s Wood, a wood-carving workshop based in Taichung, has witnessed the ebb and flow of Taiwan’s wood carving industry. From Jesus statues in Catholic churches to temple blocks i
The Man Who Restores Buildings and Lives in Them-Craftsoul Ep. 5
Lee Yih Shin is a restoration architect and a traditional painter based in Lukang, one of Taiwan’s earliest port city. While Lee himself grew up in a building with more than 200 ye
Turning Cardboard Boxes Into Fascinating Sculptures-Craftsoul Ep. 3
Through the hands of Zhong Kai-xiang, cardboard boxes are transformed from everyday occurrence to exquisite sculptures. His obsession with insects and animals ignited his passion f
The Mastery of Taiwanese Tin Craft-Craftsoul Ep. 2
Tin has played a crucial role in Taiwanese Taoist religions, as ritual vessels are often tinware. Chen Wan-neng, the third generation of his family-owned tin workshop, has been a p
Meet the Best Custom Bicycle Artisan in Taipei-Craftsoul Ep. 1
Taiwan prides itself on being a bicycle manufacturing powerhouse. In addition to mass-produced models, Taiwan also shines in the handmade bicycle scene. Yeh Shih-hao, the founder o