Li Jung-Lieh

Li Jung-Lieh (1936-) was born in Caotun, Nantou County. A master artisan of Taiwanese bamboo basketry, Li is the student of Yen Shui-Long, Chen Huo-Ching, Wang Ching-Shuang and Huang Tu-Shan. He integrates lacquer and bamboo to create “Rantai Lacquerware” (lacquerware with bamboo woven body) in his own distinctive style, and further advances the bamboo basketry art through the development of “rotary-cut bamboo veneer”.
==Life==
===Early life===
Li Jung-Lieh was born in Caotun, Nantou County in 1936. His father worked in the post office, mother a housewife. Li has five siblings and is the second child in the family. In 1953, Li passed the exam, went to the evening extension division of the Changhua Industrial High School, but had to drop because of sickness.
===Bamboo basketry===
In 1954, Li Jung-Lieh saw the enrollment announcement of the Nantou County Handicrafts Research Group on newspaper, hence applied and was admitted into the division of bamboo basketry under the tutelage of Huang Tu-Shan. After graduation, he stayed in the Group as a graduate assistant. In 1958, Li Jung-Lieh was officially appointed as the instructor of bamboo basketry when he was 22. Then he went to Taipei to attend a two-year research program by the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction to advance his knowledge and skills. After the program wrapped up, Li went home and started to work in the factory of Victradco Ltd. as a supervisor. In early 1971, he was invited by the bamboo expert Mr. Lin Wei-chih to provide technical aids to the Republic of Malagasy (now Madagascar), which was a diplomatic ally with the Republic of China (Taiwan) then, for one year. After returning to Taiwan, Li was hired by the Shunying Wood Products Ltd as the factory manager. 
===Integrating bamboo basketry and lacquer art===
In 1978, Li Jung-Lieh was appointed as the Woodwork Technician by the Taiwan Province Handicraft Research Center (now NTCRI). In 1984, Ms. Huang Li-Shu of the Design Section of the Center invited the lacquer artist, Mr. Chen Huo-Ching (1914-2001), to teach lacquerware. Under the inspiration, Li started to conduct research on “Rantai Lacquerware” (lacquerware with bamboo woven body). In 1989, Li’s work, Rantai Lacquerware-A Tea Set, entered the 12th National Art Exhibition and won the first prize in the craft category. In 1994, Li was honored with the 10th National Heritage Award by the Ministry of Education. After retirement in 2001, Li Jung-Lieh continues engaging in craft education. In 2012, he was invited to the “Rantai Lacquerware Education and Promotion Seminar” organized by Nantou County government. In 2013, Li Jung-Lieh was honored with the National Craft Achievement Award.
==Honors==
1989. Rantai Lacquerware-A Tea Set, first prize in the craft category, 12th National Art Exhibition.
1992. Honorable Mention in the weaving category, 1st Ethnic Craft Award, Council for Cultural Affairs, Executive Yuan.
1993. Honorable Mention in the weaving category, 2nd Ethnic Craft Award, Council for Cultural Affairs, Executive Yuan.
1994. 10th National Heritage Award by the Ministry of Education.
2013. National Craft Achievement Award, the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute.
==Exhibitions==
1990. Contemporary Weaving Art Special Exhibition, Taichung County Cultural Center.
1991. From Tradition to Innovation – Taiwanese Craft Exhibition, Taiwan Provincial Museum of Fine Arts (now National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts).
1992. Bamboo Blossoms, Taiwanese Craft Exhibition, Taiwan Provincial Museum of Fine Arts (now National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts).
1993. Taipei International Exhibition on Traditional Crafts organized by the Council for Cultural Affairs, show and demonstration.
1993. Li Jung-Lieh Bamboo Basketry Special Exhibition, first solo exhibition, organized by the Council for Cultural Affairs, Culture Gallery of the Taipei Train Station.
1994. National Heritage Award: 10th Anniversary Exhibition, the Ministry of Education.
1995. 14th National Art Exhibition.
1996. China-Japan Contemporary Lacquer Art Exhibition, Taiwan Province Handicraft Research Center.
1996. Happy Taiwan Week – a Taiwan for UN Event.
1997. Chinese New Year of Ox Exhibition, Paris, France.
1997. Ethnic Craft Exhibition, National Center for Traditional Arts.
2016. Craft Across Generations - Li Jung-Lieh and His Students, Taichung Municipal City Huludun Cultural Center, Fengyuan.
==Teaching==
1991. “Bamboo Basketry Training Workshop” organized by the Northern Branch of the Taichung City Farmers’ Association in Dakeng.
1994. “Bamboo Basketry Class” organized by the Taipei County Cultural Center.
1996-1998. “Rattan Basketry – Basic and Teacher Trainings” organized by the Craft Research Center of the Bureau of Indigenous Administration, Taiwan Provincial government.
==Works==
Spiral-Patterned Vase, National Center for Traditional Arts collection, no.11199904002.
Nursing Chair, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute collection, no. 199101001.
Organized Chaos, Bureau of Cultural Affairs of Taichung City /Museum of Fiber Arts, Taichung City collection.
Rose-Patterned Vase, Tainan Art Museum collection.
Floral Freshness. Cultural Asset Section, Cultural Affairs Bureau of Nantou County collection.
Category:1936 births
Category:People from Nantou County
Category:Taiwanese people
Category:Bamboo baskets
Category:Artisans