ASCDC
E-NEWSLETTER

Loom shuttles pass back and forth. Colorful threads interlace with each other. Heavy sounds from the woof squeezer echo with the heartbeats. The fabrics are weaved with life stories of aboriginal females.
 

An exhibition on Taiwan aboriginal weaving culture titled “Between Warp and Woof: Weaving Aboriginal Life Stories” will be on view at the Academia Sinica Digital Archives Exhibition Center during January 26 and May 27‚ 2016. The exhibition‚ featuring valuable images from several digital archives‚ as well as physical clothing and traditional looms‚ is organized by the Academia Sinica Institute of Taiwan History‚ Institute of Ethnology‚ and Digital Center. An interactive fitting simulator is also installed for visitors to virtually try on cloths of different ethnic groups and take pictures to share with friends. Please do not miss the opportunity to experience the intricate and fascinating cultural scene of the Taiwan aboriginal weaving!
 

Starting with the point of view of “aboriginal women”‚ it displays the weaving culture and clothes of ethnic groups through different phases of a woman’s life. The exhibition is divided into six areas: Entrance Imagery‚ Birth‚ Growth‚ Marriage‚ Burial and Revitalization. From an aboriginal woman’s view‚ elaborating their learning of weaving and making clothes with their mothers in the childhood. From weaving the patterns on the cloths to weaving gorgeous wedding dresses for themselves and making fine clothes for their family and children‚ this weaving skill is inherited between mothers and daughters‚ laying out women’s life experience‚ inheritance of weaving skills‚ group life etiquette behind this tradition‚ and the rise and fall and revitalization of the weaving culture.
 

We hope the visitors could understand these clothes represent not only a symbol of identification for different ethnic groups‚ but also are rich in deep of history and culture of ethnic groups while appreciating the clothes which the aborigines would wear in the daily life and important occasions. The story line of this exhibition begins from weaving‚ that is the textiles‚ and then the relationship between weaving and aborigines‚ especially the one that a female’s life circle is closely related from her birth‚ growth‚ marriage and funeral. By the end of her time‚ the move in the life circle while weaving‚ stepping the loom with the woof squeezer in hand‚ tightening the linen repeatedly‚ makes her body part of the loom‚ and along with the sound of looms‚ each phase of her life connects together resembling a circle‚ the circle of life.

In this exhibition‚ the content is displayed by means of digital archive images‚ digital technology‚ physical clothing and weaving relics‚ leading everybody into the aboriginal world of weaving. Visitors are welcome to join the weaving world between the warp and weft of the aborigines‚ comprehending and getting involved with the life memory which belongs to the individuals and also the family through the lines‚ thereby experiencing the beauty of humanity proper to Taiwan.

 

Date: January‚ 26 (Thu.)-May 27 (Fri)‚ 2016; free entry.

Time: Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm‚ except public holidays

Saturday only open for reserved group visit

Venue: Academia Sinica Digital Archives Exhibition Center ( 2F‚ Joint Library of Humanities and Social Sciences‚ Academia Sinica No.128‚ Sec.2‚ Academia Road‚ Nangang District‚ Taipei City)

Organizers: Institute of Taiwan History‚ Academia Sinica Center for Digital Cultures

Co-organizer: Melihang Workshop of Taian Township‚ Miaoli County

Website: aboriginalweaving.asdc.tw

Group tour:

Contact: 02-2652-1885‚ betty168@gate.sinica.edu.tw

> Exhibition Photo | Growth Area 2


 >Exhibition Photo | Interactive fitting simulator



>Exhibition Photo ｜ Wedding Outfits in Marriage Area



>Exhibition Photo | Funeral Area



>Exhibition Photo | Revitalization Area



> Exhibition Photo | Weaving Materials Area