Experiences in Taiwan

Waterway at TNNUA

TNNUA in the rain

Huge snails on ceramics face at Grad Studio

Main courtyard at TNNUA

Sunset at TNNUA

Cleaning out the wood kiln

Meal at hot plate restaurant

Giant gas kiln at Hsu Yunghsu's studio

Anping Old Fort

Anping Tree House

Temple silhouette at the Misty Mountains

View from the 89th floor of Taipei 101

Leading up to this Taiwan trip I felt strange knowing that I would be leaving my home for three weeks to go to this unfamiliar place. I had mixed emotions about the trip all together but i knew it was something I had to do. I needed to break up the daily routine I had fallen into and introduce something new that would change me and my life.
    When we arrived in Taiwan it was strange. I had no idea what time it was or where I was, but it was exciting. Upon arriving at TNNUA I was just amazed at how green and humid everything was. I learned very quick that it was very hot and very sticky all the time.
    Waking up every morning and walking to the ceramics studio always felt like and adventure. I saw something new or interesting, and met new and amazingly kind people every day. Working in the graduate studio was always different every day as  we would have a lecture and I would want to try a technique I had seen from that or I would see something on my walk to the studio that would spark another idea.
When we started the wood kiln I was just amazed at the whole process. It was very labor intensive and required a lot of work to achieve the desired effects but it was so much fun doing it.
    The food in Taiwan at first seemed very intimidating. But by the third day or so I had just learned to just eat and not ask questions. All the places the group went to eat at were amazing and they all seemed better than the last. I had amazing chicken at the night market and stinky tofu ( I will not be eating it again), the coolest meal at a hot plate restaurant, and world famous dumplings at Taipei 101.
    I feel like I could go on forever about my trip and how amazing everyone I met in Taiwan was. This was an experience I will carry with me forever. It has changed me as a person and I will always remember the experiences I have gained in Taiwan.
    To everyone that was on the trip and everyone that i met in Taiwan thank you so much.

Tainan to Taipei

Taiwan was never a place that I would have thought to travel to. I knew very little about the country or the people. However I felt like this trip would be once in a lifetime. So with the small amount of knowledge that I had gathered from a few short class meetings, our group of fourteen set off for San Francisco airport. I couldn’t say that I was excited to start this journey just a few days after finals, or maybe it was the fact that I was terrified of the three weeks in a completely unknown place. But I am so glad that I did.

Tainan National University of the Arts

            It’s a weird feeling to leave the airport and not know the time of day, date, or able to read anything around you. If it wasn’t for the help of Shinyu, I’m sure we would have never made it to the school.   

            Upon arriving at Tainan National University of the Arts, I immediately felt at home. Everything around me seemed so alive and green. I wanted to explore the campus and the area around it. Some of my first thoughts were thank god there are other trees than pine. Walking to and from the studio you had to always watch you step or you would crush family of frogs or an over sized snail.

            Working in the graduate studio was a nice change as well. I felt a big push from everyone around me. I had no idea what to make and I often felt intimidated by the skills sets of other artists. Going to the lectures really helped these feelings. The professors have a very different outlook on the world, and different way of making art. I felt they were sharing grand secrets with us. This trip made me really question why I make what I make. I realize that I need to change my body of work quite a bit.

I was very interested in the media and advertizing in Taiwan. Women ware long pants and try to cover themselves so that they do not darken their skin. Skin whiteners are sold in beauty stores ect. When our culture wants to be golden tan, Taiwanese women want the opposite. I think it is always interesting to see the media in other cultures.

            My two favorite things about Taiwan were the night markets and the views. The night market is a place for kids to hangout as well as shopping and dinner for the family. Walking through the first time was overwhelming. The smell of stinky tofu filled the air. Other than that I felt like a child wanting to taste everything without meat. I grew quite commutable with this space. People are so helpful and kind, its hard to have a bad day. Then the views. There was a point that I was sitting on top of a mountain looking into a valley filled with jungle. I watched a bird in the distance flying in a sea of green. This was probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Now it feels like it was just part of an amazing dream.          

                    

Rachel's Time in Taiwan

     Leading up to Taiwan I felt a lot of different emotions. I was extremely excited to go, but at the same time rather scared and nervous. I may be a minor in art but I have never really felt like an artist, which made me anxious on how well I would do at TNNUA. For months and months I had been planning out what I was going to make in Taiwan because I feel like when it comes to being creative, my thought process is rather slow. I had planned on making one thing for ceramics, one for felting and one for metal casting. Looking back I have no idea why I thought I would be only making one thing for each subject. However, it was the complete opposite of what I thought it was going to be and all my plans went out the window. It was a non stop production of clay and ideas. At first this was a little difficult for me but once I realized where I was and who was surrounding me, I was inspired.

      The work that went into the wood kiln I will never forgot. It was in the jungle with centipedes, crabs, praying mantis, spiders the size of me, dragonflies, and mosquitos! Because of all these creatures we had to wear pants, long sleeved shirts, and shoes in 95 degrees with around 90% humidity, while working at a wood kiln that was 1050 degrees. I managed to make it up to the wood kiln four times and hated every second of it, until I got back to my shower. Once I was showered is when I felt accomplished and that I was getting the experience I came for. The last night of the wood kiln happened to be my shift. When Flor and I showed up at midnight to see almost everyone there we were shocked. Most stayed for hours and some even stayed all night. I knew that night how lucky I was to be with this group of people. And with all the love I gave that wood kiln I only had one piece come out because I wasn't physically able to go back and get the rest of my stuff. Damn, looks like I have to go back to Taiwan.

     I went to Taiwan without any real knowledge of ceramics and in those three weeks I learned more then I could ever imagine. I had demos from Ching-Yuan, Po-Ching, Sheri, Rick and Shin-Yu. Shin-Yu didn't give us a demo but she worked next to us where I would watch her and how she would work with the clay. We also had lectures from visiting artist. Hsu Yungshu is an artist that went to TNNUA 8 years ago. He gave us the opportunity to come to his warehouse and check out his work space and his pieces. I have never seen anything like what he creates and was so fascinated by the scale of his work. Because of all these people I know that I will never be able to replicate this trip and that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget.

     My plan for Taiwan and I was to soak up everything, including their cuisine. I wanted to try everything and anything. I was successful for the most part, but somehow I never got to try the stinky tofu. I am not too sure how I missed out on it, but it looks like once again I might just have to go back to Taiwan. The night markets were amazing, and the food there was incredible. Octopus, squid, oysters, mushrooms, fish eyes, fish sticks, chicken sticks, pork burritos, duck feet, duck heads, duck blood, the pastries and the fruit! The pastries would always come home with me because within one hour of each night market I was too full to try anything more. And even though I am terrified of heights, I made it up to the top of the second tallest building in the world without a hitch. Wether it was because there was mango beer at the top, I will never know.

TNNUA!!

A beautiful sunset in Kenting

Working hard at the wood kiln 

Working hard day and night

Ching-Yuan demo

Rick and Sheri demos

Glazing

I don't think there was a sunset in Taiwan I didn't fall in love with

My view everyday after getting a smoothie in the morning

The reservoir behind the school

Night market pastries! 

     

I also fell in love with felting

Always take a picture of where you started out, that way you will be able to find your way back.

From the top of Taipei 101

Rick and Alice coming out of the mist in Qintang

Temple that was built in 1855

The top of the temple

       Spending three weeks in Taiwan wasn't nearly enough for me. I never once got homesick, which took me by surprise. We managed to do so much in so little time. We went snorkeling, we rode scooters, we created and produced, we experienced three different cities night markets, got to dress up like a traditional Japanese woman (by the way, anyone have pictures of that?) saw a couple temples, went to art museums and private galleries, went to the creepiest old gold mine city called Qintang, and most importantly we made friendships and memories that I will hold on to for the rest of my life. This was definitely life changing and solidified that I want to be an artist in some shape or form and I can't thank you guys enough for that. Oh and how could I forget DRINK LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER!!!

When in Taiwan....

  

I was in search for a study abroad program when I came across the flyer, "All SNC students welcome Fine Arts department trip to Taiwan" I picked it up and said, "I'm going." I knew nothing, but it felt right, I had very little, almost no expectations for this trip, I simply just did not know what to think, but anything I did think was blown away. This trip changed a little part of me for the better and I will forever cherish the memories I made. I left my worries in Taiwan and took a lifestyle back with me...I can, I will, and I do, live in the present moment. 

This is why I named my post When in Taiwan, I found myself constantly using this phrase, like a mantra. When fears or worries arise, remember where you are and let them go.

Personally and honestly, it is very difficult for me to put this experience into words.

Although I was about 7,800 miles away from my real home (Connecticut), induced in a new culture and language, I felt oddly in place and at home in Taiwan.  

Everyone I met was incredibly nice and kind-hearted.

Everything I ate was absolutely delicious.

Everything I saw was breathtaking.

Everything I smelt was new to my senses (some lovely, some stinky)

Everything I heard was so alive!

My worries and insecurities of not being an art major instantly slipped away with the warm open arms of TNNUA, the students and the teachers we met and learned from filled my experience with excitement, interest, and confidence. 

I learned a lot about my own self and journey as well as humanities. I started to sift through life and find out what matters to me most, what does not, what i like, what i dislike, and open my senses to new options. 

I was tempted, but I did not view the trip behind my camera lens, although it was my outlet for inspiration, creativity, and peace. 

[2,260 digital pictures taken and countless mental pictures]

Here are some of my favorites.

Landed in Taipei, heading south to TNNUA

The beautiful campus

Wild Orchids & Lily Pads

                            

The Reservoir                                                   

Ceramics                                                                                          Wood Kiln

 Hsu Yunghsu               Po-Ching Fang                 Shin-Yu Wang            Ching-Yuan Chang

Rick & Sheri's Demo

    

KimKim, Alice, and Big White...these girls changed my life, we will be friends forever, the first time I met them I immediately felt a connection, they were my long lost sisters. 

Food

Miga & 

The man at the store down the road

Scooters

                                   Taipei 101                                                                MRT

Tamsui

I want to finally give a huge thanks to everyone at TNNUA, Rick, Sheri, and my fellow SNC travelers for making this one of the best experiences I have had in my life, I will never ever forget it. 

This trip has allowed me to connect some of the missing dots in life and brainstorm where I will go and what I will be doing in the future. One thing I know for certain is I will be back in Taiwan with plans to explore more of Asia, and I do not plan on stopping until I've traveled the world.

Here is an awesome video I found online about Taipei...Enjoy!

Taipei