Bianca DelCioppo

(The SNC exchange group)

 

Taiwan was one of the greatest experiences of my life so far and what I learned there will remain with me forever. When I first signed up for this course, I didn't fully realize what I was getting myself into. Not only was I going across the globe to a country and culture I have never experienced, but I was with little to no knowledge of the culture and language. I have traveled before, but whenever I traveled, I knew a language to help me get around and I knew a little about the culture already. This was completely out of my comfort zone, but in the best way possible. I think I needed this trip and it was at the best time in my life to take it.

Cindy Lee (aka Big White) at a hot pot restaurant in Madou.

The grad studio at TNNUA.

We were asked to concentrate on one thing about Taiwan that struck us. One thing that moved us or changed us or made us think. The one word that kept running through my head was "ornate". Everything in Taiwanese culture involved some adornment or decoration and color, even the plants and animals. I think that's what inspired this culture to become so ornate, the ecosystem there lent itself to an array of colorful plants and animals filling this tiny, but proud island. Also, it wasn't just decoration for decoration's sake, everything had a meaning, a story to tell and some history behind it. That's what really made me think, I have been doing decoration of my pieces for a little while now, not sure of it's meaning. Now I have to think about what my pieces mean to me and I think I have found an answer. I feel as though this trip was the beginning to something, and I am not even sure what yet, but I know it has started fueling an already big fire in my belly. I feel even more excited and driven by my art and I want it to take me as far as possible. I know I will go back one day soon, I can feel the presence, that this trip has left with me, fuel me and surround me each and every day since I have been back.

The male side of the temple, with open-mouthed lions

A temple along the way to TNNUA

The same temple in the day light

The night view at the top of Taipei 101.

A snail with a spiky shell, it was very bizarre and very awesome.

Even the burial grounds were ornate.

The National Palace Museum- Taipei

Ferocious temple guard dog

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the butterfly house at the Taipei Zoo

Female Lion with baby, guarding the temple.

The old and the new, in Tainan.

Pottery studio, you pay by the hour.

Gorgeous view on the gondolas overlooking Taipei.

The funnier moments in Taiwan.

Street art.

More street, building art.

There was nothing more magical than Tainan at night time.

Some pieces of mine from the wood kiln

At a ceramic gallery