Cheng Tsang-yao, 88, believes that the secret of his success lies in the ability to focus for long periods of time and painstakingly fashion intricate patterns. For the master weaver, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, with legions of fans from around Taiwan beating a path to see his permanent exhibition at the Futien Borough Community Center.
“Such popularity can probably be attributed to my strong interest in the craft. I enjoyed weaving farming tools with bamboo stems from when I was a tyke,” he said.
“It takes a lot of effort to make something durable and you have to pay attention to every detail,” Cheng said. “Even preparing bamboo stems prior to weaving must be undertaken with extreme care.”
Although Cheng’s tools remain big on functionality as in the past, he said today’s market is more discerning in terms of aesthetics. “I have developed a range of products encompassing different shapes and sizes in recent years to further cater to consumer needs.” (DF-JSM)
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