As one of the very few glass artists in Taiwan, I have engaged in glass creations for over ten years. Over ten years ago, an American potter came to Taiwan to work and exhibit his works. He changed my life when I saw him demonstrate glass blowing in a pottery studio. I went to America in 1995 to study at Pilchuck Glass School, which opened my horizons to the glass arts.
In 1997, I went to Ajeto, a glass factory which belongs to Petr Novony in the Czech Republic. This unforgettable journey enriched my life with the long history of glass workmanship of Europe, as well as the cultural and romantic little town.
In 1996, I had an opportunity to set up a glass arts program and taught glass blowing and casting for an Industrial Design Department of a university in Taiwan.
In Taiwan there are quite a few glass factories, though most operate using mold blowing techniques far behind those of Europe and America. There are rarely any independent glass artists, and it’s difficult to obtain information.
In the beginning of 2000, I went to Corning City in America for a two-week class in Venetian Style Glassblowing. It’s easy to lose yourself in the Museum of Glass in Corning, which doesn’t have the long history of the Czech town, yet shares the same passions for glass and attractions to every glass artist.
Every year I managed to steadily create and exhibit works. With a certain expertise in glass blowing and casting, my works are freely formed while the glass is still at high temperature. The human body series has been the direction of my recent works. And the glass landscape and boat series is a display of my deep love of nature and respect for Chinese landscape paintings.
My 2001 personal exhibition was concluded last month, to considerable acclaim. I took the liberty of sending you this letter and my works in hopes of extending and expanding my journey in glass artwork. And it would be an honor to see my works on display in your gallery. JULY.20.01
Chronology of Tsai I-Jen
1961 Born in Taipei
1982 Graduated from Fine Arts and Craft at Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School
1995 Studied at Pilchuck Glass School
1997 Golden Glass Award at Hsinchu International Festival for Glass Arts
1997 Established Tsai Glass Studio
1999 Held a personal exhibition of glasswork at G-Case Gallery in Taipei
1999 Earned June of 2000 art scholarship from National Culture and ArtsFoundation
1999 Commissioned by Hsinchu City Cultural Center to direct a study program ? Present development and challenge of transition of Hsinchu glassarts
2000 Studied at the Studio Corning Museum Of Glass
2001 Exhibited at Tianmu Dojo Gallery in Taipei ? Modern Glass and Chinese Antique Furniture Exhibition
2001 Exhibited at the Exhibition Artists Initiative Work Of Art 2001 held by the Pacific Cultural Foundation
2001 Golden Glass Award at Hsinchu International Festival for Glass Arts
Past Employment:
Glass blowing instructor of the glass arts training program at Hsinchu CityCultural Center
Instructor of the advanced glass blowing class at Grand Crystal Museum
Present:
Lecturer of Department of Industrial Design at Chaoyang University of Technology
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