Interview with Lantern Artist Chan

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Interview time: 1:30pm, Dec, 2, 2011 Recorded by Hsiao-Chu Shao, Pei-Tzu Shih

1. How long have you been weaving bamboo?

About 50 years.

2. What made you engage in this profession?

I started learning this skill from my mother when I was a child. At that time, in the agricultural society, I was able to supplement my family’s income with the money that I made from doing this.

3. Are you retired?

I am now over 70, but I have not yet retired, because if I do, there will be no one to continue my bamboo weaving work. In addition, weaving is a good activity for killing time for old people.

4. Have you ever participated in any competitions or have you been invited to participate in any art exhibits?

I have been invited to work in the United States once, but because it is so far away, I turned them down. I once participated in an exhibition at the Leader House Lukang. I participated because I would also be able to visit some old friends in the area.

5. Have you ever thought of giving up bamboo weaving?

I once gave up bamboo weaving for 10 years. I started bamboo weaving again because there was some demand for bamboo weaving in Lukang due to the lantern production there.

6. What was the largest lantern that you have made?

The largest lantern that I made was about 200 centimeters high. There have been customers that wanted to make one even larger, but due to my old age, I kindly refused.

7. Do you plan to pass your bamboo weaving skills on to the next generation?

I have thought about it, but young people think it’s too much trouble and do not want to learn.

8. At what age were you able to weave a complete lantern on your own?

I was able to weave lanterns before I started elementary school, and did so to supplement my family’s income.