STONECRAFT

click on photos for details

About the Artisan

From stone collector to stonecraft artisan, Mr. Chi-Cheng Lo has witnessed the boom in his hometown, Chung Liao Town, well-known for its marvelous stone and fossils. For over a decade, Chi-Cheng Lo has beautifully recreated the simplicity and warmth of plants and animals found in the countryside of Taiwan.

We Shall Overcome—Rebuilding the Community through Art

On September 21, l999, two hours past midnight, the tranquil county of Nantou, in central Taiwan, was brutally shaken awake by a 7.3 Richter scale earthquake. The quake killed more than 2,000 people, and injured more than 8,000, with estimated financial losses exceeding 9.2 billion US dollars.

Amid collapsed houses, cracked streets, and crumbled school classrooms, several art studios were formed to help rebuild the community. Their project is to transform local natural materials into artworks, and thus generate needed income for the county. Chung Liao Town of Nantou has long been famous for its natural elegant stone, fossil and stone block. Some cultural groups have also offered courses to teach local villagers and visitors to transform stone into art.

(Reference materials from Window on Tawian: Nantou; Yi-Lan Crab Museum; Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute; the Earthquake Museum of Taiwan)

Heavenly Messenger

Hen, roosters, and chickens are playful residents commonly seen in rural Taiwan. In the phrase “Chin Chi Pao Shi”—golden hen/rooster delivering blessing, they become messengers of good news. The crafter aptly utilizes the texture of the stone to present the natural environment of bricks and straw, where our little friend calls home. The eggs in the artwork symbolize vitality, prosperity, and continuity of life.

US $160 Size: frame of wood and plastic 13.75” H x 16” W x 1.75” D; stone 6” x 6”

(Back to Top)

The Squash of Vitality - Stone Carvings of Luffa

Luffa (luffa sponge gourd) is one of the favorite and most common dishes in Taiwan. When young, the vegetable is soft and edible; when mature, the plant becomes a tough sponge and is still used by Taiwanese for bathing and cleaning. Often seen dangling from climbing vines alongside country roads or on balconies, the vegetable symbolizes vitality, co