Kaohsiung students use ancient dyeing technique to depict local waterscape

Elementary school students in Kaohsiung are reviving a near-lost art form to celebrate their local heritage. Through a collaboration between the Neiwei Art Center and Neiwei Elementary School, children have learned and applied the traditional rice paste resist-dyeing technique.

This artistic endeavor focuses on the historical ecology and culture of the ancient Neiwei pond area. Students created vibrant flags that illustrate fish, shrimp, aquatic plants, and their own imagined scenes of the historic waterscape. The project aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of their hometown's environment and history.

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Seeing students complete their work from scratch and become the highlight of the exhibition made me very moved.

The resulting artwork is now exhibited at the Neiwei Art Center as part of the "Legend of Neiwei - Art Action Partnership Project." The exhibition, running until October 4th, features 100 illustrations of ancient Neiwei aquatic life. Students expressed excitement and pride seeing their creations displayed, capturing the moments with their phones.

Instructors noted the students' growth in creativity, confidence, and their ability to express care for their land through art. The project is seen as a valuable learning experience, connecting campus education with local culture and ecological memory, using art as a medium to strengthen community bonds.

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Through personal participation, children can understand the stories of the land, allowing art to become an important medium for connecting local emotions.