Weaving Dreams and Returning Home: Butul’s Handicraft Journey
Butul is a Truku woman from the Wanrong Tribe, skilled in weaving various cultural and creative crafts, including bags, accessories, and fabrics. In 2023, she founded Mudon Studio. She integrates the traditional culture of her hometown into her creations, conveying the warmth of the land and its stories. Butul’s journey in handicrafts originated from her love for tribal culture. After moving back to the tribe, she actively participated in various handicraft courses and activities, gradually finding her direction.
Let’s get to know Butul’s story in this issue!
From Carpentry to Weaving: A Serendipitous Transformation
I was a nurse working in Hualien City before 1996. After moving back to Wanrong Village, I wanted to get closer to the people and things on this land. Therefore, I joined the “Hualien County Indigenous Third Landscape Gardening Labor Cooperative,” taking on tree planting and flower planting projects. Later, in 2011, I transitioned to carpentry courses, at the same time collaborating with the Forestry Bureau to conduct courses introducing wood carving to the public, with some works displayed in the Lintian Mountain Cultural Park.
By chance, I used a table loom. My husband asked, “Why not learn traditional weaving?” I began by asking around if anyone was making weaving boxes but eventually decided that we would make one ourselves. We borrowed weaving tools from a local weaver, and together, we studied the making process and wood selection.
After my husband finished making the weaving tools, I would try using them first. If they didn’t feel right, I would discuss with my husband how to modify them. It took six months of trial and error before achieving the current results. Gradually, we received orders for weaving boxes from various units and individuals.
The Unearthed Ramie Blanket is a A Guiding Path.
For me, this journey seems to be subtly guided by an invisible thread. Once, I unexpectedly found a ramie blanket at home. At the time, I had no knowledge of Truku weaving, simply wondering if I could learn this ancient culture.
Initially, I looked for a teacher, but most people were not willing to teach since relearning is very difficult. Thus, I had to explore on my own, through books or instructional videos. I then wove a piece of fabric and showed it to a teacher in Xilin, which led to one-on-one teaching. Fortunately, in 2019, I participated in the Taitung Prehistoric Museum’s “Reproducing Collections” project, learning to measure and reproduce old fabrics. Through this project, I finally mastered the skill and became more familiar with techniques such as float weaving and brocade weaving.
Now, I feel content just weaving in my comfort zone. However, weaving is a lifelong lesson, so whenever I have time, I still participate in exhibitions or take external courses to enhance my craft.
Learning weaving is like a journey of rediscovery of my culture. There was a time when I neglected weaving due to a busy life. Realizing I hadn’t even touched the loom for a year, I quickly urged myself to fill my free time with weaving, as I hope to teach my granddaughter weaving in the future.
From Sewing to Fusion: Innovation and Heritage
After moving back to the tribe, I first joined the home economics class to learn handicrafts, participating in government projects and courses for 3 to 4 years. After my skills were mature, I was invited to teach sewing, making aprons and bags. The very first time when I participated in the township office’s craft competition, I was lucky to achieve good results. Aside from that, it was also my first time setting up a stall; seeing my hard-made bags and accessories almost sold out gave me great confidence.
Finding your own unique style is important. After learning traditional weaving, I broadened my creative vision and accumulated techniques through museum display projects and craft competitions. Initially, I only made sewing bags. Later, I incorporated different materials like leather and seed accessories. Eventually, I started weaving and tried to integrate woven items. People’s needs change quickly. To adapt to modern life’s convenience, Butul designed mobile phone woven straps, drink straps, eco-friendly chopstick storage fabrics, table lamps, etc., revitalizing various learned techniques in her product designs.
Butul Mudun Creative Workshop’s Facebook and Instagram have many photos of their works. Feel free to click the icons at the bottom of the webpage to view them!
