What do you see in this carving?
Some see a woman balancing a tray. For 張威光 (Weiguang Zhang), it marked a new chapter — honoring Paiwan culture and paying tribute to his father, Sapari.
Weiguang’s dad, 朱財寶 (Zhu Caibao or Sapari, his Paiwan name) was a pioneer and master in wood carving. He was also a hunter, a devoted father, and wore many hats. Weiguang went up the mountains and down the river with his dad as well as learning the curving from him growing up. However, Weiguang wasn’t interested in carving then; he went to Taipei to work in a 5 star hotel at maintenance.
2011.10.8 Sapari was hit by a flowing wood in 大竹高溪 (Da Zhu Gau River) where he often worked and passed away. That shaked the whole family.
Weiguang’s longing for his dad accumulated and in 2015.4.15, it urged him to contact a friend in Taipei to buy wood. He was given a piece and started working on it the next day. Tears came to his eyes when he made the first cut, as the memories with his dad surged.
He decided to carve a Paiwan woman carrying sweet potatoes in a tray on her head and he called it ‘頂上工夫’ (Top Work). It was his first solo attempt. Each day after work at the hotel, he chipped away for afew hours. ‘The hands and tray still needed improvement,’ he recalls — yet it marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
Weiguang decided to return home in 2020.1 after 16 years in Taipei, carrying forward the studio with his dad’s name, Sapari, and spirits.
Impact So Far
‘Dad and I have different styles.‘ Weiguang explained, ‘I combine culture and modernization, more conceptual, to spur imagination…Dad’s work was more realistic.‘
For example, Weiguang uses wild pigs to represent people in his work for several reasons:
• Dad as a skilled and successful hunter,
• His award-winning works: ‘Hunter and His Catch’ was acquired by a collector,
• Tribe tradition: wild pig in exchange for life of the passed as well as paying respect.
Weiguang’s another work, won recent 南方藝術獎 (South Art Award). It will be on exhibit in October ’25.
‘Time changes and different ways to express…‘ Weiguang continued, ‘There was no wood carving experience in my dad’s time. Now more people are interested in trying/ learning different things. I started to offer customer DIY carving (prepared wood to simplify and speed up the process) in the second year after return.‘
Learn more: 撒巴里文化藝術工作室
(Sabari Culture and Art Studio)
What Makes him/ her Special, Successful?
• Practice values and love
Weiguang says, ‘I carve in honor and memory of dad — his spirits of hardworking, devotion, and sincerity.‘
• Be resourceful and resilient
Weiguang and his family create multi-income sources, in addition to art sale to sustain, e.g. conduct and partner with 普悠瑪旅行社 (Puyuma Travel Agency) in experience learning, his brother 張威龍 (Weilong Zhang) teaches music at school while writing and playing Paiwan music with other aboriginal artists, and his niece runs an airbnb next door. If you’re lucky, you may also get a treat from mom’s Paiwan specials.
• Combine education, story-telling, and imagination
Weiguang tells stories in his art and studio tour and encourages learners to express and imagine for themselves.
At his dad’s 12 year passing anniversary, he created this work with 3 wild pigs: one at a river to represent dad’s accident, two at the funeral when he said farewell to dad and kissed his forehead. Sapari’s life went away with the river while his spirits continued flowing…
What’s Challenging – and What’s Next?
‘I’m worried who will carry the carving forward. I want to teach but youth don’t seem to have interests to learn…‘ Weiguang says, ‘Carving is not easy, to sustain being alone, having patience to find idea and think how to start, and bearing the physical work and uncertainty of income.‘
Still, he believes sharing stories and creating experiences will plant seeds for the next generation.
How You Can Support
If Weiguang’s journey moves you, here are three ways to join the movement:
• Learn and experience yourself
Come to 台東土坂撒巴里文化藝術工作室 (Taitung Tuban Sabari Cultural Art Studio) to learn more about the history and stories of Sabari and Paiwen culture.
• Appreciate and promote culture and creation in your communities
Whether you’re an artist, a creator, or a curious citizen, simply paying a bit more ‘heart’ (attention) to where you are and what you do, you’ll be delighted. When you are, sharing the stories with others and spreading the love and goodness.
• Build a diverse society and career path
If you’re an influential leader in government, organization, and/ or education, encourage people around you and cultivate ecosystems to foster art and culture in addition to medicine, technology, and law.
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Weiguang carves to honor his father and root himself in Paiwan culture.
What drives you forward from your heart?