Liuli artist Yang Hui-shan

Twenty years ago, Golden Horse winning actress Loretta Yang Hui-shan abruptly left the Taiwan film industry. At the height of her career, Yang found it had become a draining and unfulfilling lifestyle. She decided to devote her life to a more challenging art form - creating Liuli. Over the years she has became a much sought-after Liuli artist around the world. Today on "The List" we profile Loretta Yang, the woman behind the Liuli phenomenon.

In 1985, Loretta Yang got the lead in director Chang Yi's "Jade Love" due to her expressive hands. They proved even more deft after she began making Liuli creations.

Liuli is the archaic Chinese word for glass artwork. Yang chose liuli in place of the more commonly used word for glass -- boli, because in her words, Liuli is more refined and embodies Chinese culture and history.

Liuli artist Loretta Yang said, "We all known the Chinese word Boli. It's a kind of material. Liuli is an ancient Chinese name. For me, it's a kind of spirit, mentality and culture."

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