A delegation representing ten indigenous brands will represent Taiwan at Maison & Objet Paris, the leading home décor fair open to the global interior design and lifestyle community from Sept. 7 to 11.
The Taiwan Craft & Design Pavilion marks an ongoing collaboration between the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) and the Council of Indigenous Peoples to promote Taiwan's indigenous craftsmanship on the world stage.
The pavilion's visual design takes inspiration from textiles and traditional patterns unique to Taiwan's indigenous groups, with a crisscrossing configuration reminiscent of woven bamboo crafts. A blue-and-green color scheme was also chosen to reflect the natural beauty of Taiwan.
The delegation will include two cement-oriented brands: CELEMENT LAB (軟水泥生活實驗室), which offers furniture, stationary, and accessories using a perfect balance of silicon and cement; and Dilio (一樓設計), which offers sculpture-esque products with practical applications.
Other brands such as leather accessories startup PLEASANT (三青創意), pottery boutique Shiang Studio (享向設計), and timber crafts studio woodintothirds (木入三分) espouse minimalism and simple geometric design to highlight their exceedingly detailed craftsmanship.
Of the delegates that work with metals, GOOD GOLD (谷同金) uses its eponymous precious metal and sheet metal to create visually striking plates and kitchenware with precision welding, while PUWALU (璞瓦麓) narrates traditional Paiwan culture and mythology through handcrafted sculptures.
Traditional materials stemming from generations of indigenous ingenuity also come to play in Paterongan Art (光織屋), which weaves with tree bark, plaids with bamboo and rattan, and colors with natural dyes; and Hbun (河文), which fashions statement lamps and chandeliers out of the humble betel nut leaf.
Wrapping up the ten-strong list is Iyo Kacaw (伊祐工作室), an Amis from the northeastern coastal county of Hualien. Made from driftwood collected from the shore, his furniture passes down indigenous lore from the tribe’s collective memories and pays tribute to the sea with artistic reverence.
‘Taiwan Crafts & Design’@ Maison & Objet Paris
- Date: Sept. 7 – 11, 2018
- Venue: Paris Nord Villepinte – Hall 6
- Taiwan Pavilion: D142, E141