Celebrating Bamboo

Partnership

25 Oct

Preview

The National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) continues to champion the use of bamboo in craft and industry, supporting bamboo artisans and highlighting their work ahead of the 2024 World Bamboo Congress

Lightweight, resilient and fast growing, bamboo has higher carbon fixation capabilities than some trees and is increasingly being used as a solution for more sustainable design. And when it comes to bamboo, Taiwan is among the nations leading the charge.

The National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute (NTCRI) is located in Nantou County, a region in central Taiwan home to prosperous bamboo industries. Over the past 70 years, the organisation has been working on training, development and marketing for bamboo and other crafts.

At this year’s Maison&Objet Paris in September, the Taiwan Crafts & Design pavilion highlighted bamboo craft from the East Asian island. Directed by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and the NTCRI, the exhibition featured nine bamboo works by a handful of local designers.

ENSCI – Les Ateliers masters student Emma Lutz undertook a six-month residency in Nantou, and her Nomadic Practices collection saw her reimagine bus stop benches using metal and curved bamboo, while Professor Jian-You Li of NYCU’s Institute of Applied Arts made use of cutting-edge computer technology, robotic arms and traditional tenons to create the Amoeba chair, which shows how bamboo legs can support hardwood chairs. Design firm S2studio produced laminated bamboo stools made from a species commonly found in Taiwan;

Chen Kuan Cheng Design Studio bent bamboo and wood to create the Lattice chair; and bamboo studio Shan Jie Hao produced handwoven boxes and bags with leather and brass accents.

Though they incorporate various cultures, materials and techniques — in line with the NTCRI’s ethos of ‘co-creation across disciplines’ — what ties these pieces together is that they reflect characteristics of Taiwan’s bamboo industries, from species to processes.

Following this showcase in Europe, the World Bamboo Congress will take place in Taiwan for the first time in early 2024. Co-organised by NTCRI, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and Taiwan Bamboo Society, it will involve participants from over 30 countries and include an extensive bamboo expo. From this year, the third Sunday of March has been designated Taiwan Bamboo Day, so it’s fitting that on that day in 2024, the NTCRI will launch the bamboo exhibition as well as themed exhibitions in five counties. Together with international organisations and creators, the events will explore the potential and opportunities for bamboo use, all with the view to a more sustainable, innovative future.