Craft_Hualien People Gathering Materials from Hualien - A Creative Project Using Colors from Hualien
"Hualien People Gathering Hualien Materials" focuses on the design and research of natural materials in Hualien. The project adopts a one-theme-per-year approach, setting and developing local issues over three years. Each year, the project explores the relationship between "local materials" and "residents' daily lives" through the themes of "soil," "plants," and "organisms," reflecting the development of human history. In the beginning of the world, the soil nurtured the growth of plants; the nutrients and air provided by plants brought more life to the environment we live in today. For three consecutive years, this project has followed the natural cycle as its development axis, collaborating with the local people of Hualien to collect materials. Through actual collection, disassembly, analysis, and research, the materials have been transformed and adapted. In partnership with artists and designers from various fields, the project has expanded the application of Hualien materials to "objects," "spaces," and "people."
Over the past three years, the project has involved the collection and in-depth research of 20 local materials; hundreds of sample pieces; collaboration with hundreds of local residents and artisans; and the creation of 30 design objects. This project aims to showcase the interdependence and inseparable connection between design and life, and to accumulate the unique charm and color of Hualien's local materials.
Each year's exhibition showcases the amazing transformation of materials and the infinite possibilities of design. Collaborations with local communities provide opportunities to bring designed objects back into everyday life, seamlessly integrating local materials with residents' lives. In the final year of the project, a brand flagship store and experiential activities further created a space filled with life, craftsmanship, and the traces of materials, transforming it into the "Hualien Design Center Brand Flagship Store," a space that is "experiential" and showcases the "power of materials."
"Slowness has created the results of this project."
Rapid design and production run counter to the pace of this city; various wild game items and every material are full of potential applications, free and unrestrained, seemingly readily available yet hard-won, naturally fostering a constant acceptance of the randomness of the environment and cultivating a unique aesthetic and diversity among local residents.
Each individual material contributes to the collective beauty of this city. At the same time, Hualien is a city that requires time to understand; its captivating value lies in the fact that it cannot be rushed. The three-year achievements of the Hualien Design Center embody the unique charm and energy native to Hualien's villages, mountains, land, and ocean.
During execution, the project unfolded with a theme each year: the first year focused on soil, exploring its colors and textures to create ceramic and mud-dyed works; the second year focused on plants, conducting diverse experiments in plant dyeing, textile design, and fragrance applications; and the third year explored the aesthetics and possibilities of marine and terrestrial life, transforming research findings into jewelry and clothing designs. Over the three years, artists, designers, and local artisans collaborated, allowing the characteristics of materials to be deeply explored and showcased through the fusion of professional techniques and local knowledge.
The annual exhibition showcases the amazing transformation of materials and the infinite possibilities of design, from the exhibition space to the interactive experiences. Furthermore, through the establishment of flagship stores, these design objects are brought back into everyday life, closely integrating local materials with residents' lives. At the Fine Dining dinner, the project further integrates material experimentation into local cuisine, constructing a comprehensive sensory journey from taste to sight.
Over three years, the project has accumulated research results on more than 20 local materials, creating 30 design objects that combine artistry and practicality. From contemporary jewelry and clothing to spatial installations, they all present the natural energy and cultural beauty of Hualien. "Hualien People Gather Hualien Materials" is not only a design project, but also an exploration and regeneration of local culture. Through the power of design, these originally ordinary natural elements are given new life, becoming the best interpretation of Hualien's aesthetics and local revitalization.
