Designers need to embrace richness of Asian culture, Jeff Shi Da-yu says
Asian design takes centre stage at forum highlighting the role of regional culture and philosophy guiding creativity
Jeff Shi Da-yu's intricate Ping Qi Xian wooden screens are typical of the way the Taiwanese designer draws inspiration from Chinese culture: On a trip to Fujian's Wuyi mountains last year, he came across trays for drying tea and realised the craft of weaving together fine strands of bamboo could be used to make screens boasting trellis patterns loaded with significance.
"That special kind of weaving looks so beautiful," he said. "But it also has a specific function for everyday life. Without this weaving, the Chinese wouldn't have oolong tea."
Shi is one of the major designers from around the world participating at Knowledge of Design Week in Hong Kong.
Organised annually by the Hong Kong Design Centre, this week's event offers workshops and talks aimed at informing designers of the latest ideas and trends. This year a main theme is the relationship between design and culture.
Shi feels there is a lack of Asian designers drawing on the region's culture in their work - which he began to notice after returning from the US in 1996 - and established Dragonfly Gallery in Taipei with the aim of promoting local design. This realisation helped to shape the direction of his own work.
"I realised we were promoting western design and we couldn't find anything from our own culture," he says. "Eventually, I began thinking, 'Why shouldn't we have our own design, related to our own culture?'"