陳建華

Trace the Memory of Pith Paper Tree; Connect the Future with the Past

Chen, Chien-Hua

Fate always weaves out unexpected encounter on the path of life. Chen, Chien-Hua, with over two decades of industrial design experience, accepted the commission of a client to search for eco-friendly material for technological product. He searched every material available on the market, but found nothing satisfactory. Yet, he accidently found Pith Paper Tree in the ancient scripts as well as the ancient memory of Minnan, and thus went on the journey of promoting Pith Paper Tree art ever since.

The history about Pith Paper Tree can be dated back to the Qin Dynasty of China. It is commonly seen in the making of "Spring Flower" in the Minnan culture. In addition, it can be used as the material for paper and handcrafts as well as medicinal purpose. During the research, the exploration into culture and history matched Chen, Chien-Hua's spirit of "getting to the bottom of matter", Chen continues the life's work of Pan, Niu and Huang, Te-Ho in the promotion and creation of the traditional Pith Paper Tree art.

"A craftsmanship with over two thousand years of history came to you, and will go extinct if you don't devote yourself, what should you do? It should be more than just taking photos for records, but pass down the craftsmanship. I hope we should do this right here right now," said Chen, Chien-Hua, as the gentleman expressed his interest in Pith Paper Tree art with a firm attitude.

在人生的旅途中，緣份總有出人意表的安排，有時令人偏離了原本的軌道，卻也引入一片新的沃土。有二十多年工業設計背景的陳建華，因為接受客戶委託尋找綠色（環保）材料作為科技產品的原料，遍尋市面上種種原料皆不盡理想，卻意外發現古籍上所記載，同時存在於閩南古老記憶的蓪草，從此踏上了推廣蓪草藝術的行列。