Be your Pith of the days.
“Pith paper plant” is a rare material and has great cultural significance of Taiwan. However, this plant is gradually forgotten over time, and the chance to be used is getting fewer as well. Therefore, We keep exploring this material, looking into its production methods and design diffusers & lamps. By using it, we add embellishments to our daily life. We hope that people can experience it with touching rather than watching because by this way, you may have unexpected thought-provoking surprises to your senses.
「蓪草」是台灣百年歷史中，民間應用廣泛的植物，是少見富有重大文化意義的天然材料，卻隨著時間推移漸漸地被遺忘，被應用的機會更是少之又少。於是我們不斷重新探索這項神奇的天然材料、創新加工與製作的方式，設計可泡水塑型的擴香產品與燈具，透過它創造日常中的自然點綴，也希望大眾透過觸摸與體驗，引發引人深省的感官驚喜。
Pith paper plant 蓪 草
Pith paper plant is one of the indigenous species in Taiwan, is the very first plant that was collected and given the name in the botanical history of Taiwan.
蓪草為台灣原生種，是台灣採集史上最早被採集到、也是第一個被命名發表的植物。
The reason why this plant is so special is that it will get expanded and softened after absorbing water, which makes it's capable of changing its shapes.
蓪草最特別的地方在於，吸水後會因為細胞膨脹而變軟，具有塑性與回復性，可以塑造出不同造型。
蓪草最特別的地方在於，吸水後會因為細胞膨脹而變軟，具有塑性與回復性，可以塑造出不同造型。
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01
｜Aromatherapy｜
Pith paper plant is absorbent and shapeable, which makes it a good reed diffuser when it soaks up essential oils.
蓪草為植物細胞具有吸附擴散機能，適合做為精油吸收與揮發的擴香媒介。
1. Soak pith paper plant in water for at least 20 minutes. 浸泡蓪草20分鐘以上
2. Start shaping with your hands. 徒手將柔軟的蓪草塑型
3. Attach to the base. 將蓪草以磁吸方式附於底座上
4. Wait until it's dried and shaped. 等待蓪草乾燥後定型即可作為香氛使用
2. Start shaping with your hands. 徒手將柔軟的蓪草塑型
3. Attach to the base. 將蓪草以磁吸方式附於底座上
4. Wait until it's dried and shaped. 等待蓪草乾燥後定型即可作為香氛使用
We hope that users can experience this material with their own hands, trying any possible angles and curves to make their unique reed diffusers and so decorate their place with it.
我們希望讓使用者實際體驗材料，自行進行彎曲操作，創造出屬於自己的蓪草香氛，作為家中的點綴。
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02
｜Wall Light｜
Pith Paper Plant Wall Light is not only a lamp but an installation art to illuminate your place. With the light transmitting through, the veins on the crafted pith paper plants are much clearer, the streamlines coming down with the light afterwards.
蓪草壁燈，是照明設備、也是點亮家中的裝置藝術。光的透過讓蓪草的紋理更加清晰，映照出自然的流動曲線。
“ Soaking ⇀ Shaping ⇀ Drying ⇀ Assembling “
We use iron wires to fix them and then shape the forms we need.
蓪草於浸濕後能進行塑形，我們利用這樣的特性，結合鐵絲與綁線固定，製作出所需之造型。
蓪草於浸濕後能進行塑形，我們利用這樣的特性，結合鐵絲與綁線固定，製作出所需之造型。
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｜Material Experiment｜
At the beginning, we tried various materials, hoping to find out a brand new form for this kind of plant. Yet, the progress did not go well. Eventually, we find that there's no need to recompose or redesign it. Instead, we only have to keep it original, because that's just the way the plant should be.
曾經，我們也試著嘗試各式各樣的材料實驗，盼望透過解構與重組，能找出適合蓪草的全新應用方式，但過程中卻處處碰壁。最終我們發現或許我們不需要去破壞，而是找出能呈現出蓪草原始樣貌的方式，才是這個材料最有價值的模樣。
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Prize
金點設計新秀Young Pin Design Award 工藝設計｜入圍
金點設計新秀Young Pin Design Award贊助特別獎｜入圍
Special Thanks
指導教授 ｜ 董芳武教授
指導協助 ｜ 臺灣蓪草學會 陳建華理事長
訪查協助 ｜ 蓪草文化藝術工作室 張秀美老師
訪查協助 ｜ 蓪草培育專家 陳登順先生
訪查協助 ｜ 花玉號花藝店 李麗華老師
技術顧問 ｜ 李修竹同學
2021.09 – 2022.05
Taiwan Tech Design｜ Graduation Project
Taiwan Tech Design｜ Graduation Project
