SURREAL BAROQUE

"SURREAL BAROQUE" reveals a new direction in contemporary Taiwanese craftsmanship, showcasing the emotional aspects of belief in daily life among the Chinese in Asia. Paper pulp craft is a significant medium in Taiwanese ritual and religion culture, serving as a dialogue between hhumanity and divine spirits, connecting our humanity and spirituality through material, emotional, and nostalgic means.

This design combines the easily understood Baroque style from European civilization with Taiwanese folk paper pulp craft. It utilizes recycled materials such as classical Chinese literature, Taiwanese newspapers, and comics as the fundamental materials for creation. By integrating visual imagery of Chinese deities with paper, it introduces a new visual syntax to the craft design.

"SURREAL BAROQUE" subverts traditional Taiwanese paper pulp craftsmanship by integrating tradition with digital elements. It utilizes 3D digital modeling and 3D printing for the base-shape of the artwork, and then applies recycled paper manually onto the surface of the base-shape, gradually completing the piece.

Typically, this craft is burnt during religious rituals in Taiwan, with the smoke-sublime conveying beliefs to the gods. Due to its association with religious rituals, Taiwanese households rarely have paper pulp crafts.

However, this design combines European Baroque style with three items – a candlestick, a clock, and a picture frame – using paper pulp craftsmanship to merge religious visual symbols. It incorporates the ornate feel of Baroque with the sacredness of religion into contemporary life, resembling European Baroque-era churches that exalt divine miracles through classical decorations. Just as classical décor glorifies the divine, contemporary life should also recombine humanity and divinity, elevating the spirituality of daily living.