With a pretty appearance and fashionable attire, talking endlessly about materials with a sparkle in her eyes, she is bamboo artisan Li Ya-ching, very different from the traditional craftsperson in people's general imagination. After shaking her hand, one is even more stunned by an unexpected "handfeel"! Shouldn't a bamboo artisan's hands be rough and covered in thick calluses? Li Ya-ching laughs and says, "This is my first attempt: to overturn everyone's impression of traditional artisans. Who says doing crafts has to be plain? Hands must be very rough? I can wear gloves!"

Embracing the conflicting identity of a young traditional bamboo artisan, Li Ya-ching founded "Origin Studio." Focusing on bamboo craftsmanship while combining it with other natural materials such as glass, ceramics, metal, and fibers, she weaves together dazzling and exquisite works, bringing traditional bamboo art into a new spirit and forging a new path.

The more she interacts with materials, the more Li Ya-ching understands their "essence." Naming her brand "Benshi" (Essence) was an attempt to showcase "the sparks generated through the collision and interaction between different materials." She believes that materials, much like people, have their own unique appearance and personality, depending on how the creator uses and combines them; thus, the appearance of a work is also a reflection of the creator's state of mind and traits. With the elasticity of bamboo and weaving techniques offering endless possibilities, she hopes to convey her design philosophy through "Benshi"—returning to simplicity and the original state, cleverly utilizing the most authentic characteristics of materials to solve basic living needs, which is also the ultimate goal of design.

Li Ya-Ching has never considered bamboo craft to be outdated, especially in an era rampant with postmodernism where the younger generation has numerous channels to receive information. She takes the essence of traditional craft, incorporates modern perspectives and experiences, and allows for all possibilities to happen. For instance, during a workshop led by Japanese bamboo craft master Takekiyo Watanabe, she drew inspiration from the style of Canadian architectural master Frank Gehry, using bamboo strips and tubes to create a wind-blown bamboo weaving piece. This precisely exemplifies the spirit of bamboo craft interpreted by "Essence": the versatile use of materials with no boundaries and infinite possibilities. Li Ya-Ching believes that in this age where consumers' attention is constantly interrupted, it is essential to fully master a profession in creation, but if one can add a little something extra and blend in some elements, there might be unexpected surprises.

(Text/Chang Chen-chih)