HUANG QIAOYAN

This ベップ竹CLUB project was a very memorable experience for me. Although I was disappointed that I could not take part in the first activity, which involved cutting the bamboo, due to my health condition, the two activities I joined afterward were both very interesting and enjoyable.

Before I actually listened to the explanation, I could not imagine at all how cylindrical bamboo could be processed into flat boards. So when the tools were brought out, I was immediately impressed by the wisdom and ingenuity of the craftsmen. The time we spent working together as a group passed very quickly. As each bamboo board was shaped neatly and cut to a consistent length, I gradually felt a stronger sense of achievement. By the end of the day’s work, I was of course tired, but when we finally loaded what we had made onto the truck, I felt very excited and proud.

The next day, we finally began working on the bamboo dome. Although the sky was cloudy, fortunately it did not rain.

First, we practiced making the dome indoors using a model. The completed dome looked beautiful, but when we actually tried to make it, it was not easy at all.

Because the structure was complex, we made mistakes many times and struggled even at the model stage. This made me feel worried about whether the actual construction would go smoothly. However, by working together as a group, we were able to complete it safely without any major problems. When we lifted the dome at the end, I was genuinely worried that the bamboo might break. In reality, nothing like that happened, and I once again realized how flexible and strong bamboo is.

Through this project, I strongly felt the high level of skill of the craftsmen and their deep love for making things by hand. Creating handmade crafts requires great patience and experience. I also realized that without a genuine love for their work, it would be difficult to continue for many years or to create such beautiful craft pieces.