‘Transnational Vernacularity of Taiwan Floral Chintz: craft-design and cultural industry in Taiwan’

Kikuchi's paper is about Taiwan floral chintz (台灣花布) and its use in new craft-design products which are omnipresent in interiors of commercial premises as well as goods sold in shops, museums and airport. Its visibility has been noticed first in international art scenes and that has been caught up by the cultural creative industry that has been promoted since the previous DPP government, and has continuously developed to the present. Since 2000, there are several exhibitions on and related to Taiwan floral chintz, several books and catalogues of patterns as well as academic thesis have been written, and numerous new interior accessories and design were produced as part of creative cultural industry. (Fig. shop and products and book covers) I will discuss this cultural phenomenon from a design historian’s perspective, but also give analytical thoughts on cultural and political implications, in view of Taiwan’s ever more ambiguous political position in the current world order.

This paper was presented in the panel organised by Kikuchi at the Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Conference ‘Beyond the Cultural Industry’ held at the National University of Singapore.