PINWU created the "Katydid Tiger" series of window displays and art installations for JNBY, crafting a dramatic and conflicting artistic image of the "Katydid Tiger". This work combines the traditional crafts of katydid cage weaving and patchwork cloth tigers, representing a collision between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design language. The "Katydid Tiger" installations reuse discarded fabrics and were jointly created by PINWU designers and artisans from Qingshan Village in Yuhang. Through this work, PINWU and JNBY aim to convey the spirit of craftsmanship in traditional handcrafts and their commitment to sustainable design and environmental awareness.

The overlap of imagination and reality creates a striking contrast between the katydid's calm serenity and the tiger's wild, untamed roar, yet they coexist as one. The design team's fascination with weaving art, along with their emotional fluctuations during research and creation, is encapsulated in the imagery of the "Katydid Tiger." This entire series of installations is a journey into exploring the dual personas of the katydid and its tiger side. At times, our creative process mirrored the katydid's calmness, effortlessly weaving satisfying results; other times, when faced with the daunting scale of weaving, we felt like the caged tiger—frustrated, eager to break through the obstacles.

The installation’s main structure is a dynamic geometric form composed of freely combined katydid cages of various sizes and colors. The head displays a symbiotic image of both the katydid and the tiger. The cages are empty, but in their transformation, they become the "Katydid Tiger."

The "Katydid Tiger," composed of numerous woven cages, sits upright in the window display, with its strength seemingly radiating from within, gazing at the people outside.

The seated "Katydid Tiger" appears to be in a state of calm rest, as if meditating. When we are unsure which path leads to happiness, all we can do is sit and meditate until clarity emerges. If you sit beside him long enough, perhaps you too will sense his struggles and joy.

The "Katydid Tiger" weaves through the display space, intertwining thoughts and the real world, leaving behind a stunning impression that shines brightly.

Simple lines and shapes form the triangularly supported "Standing Tiger," observing passersby. The subtle and reserved character, coupled with the intense psychological conflict of wanting to interact with others, is reflected in the persistent blush on its face.

My mind is filled with weaving! All the details of weaving are stored in my mind, categorized like a walking weaving manual.

Qingshan Village, with an area of 15.6 square kilometers, boasts a 79% forest coverage, a significant portion of which is bamboo forest. Naturally, many villagers, skilled in traditional crafts, earn their livelihood through bamboo weaving. Amid the tide of modern industrial production, these artisans preserve their craft with their own hands, standing as the final bastion of traditional craftsmanship in the face of modernization.

Artisans in Qingshan Village come from various age groups, each carrying memories from different eras. When creating the "Katydid Tiger" installation, they draw on their past experiences to contribute their own ideas, sometimes resulting in unexpected effects.

The village is small, like a big family. The weaving artisans include both cousins and childhood friends. As time passes, these friends who grew up together inevitably age together with wrinkles and gray hair. Occasionally, while working, they chat in the local dialect. On good days, you can hear them singing in dialect, and the design team often finds themselves inspired by the relaxed work atmosphere.

In traditional Chinese culture, the cloth tiger is considered a guardian for children. Traditional cloth tigers are made from leftover fabric from making clothes, and many people may have had one in their childhood, each being unique. The "Katydid Tiger" art installation carries forward the patchwork sewing technique and the philosophy of making the most out of available materials embodied in the cloth tiger.

Environmental sustainability is a core principle for JNBY Group and a key pursuit for the PINWU team in their creative process. This collaboration with JNBY features window displays and art installations that emerge from the combination of natural bamboo from Qingshan Village and leftover fabrics from past seasons at JNBY. It represents not only a respect for traditional culture but also a commitment to sustainable fashion. The leftover fabrics provided by JNBY support us from the initial material experimentation phase through to the bulk production of the window display props.

Building on the traditional structure of the katydid cage, we have incorporated a variety of materials, textures, and color combinations. Through different arrangements, size variations, and the interplay of weaving and color, we convey the image of the cloth tiger using contemporary visual language. The core remains the same: the cloth tiger's role in protecting and its symbolism of health, strength, and bravery.

We pre-textured the materials to reflect the patterns found on tigers in the Year of the Tiger. These materials were then woven into katydid cages by skilled weavers, seeking variation within patterns and innovation within tradition. On the basis of hexagonal bamboo weaving, we experimented with materials such as felt, yarn, straps, and spray paint. Through the craftsmanship of Qingshan Village artisans, we have preserved traditional weaving while infusing it with new life.