Bamboo Artisans - respect & recognition
This goes out to everyone in the bamboo world that rely on artisans in their work and also all the people coming into it.
I have wanted to say this for a long time - not enough recognition or appreciation is directed to the people that produce our buildings. Let’s give respect and recognition to those that are responsible for the crafting and construction of our bamboo buildings.
We design by sketching, ideating and imagining. We push pens and mice but they do the hard yards with skill and strength. They are a pivotal part of the whole process by contributing through making the scaled models, prototypes, joints, practical changes on site, choosing/selecting the exact bamboo pole suitable for the job and working out, most of the time, how to expertly construct the building that we visualise and design.
Many designers and architects strut up the awards podium and gladly receive all the recognition, fame and prizes as the creator of buildings. Front cover of a magazine, centre spread, headline article in architectural dailies, full face in glam video - all that is fine and well and congratulations.
But how many actually give any recognition to these vital people in the background that made it possible for the building to be built? Some perhaps, a little cursory ‘by the way’ mention.
How does the bamboo building world look like without these artisans’ contributions?
I have selected the following photos (credits - Javier Diaz and Ewe Jin Low) of some of the bamboo artisans that I am sure we have all worked with in our bamboo journey and here they are for you to scroll down.
Support and encourage your bamboo artisans. Let’s not condescend or exploit them. Talk to them and appreciate them. Acknowledge them and the fact that they and their particular and specialist work still cannot efficiently be replaced by machines or AI. That without them, your project would not have been constructed successfully. They are not just labourers or workers but real people with the talent and experience that we need to call on. Recognise them for their skills, traditional knowledge and workmanship. Together with us as a team the artisans still hold the keys to a productive and successful future for full culm bamboo construction.
As surely as the sun ruses every morning, bamboo will also rise - Ewe Jin Low
