Paper Pleats系列 – 椅凳 Paper Pleats Series – Low Stool
高寶惠 Kao Pao-Hui
「經過一連串的實驗，我就是要去證明這件事情可不可能——紙張有沒有辦法藉由自己的力量變強壯?」
"Through a series of experiments, I wanted to prove whether it was possible—could paper, using its own strength, transform itself into something strong?"
高寶惠於荷蘭埃因霍芬設計學院就讀情境設計研究所時，以紙張提出畢業製作的計 畫。除了紙材與自身頻率相近，也因高寶惠在台任職設計師時對於包裝紙盒不陌 生。在一次意外翻倒水的過程中，看見紙張自然起皺所帶來的力量，由柔轉變為堅 硬、由平面變為立體，多重回應自身的人生經驗。 經歷各式材質纖維紙張的測試，以及與水份、膠水的實驗，高寶惠選擇以歐洲描圖 紙為原料，並以特製的米膠水，帶來獨一無二的起皺紙材，以此製成Paper Pleats系 列作品，涵蓋藝術家具如:椅凳、桌子、屏風、燈罩與生活容器等。除了《Paper Pleats》系列作品，工藝家也以相同材料延伸出《Lacquer Leaf》系列，作品中交雜 紅、黑、藍等色彩的創作，出自於高寶惠曾前往日本會津若松見學漆藝，透過跳脫 傳統漆藝製法，將天然漆化為紙張獨特的塗層(coating)，也凸顯了紙張起皺的紋 理，帶來嶄新的效果。
During her studies at the Contextual Design program at the Design Academy Eindhoven, Kao Pao-Hui developed her graduation project centered around paper. Her choice of paper as the material was influenced by its resonance with her personal pace and her prior experience as a designer in Taiwan, where she frequently worked with packaging cardboard. A serendipitous incident—spilling water on paper—revealed the transformative power of paper: from soft to rigid, from flat to three-dimensional. This deeply resonated with her life experiences, leading to the project.
After testing various types of fibers, paper, water and glue, Kao chose European tracing paper as the primary material. Using a specially formulated rice-based glue, she created a unique wrinkled paper material to craft the Paper Pleats series. This collection includes artistic furniture such as stools, tables, screens, lampshades, and everyday containers.
In addition to the Paper Pleats series, the artisan also extended the use of the same materials to create the Lacquer Leaf series. The pieces, blending shades of red, black, blue, and more, draw inspiration from Kao’s visit to Aizuwakamatsu, Japan, where she explored the art of lacquerware. Departing from conventional lacquer techniques, she reimagined natural lacquer as a distinctive coating that accentuates the creased texture of paper, achieving a fresh and innovative aesthetic.
高寶惠 Kao Pao-Hui
1987年生，設計背景出身，現旅居歐洲從事獨創紙材工藝與藝術創作。研究所時期於荷蘭埃因霍分設計學院就讀情境設計 (Contextual Design) 的高寶惠 ，在觸碰了各式材料後，選擇與自身性格與頻率最為貼近的 紙張為材料，因一次在紙上打翻水的意外，看見紙材起皺之美，交雜自身過往亞洲教育的價值觀與自身選擇 的感觸，打破紙張就是要乾爽平整的框架，透過材料實驗逐漸發展出獨特的起皺紙材工藝，以獨創的水與膠 水比例，釋放紙張塑形的能量，也讓紙張從脆弱化為堅硬質地，打造出《 Papper Pleats系列 》等大小家飾 品，涵蓋桌、椅、燈飾、屏風等，更曾以此系列入選2022年LOEWE基金會工藝獎。
Born in 1987 with a design background, Kao Pao-Hui is currently based in Europe, where she creates her unique paper crafts and artistic works. She pursued her graduate studies at the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands, specializing in Contextual Design. After experimenting with various materials, Kao chose paper as her primary medium, drawn to its resonance with her personality and creative spirit. The pivotal moment in her artistic journey occurred when she accidentally spilled water on paper and marveled at the beauty of its wrinkling. This experience, combined with her Asian educational values, led her to challenge the traditional view that paper must remain dry and flat. Through extensive material experimentation, Kao developed a distinctive technique for creating textured, wrinkled paper, discovering the perfect balance of water and glue that allows the paper to transform from fragile to sturdy. She has designed a variety of home décor pieces, including tables, chairs, lamps, and screens, as part of her Paper Pleats series, which was also selected for the prestigious 2022 LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize.
