Editor-in-chief Interview - Volume 1: Frame Magazine Editor Robert Thiemann in Conversation with Mao Hua, founder of EK Design and PP Design Gallery. Mao Hua shares her core beliefs, avant-garde practices, and future prospects for sustainable design, starting with the furniture series she created in collaboration with artist Jacky Tsai.

Frame Magazine Editor Robert Thiemann:

Let's talk about your Jackie Tsai and PP Design Gallery collection.It's a collection of benches and you apply certain, it looks like paint on it. And to me, they look like benches that have been tattooed. So what's the idea behind this collection?

Founder of EK Design and PP Design Gallery,Mao Hua:

Jackie Tsai is my good friend and we share interests. And he's going to hold an excellent exhibition in Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning. We think it's an excellent opportunity for us to launch our cooperating furniture design，So we produced these benches.

And actually you mentioned those tattoo patterns, They are skeleton composed from traditional Chinese blue and white porcelain elements. But if you look them closely, you'll find some hidden humors in it. We tried to express the traditional Chinese culture into a more modern way.

We created a quite international language that can appreciate everyone.It doesn't matter if you don't familiar with Chinese culture, you'll find it's beautiful. And as you mentioned, perhaps Western viewers would interpret those patterns like tattoo patterns. And it's also great, through different people from different angles, you can read different meanings.

Frame Magazine Editor Robert Thiemann:

Again, we are talking about layers. In your work, It's very much about layering, texturizing, finishing surfaces, which is in a way a good thing. Because for a very long time, we and I think also especially Chinese studios have been focusing very much on big gestures and sweeping forms. This in the end requires a lot of material, a lot of energy. It’s sometimes hard to reuse and hard to dismantle. You need to demolish a lot.

So in the end, these practices are probably less sustainable than making interesting finishes, interesting textures that people want to cherish and people can read messages in. And maybe it's easier with this approach to breathe new life into existing products and existing buildings, existing structures, which seems to be the way that we are heading towards.

Showroom for architectural materials, you use a lot of recycled material like denim and rubber gloves and wood wool to finish walls with and shelves with. So why did you make that decision to use these recycled materials to finish the space that is supposed to showcase architectural materials?

Founder of EK Design and PP Design Gallery,Mao Hua:

ArchiFound, that company actually is a kind of platform to provide materials for interior designers. In my opinion, I think we should take lead in environmental awareness and concern social responsibilities. So in this place, design actually wants to connect to the theme about sustainability. And I think it's an excellent opportunity to do that in this showroom, Since everyone comes to the showroom for looking for materials. And it's a really good opportunity to showcase the application of eco-friendly materials. And denim and soft gloves and even some fabric strips, they're not the common material, we think, for decorative materials. But actually, in a space design, I think they can produce some really interesting effects.

And also, because I just want to emphasize searching, this kind of action. Because it's ArchiFound, we come here to find something. So that act of searching is really interesting.

Those soft gloves stacked together to make a kind of curtain-like effect. When people pull over those curtains and explore what kind of context inside, actually that kind of action is really enjoyable.

Frame Magazine Editor Robert Thiemann:

If you look at the design of the space itself, there's a lot of curved and slanted walls, so it's quite some architectural shapes in that space. And on the other hand, you're trying to set an example of a sustainable project. And so where for you is to find line between being sustainable and reducing your input, doing less, and making an interesting space from an architectural viewpoint?

Founder of EK Design and PP Design Gallery,Mao Hua:

Yeah, it's difficult. I think we have done our best to minimize design, try to reduce material. Actually, we haven't enclosed that space with walls. We aimed to create a form of art installation and use recycled denim, that kind of material as surface material. And we just want people to think about it. It's more like a treasure hunting game. We just want to build that kind of atmosphere, invite people to come and play a treasure hunting game. So that's a searching theme.

Frame Magazine Editor Robert Thiemann:

Yeah, spatial design, interior design is of course much more than just applying finishes, just applying colors. It's also about creating spaces that are interesting and inviting to be in and to explore. What is your vision for spatial design? If you look ahead the next five or ten years, where are we heading towards? and what will you contribute to that future?

Founder of EK Design and PP Design Gallery,Mao Hua:

Okay, I think,sustainability. Definitely, that's a priority. How does this pop-up store differ from traditional tea stores? We just want to build up a kind of atmosphere to bring the local tea tonation, that kind of atmosphere to the city. Support local farmers to promote and sell their locally produced products to urban areas. We chose bamboo as a basic framework because bamboo is commonly can be found in local area. So we think that kind of natural material is really good to support this kind of theme.

And then we found other interesting tools, those bamboo trays. Actually, that one can be easily found in Chinese kitchens. Local farmers use those kinds of bamboo trays as the tool for tidying tea leaves every day. So we think that's really interesting. Those bamboo trays are suspended on those basic frameworks. So I do appreciate about the layers and textures, and the final effect. I think that's really interesting and unique. And also we just wanted to dye those tea trays in the colour of Pu'er tea. So, actually, that kind of colour became our brand logo.

The pop-up store is a great space to experiment because it's not built for eternity.

Okay, I know, we chose some natural local materials. And some people are just worried about if those kinds of materials are not very refined materials. And some people are worried about the experimental feel. I think those bamboo trays suspended on the framework the final surface and the texture actually produce a really stylish look. So that indicates actually naturally material like bamboo and even some handy tools we can make a really fashionable look. I love those kinds of materials, brings me a surprise after you use them that they really surprised you by the final effects.