The Elder’s Wish

“Aesthetics should spread naturally like particles in the air.” The art classroom at National Hsinchu Senior High School was the perfect place for teachers and students to immerse themselves in art and design. Mrs. Wu envisioned this space as a hub to stimulate the diffusion of art and design throughout the school.

Inspired by this idea, a group of students began exploring the campus to identify areas for improvement. They identified issues such as the unsuitable fabrics and cuts of their uniforms and the confusing signs in the store. Bringing their findings back to the art classroom, the students brainstormed solutions. They then set out to implement changes, aiming to spread aesthetic appreciation beyond the classroom to other parts of the school.

The art and design course at Yu-Shan Public Junior High School evolved from the school’s curriculum, which included climbing Mt. Jade, Taiwan’s highest mountain, on various routes corresponding to different grades. Mr. Chang aimed to foster aesthetic sensibility in the students through these life experiences. To achieve this goal, he encouraged the students to design a board game inspired by their mountain journeys.

With enthusiastic participation and strong teamwork, the students effectively applied design principles and successfully created their own imaginative and unique board games.

An elder from the tribe was invited to give a lecture in Mr. Liu’s class. He spoke about the young and old generations in the tribe and sadly noted a cultural gap between them. To help bridge this gap and revive tribal traditions, Mr. Liu decided to teach the students how to make tree bark clothes. This lesson aimed to deepen their understanding of their own culture.

The students learned about the different types of trees and why people made clothes from tree bark in the past. They experienced firsthand how to soften tree bark and used local materials and techniques to create items that meet contemporary needs. The lesson highlighted the tribal lifestyle and showcased the ancestors’ wisdom in utilizing natural materials for everyday life. It also encouraged the students to continue exploring new possibilities within traditional craftsmanship to pass on their aboriginal culture.

At Chu-Jen Junior High School, every class has had its own reading corner for years. However, not every class managed to design a reading corner that met all students’ expectations. With a limited budget and most three-tiered shelves on the market being standardized, their options were restricted.

Mrs. Hsu came up with a solution. She introduced the concepts of proportion and positive/negative space to the class, asking the students to use these principles to design shelves that were both functional and decorative. The results exceeded Mrs. Hsu’s expectations. The students’ design drafts displayed remarkable creativity and diversity. Eventually, the students and Mrs. Hsu brought one of the drafts to life, successfully creating their own bookshelves.