For the past two years, I have been deeply involved in the work at a village box lantern workshop — moving from observing to participating, learning each step from splitting bamboo and building the frame to painting and assembling the final piece.
In the summer months, the workshop hummed with activity. Bamboo was split, frames assembled, and paper mounted under the warm afternoon light. These photographs document the daily rhythm of craft — hands at work, materials taking shape, tradition made visible.
As the seasons turned, the workshop took on a quieter character. The paintings grew more intricate, the motifs deepening — plum blossoms for winter endurance, orchids for quiet refinement. These images trace that slower, more contemplative phase of the craft.
This experience taught me not only the technical skills behind the craft, but also the creativity, cross-discipline thinking, patience, and persistence it requires.