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Nicole Teng poses with a traditional Chinese palm tree bed board that she created from waste material, at her exhibition. photos provided to Shanghai Star
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The island of Taiwan has a strong recycling culture. Now one of its residents has brought this eco-friendly movement to Shanghai and spiced it up with a little "brut" force. Yu Ran finds out the inspiration behind a hive of creativity in Anfu Road.
When Nicole Teng left Taiwan and moved to Shanghai four years ago, she began collecting recycled materials and turning them into handicrafts.
Teng took old, discarded items such as broken chairs, and transformed them into something completely different. She dreamed of quitting her job as a sales director at an advertising company and turning her new hobby into a business.
This dream was realized in December two years ago, when she opened her first brand concept showroom in Shanghai on Anfu Road, a popular street lined with boutique design stores and restaurants. But even before having her own show space, Teng's work was being displayed in more than 12 well-respected design shops.
She named her brand Brut Cake.
Brut refers to the Art Brut movement that originated in France, and is an accurate description of the raw, original elements of its products. "Cake" evokes images of the simple pleasures and happiness in life.
"I want to share with more people that the life cycle of good materials and craftsmanship is longer than we expect," Teng says.
Most Brut Cake objects are handmade. Hand-woven fabrics are used to make handbags, while furniture is recycled into new items. In the workshop, artists create ceramic pieces with a potter's wheel.
"I believe there is a soul in antique pieces. They have a kind of personality, which can be explored and expressed by a person with unique vision," Teng says. She believes in the longevity and beauty of raw materials, seeing precious treasures where others see waste.
Teng's designs feature hand-woven fabrics from Southeast China.
"I use traditional materials to preserve the original beauty and add modern elements into the mix of old eras and new times," Teng says.
When Teng goes out for a walk, she is always scanning the streets for discarded furniture.
"I spend most of my time looking for abandoned items as inspiration for my work, which is what I am really passionate about," she says.
"Brut Cake is a brand that offers people items that have unique designs, so we attract customers who want something different.""
Teng works with local craftsmen, and sometimes their projects can take a while to complete. "I receive orders nonstop, and I need enough time to create designs to meet the requirements," Teng says.
She encourages people interested in handicrafts to visit her store.
"Collecting and making things by hand is a big part of my life, so I am trying to create as many works as I can. I hope to exhibit and sell them to European countries and, eventually, all over the world."
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