Liu Weixue
Head designer in charge of the Yuhang paper umbrella, responsible for research and application of traditional culture in contemporary art. 

Tang Wei
Designer, responsible for research and application of traditional culture in contemporary art.

Hold an oil-paper umbrella, and you can feel the warmth of this time-honored craft — to make one, you select three-year-old moso bamboo for the ribs, shaving them to an even thickness; mount resilient tough paper onto the frame, brushing it until it lies smooth and snug; paint landscapes, flowers and birds on the surface with plant-based pigments; and finally, coat it repeatedly with tung oil and let it dry thoroughly. Only then can you call it a fine umbrella that shields you from wind and rain.

Strike a bond with an old house, and you reconnect with the roots of the countryside. Stand side by side with your family to measure the beams and columns of the house; brainstorm with friends on where to set up the umbrella art exhibition area and where to arrange the hands-on craft corner; then follow veteran artisans to learn the time-honored tricks passed down through generations: how to bend and shape the umbrella ribs by heating, and how to make the patterns on the umbrella surface fade-resistant for years to come.

From a pile of bamboo strips and a few sheets of tough paper, to transforming an empty old house into a cozy Oil-Paper Umbrella Home filled with the faint scent of tung oil and bamboo — every step of the way is brimming with laughter and joy. This kind of happiness, forged by your own hands, is solid and lasting.