The world may be noisy
A craftsman’s heart must absolutely be quiet and steady
When facing materials gifted by nature
You must first perfect them
Only then might they perfect you
— Li Zongsheng
While some still believe this is an era where success can be easily achieved through mere talk, there is a group of designers who love to share, love life, are composed yet humorous — they have already chosen to focus inward and let their works speak for themselves.
Online, Happy Teahouse is a space in the outdoor community for open and lively conversation. The teahouse members here are not only well-versed in outdoor activities and tea culture, passionate about life, but also broad-minded, enthusiastic, and unbound by trivialities.
And the Happy Teahouse that has set up at the Asia Outdoor Exhibition is a utopia for such designers: some craft woodwork, others study Zen tea, while some are devoted to designing outdoor gear. “They enjoy that solitary journey toward perfection. In their world, there’s no relying on luck or taking shortcuts — only the pursuit of excellence. They truly love what they do, without vanity or ostentation.” This is how Tao Dawei, the chief designer of Happy Teahouse, describes himself and his fellow product design enthusiasts.
Happy Teahouse at the 2015 Asia Outdoor Exhibition
People cannot live in isolation
The reason we create works
is to communicate
Through our creations, we convey what we’ve realized within
What our eyes observe
Those things we care about, those we treasure
Therefore, the work is oneself
In 2016, Happy Teahouse will continue to join the Asia Outdoor Exhibition platform, and be upgraded once again.Besides serving as an extension of the Asia Outdoor Exhibition — providing spaces for gatherings, chatting, resting, drinking tea, wine, and sharing snacks — this year’s teahouse will specially add a “China Craftsmanship Spirit” zone. It will promote selected Chinese craftsmanship products for public benefit, aiming to call for the return of craftsmanship and to promote the artisan spirit of China’s outdoor brands along with the inheritance of Chinese culture.
2016 Asia Outdoor Exhibition “Happy Teahouse” Booth Design Sketch
Currently, according to our insider info, the exhibited works include“Daxian’s Prajna Series,” “Boss Mao’s Lamp,” “The Carpenter’s Pottery Space,” “Huang Jun’s Bicycle,” “Yuan Tian’s Rock Climbing Series,” “RICOLEE’s Designer Sentiment,” “Miaohui’s Tea,” “Yongzhu’s Zen Culture,” “Teacher Tang’s Chinese Culture,” “exciTing’s Fashion Running Series,” “Sheng’ao’s Shovel”...
In addition, friends in the teahouse are actively signing up to share their special teas (mei) and treats (jiu) with everyone to enjoy together.
All objects meticulously crafted
The most precious and irreplaceable thing is just one word: people
People have sentiment, beliefs, and attitudes
Therefore, nothing is taken for granted
It is precisely amid all possible variables
Still strive to do your best
—— Li Zongsheng
This year’s Happy Tea House at the Asia Outdoor Exhibition will also welcome a highly popular celebrity dad from the carpentry world to share his insights with everyone!
The editor has already set out a small stool early, waiting eagerly for Dad Zheng to share his unique understanding of woodworking. In this flashy and noisy society, perhaps we can gain more through reflection by listening to others’ perseverance and admiring their creations.
A courtyard with a Zen-like ambiance, some delightfully charming objects, and a group of like-minded friends coming together — just light a stick of incense, sip a cup of drink, enjoy a piece of tea snack... What a delightful slice of outdoor life. Can you already imagine looking forward to it?
With a mind that seeks nothing, forge all kinds of good connections. Here,in the name of “craftsmanship,” we invite you to visit Nanjing International Expo Center from June 30 to July 3, 2016at Booth 4.2510, Happy Tea House, Hall 4 of the Asia Outdoor Exhibition. Carpenters and tea lovers are waiting to gather and drink tea with you. Most importantly, share the tea snacks!! Tea snacks!! Tea snacks!!