A toymakers’ hall
In 2003, at the recommendation of Hsu Kuo-liang, director of the Hsiao Hsi Yuan Puppet Theater, Hung was named one of Taiwan’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons. “I’m just an ordinary son of Taiwan, and it’s because I’m ordinary that my work resonates with people.” Hung, who jokes that he was always half a beat behind others in learning, had audacious dreams, but he has conscientiously worked one step at a time to make those dreams a reality.
“All of my success goes back to my childhood dreams.” The pop-up books he so admired as a child inspired Hung’s imagination, and the “Stunning Pop-Up Books” expo held in Taipei in 2012 attracted 240,000 visitors. In 2013, in the plaza outside Taichung City Hall, a pop-up book totaling 106 meters in length, with 148 double-page spreads—the collective creation of more than 70 art teachers—went on display, and successfully set a Guinness world record, to the cheers of the crowd.
“Using fasteners makes it possible for pop-up books to be extended without limit.” The mindset of finding inspiration in daily life and of educating while entertaining set down firm roots at this event. “I hope to make complex things simple, and bring dull formulas to life.” Hung uses mathematical formulas to construct educational pop-up books, so that children can learn in a joyful way.
“My next dream is to build a ‘toymakers’ hall.’” Hung Hsinfu, who found success in the midst of failure, understands deeply that if you just work hard and earnestly, without worrying about success or failure, Fate will always give you a chance. “Things you make with your hands are an extension of life.” Hung hopes that everyone can learn by doing at the “toymakers’ hall.” “The process is more important than the outcome,” he says. Linking hands and minds can produce even more possibilities, just as he himself has achieved the goal of bringing paper to its highest state of perfection.
In Hung’s eyes, butterflies are flowers that can fly.
Hung uses paper folding for charitable work, connecting with the pure hearts of children.
The small marble inside this folded-paper ship makes it able to move.
By linking loose-leaf pages together, pop-up books can be extended without limit. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)
Hung’s pop-up name card exemplifies his playful approach to life. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)
Hung hopes that through paper folding he can awaken people to the importance of protecting our planet.
This horse’s head is one of Hung’s frequent experiments with new materials.
The hard lines of this work convey the persistence and endurance of the Taiwanese water buffalo.
By using digital laser cutting, Hung can make his works even more exquisite and detailed.