In the early summer of 2026, we were invited by the organizers of 2026 Foshan Internatioanl Cultural & Creative Week to create an art installation for this grand event.

At the very beginning of the conceptual stage, we immersed ourselves deeply in the everyday life of local Cantonese people, hoping to find an everyday object that best captures the distinctive character of local folk life. In the end, our gaze settled on the red plastic stools.

As the most iconic daily furniture in this region, red plastic stools are affordable, robust and stackable. Serving as a distinctive symbol of restaurants, village feasts and community meetups. They are also nicknamed "Stools of the Province" by Cantonese people, holding authentic memories of local ordinary life.

We therefore use the red plastic stool as the unit module to build a tower installation. The 8.2-meter-high tower features a spiral form with dual-color. As viewers move around it, the scene shifts and transforms with every change in perspective, resembling a giant revolving lantern.

To fully preserve the grassroots cultural texture of the Stool Tower, we abandoned industrial prefabrication method. The five-day construction process itself constitutes an intensive fully handcrafted practice.The main framework of the installation is built by steel scaffolding; every stool is fastened manually with cable through close collaboration between craftsmen and architect. No welding or wet connections were applied to transform 45cm high stools into an 8.2m high tower. Up to 90% of materials are recyclable while preserving their natural texture, delivering a low-carbon sustainable design concept.

As the core thematic installation and ephemral landmark of 2026 Foshan Cultural & Creative Week. Inspired by humble everyday objects, the Stool Tower captures the subtle beauty of ordinary life to create a mutual resonance between grassroots urban vitality and urban art.