Claw Rod

Arcade Claw, bamboo, 2024

Inspired by the ubiquity of arcade claw machines in Hsinchu, Taiwan, as well as by observing locals fish from a river using a homemade bamboo fishing rod, Claw Rod combines these two elements into a single functioning object that highlights the contrast between the inherent adaptability of natural materials and deliberate limitations of design.

The bamboo pole, lightweight and flexible, excels at a task it was never specifically intended for: fishing. In contrast, the arcade claw, a product of intentional design, fulfills its purpose not through functionality but by providing entertainment—its success measured more by engagement than by effectiveness.

The work brings these contrasting forms together, inviting reflection on the interplay between nature, design, and the purposes we assign to the objects around us.