FROM bicycles to bowls, cups, and more, bamboo stole the spotlight at IPACS 2025, proving it is more than just a traditional craft material.
At the Indonesia-Pacific Cultural Synergy Exhibition, participants from the Pacific and Southeast Asia explored innovative ways to use bamboo, turning a humble plant into a symbol of creativity, sustainability, and economic opportunity.
Elesi Koroi of the Fiji Arts Council expressed her excitement: “Bamboo crafts are a big part of our culture, but here I learned we can even build bicycles, bowls, and other creative items. When I go back, I will teach everyone the different ways bamboo can be used. It’s free, readily available, and can generate income for families.”
Najwa, curator at the Bamboo Residence from the Environmental Bamboo Foundation in Denpasar, Bali, highlighted the power of cultural exchange.
“It’s exciting and challenging to learn about participants’ diverse cultures. At the Bamboo Residence, we guide participants to explore the many possibilities of bamboo, empowering local communities, especially women and marginalized groups, to use bamboo for both craft and income,” Najwa said.
Daisy Michael from the Solomon Islands added: “We should plant more bamboo because there are so many things we can make from it. Bamboo is unique, readily available, and when I go back home, I will teach others. It’s a material full of possibilities.”
IPACS 2025 demonstrated that bamboo is more than a craft, it is a bridge connecting communities, inspiring innovation, and promoting sustainable livelihoods across the Pacific and Southeast Asia.