Crossing borders: a Formosan's postcolonial exploration of European Art Deco women designers

Abstract

[Abstract]: This is research on cultural identity and the history of design. The project, by applying aspects of postcolonial theories (third space, border theory and hybridity) to the history of the four women designers in the Art Deco period in Europe, explores the influences of Eastern cultures in developing their Western design perspective. Their experience in fighting against patriarchal society toward success is a useful analogy for my country Taiwan’s struggle to win recognition in the world. It is through the recognition of these four women designers’ contributions to design history that I present their stories as models to my design students in Taiwan to assist them in establishing their own design identity. The research findings indicate that these women designers’ benefited from Eastern culture and created a successful cultural mélange between the East and West. Similarly, my design students in Taiwan will have the opportunity to reverse the pathway in appropriating from the West to create new possibilities in the East. I argue that hybridity is a key component for responding to and for addressing the identity crisis and internal disruption in present-day Taiwan. Through knowing and understanding these women designers’ achievements, Taiwanese students have a model for self-reflection to recognise the importance of our own cultural value to the world.