Local Is Global, Creation Knows No Boundaries

The local is the rooted origin of civilisation; creation is a spiritual journey transcending all boundaries.

Upholding the conviction that “Local Is Global, Creation Knows No Boundaries,” BENTU transcends narrow geographical constraints and cognitive stereotypes. We delve into local cultural heritage, revere the authenticity of nature, and take sustainable design as our path to engage in dialogue with global civilisations. We firmly believe that only by rooting deeply in the land can we connect with the world; only by breaking inherent barriers can civilisation renew endlessly. Through material regeneration, field research, and borderless creation, we explore the symbiosis between locality and globality, tradition and future—a path of organic regrowth.

I. Local Is Global

The local refers to one’s native land and earthly roots.

To BENTU, the local is not merely a geographical definition, but a spiritual symbol: it embodies locality and origin, rooted in the collective psychological memory of human innate endowment, settled in deep collective consciousness, and endowing every individual with a solid spiritual foundation.

Regions and communities across the world maintain diverse yet interconnected ways of living. People adapt to natural and social environments, reshape and inhabit their ecological surroundings, secure livelihood resources, place spiritual sustenance, and sustain the continuity and development of communities. Through long-term practice, they gradually form diverse cultural manifestations and shape the unique natural and humanistic texture of a place. This encompasses natural dimensions such as geography, geology, landforms, hydrology, vegetation, and climate, as well as humanistic dimensions including history, culture, and economy. Over time, these elements settle into a cultural context that shapes individual and collective perception, thinking, and values, evolving into distinctive historical traditions. Rooted in reality, evolving with the times, and constantly reinterpreted, it bears uniqueness, ethnic character, and spiritual purity, eventually growing into an irreplicable local culture exclusive to this land.

Every region and ethnic group nurtures its own local culture with inherent value and rationality. Yet such value should never serve as a standard to judge or dominate other regions and civilisations. Amid the tide of globalisation, diverse cultures collide and integrate, steering the world toward cultural convergence. Economic globalisation and modern technology have dissolved geographical boundaries, ushering humanity into a new civilisational era.

Global integration marks remarkable progress for human civilisation, yet it also carries inherent deconstructive and disruptive impacts. Under globalisation, local spiritual genes gradually fade, cultural landscapes grow increasingly homogeneous, distinctive regional characteristics diminish, and local values are diluted or even abandoned. Profit-driven global integration has homogenised human lifestyles, while excessive reliance on fossil fuels triggers environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. All human development is fundamentally based on the utilisation of natural resources; the more advanced technology becomes, the greater its capacity to transform nature. Once ecological and biological foundations are damaged, cultural diversity inevitably declines, undermining long-term sustainable development for humanity. While embracing the benefits of globalisation, we must remain vigilant to its potential risks.

When the unique temperament of local culture is gradually overshadowed by humanity’s shared global destiny, such contemplation itself becomes a new starting point for understanding ourselves and the world. The local and the global no longer stand in simple binary opposition, but integrate and co-evolve. Contemporary society shows diminishing concern for grand social and historical narratives, with individual thoughts and behaviours growing increasingly present-oriented, focusing more on subtle personal perceptions and emotional shifts. Such immediate self-perception enables individuals to express their uniqueness amid global commonality, ease the tension between locality and globality, and forge new cultural outlooks and spiritual connotations.

Amid the general trend of global integration, humanity shares numerous common challenges and a collective future destiny. In-depth local awareness is increasingly intertwined with universal global themes, capable of profound integration rather than separation, transcending superficial appearances to foster broader humanistic care. The shared destiny of humanity is closely intertwined with individual lives, permeating the subtleties of daily existence. It is the diverse individuality of local cultures that offers multiple perspectives to observe the world and understand life; such uniqueness nurtures the richness and enduring vitality of human civilisation.

“The world” lies right beside us, and we are inherently an inseparable part of it. Modern human development has long broken free from regional and cultural shackles. Boundaries continue to blur, and cultures of all regions and ethnic groups interpenetrate one another, forming heterogeneous integrations. Local culture is no longer closed and self-contained; it has merged into the international landscape and become the underlying foundation of globalisation. Globalisation can both empower the innovation and inheritance of local culture and dilute its intrinsic essence and self-renewal capacity. The local and the global are deeply intertwined, and the dilemmas they present challenge individual comprehension and creativity. This requires sincere commitment and profound patience. Without such dedication, all criticism remains shallow and fragmented, and all participation superficial and transient. Exploring the shared destiny of the local and the global is a conscious mission undertaken by BENTU. Ultimately, it aims to seek existential meaning, anchor spiritual values, and fulfil humanity’s higher spiritual pursuits and self-actualisation.

Sound globalisation relies on thriving local cultures. Mature local cultures ought to actively engage in globalisation and thereby influence global trends. The awakening of local consciousness and universal consciousness reinforce one another; a global vision guides local creation toward innovation beyond national and linguistic limits. Within the balanced coexistence of humanity, nature, and society, local culture is tempered by daily life and releases far-reaching spiritual power. Gazing from the local to the global is an inward rooting and outward extension, resonating with the spiritual pulse of the times. Reflecting from the global back to the local is an outward absorption and inward accumulation, refining the inner power that penetrates everyday life.

What BENTU defines as “the local” embodies respect for global universality and cherishment of regional uniqueness. It inherits traditions, absorbs global insights, and reinterprets through creation. Rooted in locality and referenced by globality, we endow works with life, creation with warmth, and individuals with dignity.

Every nation, region, and ethnic group possesses its own sense of the local. Root yourself deeply in the land beneath your feet, and you become part of the local itself.

II. Creation Knows No Boundaries

Creation is an innate human instinct and an inner spiritual aspiration. It fulfils fundamental survival needs and upholds the dignity of self-actualisation, driving human evolution and social progress.

In today’s China, society harbours immense longing for creation, yet remains shrouded in confusion and ambiguity. Creation is the conscious exploration of the world, with its core lying in breaking the shackles of inherent thinking. The essence of creation lies in “reimagining”: to subvert, break through, elevate, and pioneer new paths. The outcome of reimagining is “newness”: new combinations of old elements, new definitions of established rules, new discoveries of existing things, and the restructuring of conventional mindsets.

Creativity never emerges spontaneously; it accumulates over time and takes shape through systematic education, cultivation, and practice. On the journey of creation, technology is never the greatest barrier—technical deficiencies can be learned and supplemented; nor are conceptual gaps insurmountable—outdated ideas can be reviewed and revised. What fundamentally stifles creativity is often the prevailing social value orientation. When society adheres stubbornly to tradition and rejects alternative viewpoints, innovative ideas struggle to take root. Creativity is often overlooked, marginalised, even subtly ridiculed and suppressed. A restless, utilitarian social mentality cannot shoulder the mission of creation, while rigid, formulaic education fails to nurture sustained creative thinking.

Creation is always a path rarely travelled. In a material-driven era, the journey of creation grows even more solitary. For creators, this means enduring prolonged loneliness: no bustling followers, no blind conformity. Embracing such solitude demands social responsibility and idealistic persistence. Ideals pave the way for reality, while a profound life is always lived for ideals. Being swept passively by material desires without self-awareness amounts to spiritual stagnation. For every individual, the ultimate significance of creation lies in self-fulfilment.

We have come to realise that the hardships of creation stem not only from social indifference and lack of recognition, nor from the loneliness of unappreciated efforts, but more profoundly from inner fear of the unknown path ahead. Guided by responsibility and idealism for creation, we can endure and overcome all helplessness and hesitation that tempt us to give up. What truly matters is never momentary fame and admiration; glory only proves achievements, while the quiet perseverance through dark days defines the true texture of life. Following rapid economic growth, contemporary China has evolved into a vast experimental field awaiting rediscovery, reorganisation, and reconstruction—a historical stage worthy of lifelong dedication for generations, prompting deeper reflection on the essence of the world and the meaning of creation.

Curiosity about the essence of all things, insight into the unknown, courage to break conventions, and down-to-earth execution—these qualities are far more precious than the outcomes of creation itself.

From BENTU’s perspective, creation lies in questioning and rethinking established conclusions and predefined norms. Creation is an endless journey always facing the future. Every step we take in creation arises from a simple inquiry: what lies beyond the horizon? Even knowing the journey brings confusion and exhaustion, the unknown frontier is always worth exploring. In an era of relentless haste, retaining inner contemplation and reflection is inherently meaningful.

We often harbour plans and visions yet keep them confined to thought. We delay action with excuses of inadequate conditions, lament our limitations, and hesitate out of cowardice. Yet only when we embrace pressure and settle into practice do we understand: even with imperfect conditions and unforeseen hardships, practical experience always offers solutions. We forge ahead through mindset adjustment and constant trial and error. Growth comes from overcoming difficulties, along with the joy of surpassing self-limitations. We ultimately understand: there is no need to fear trial and error, for action itself is what matters most.

Creation begins with solving practical problems, yet it must never end there. It builds our fundamental logic for understanding the world and offers new perspectives for reflection: what could the world truly be? What do we genuinely yearn for? Most importantly, it clarifies what we ought to uphold and what to let go. For BENTU, the enduring motivation behind creation never derives from fleeting designer inspiration, but from care for human society, unwavering adherence to positive values, principled persistence, and relentless perseverance amid adversity. On our creative journey, we constantly question ourselves: what paths remain unexplored? From the user’s perspective, what genuine needs remain unseen? Why do we embark on this journey of creation? Even if a path eventually leads to an impasse, what insights can our journey leave for future creators?

Creation begins with the awakening of creative consciousness.

The first layer is the awakening of individuality: stepping away from stereotyped expression and collective conformity, and upholding independent stance and unique voice.

Next comes the awakening of humanistic consciousness: grounding all creation in human nature, upholding human dignity, caring for living conditions and development, and respecting inherited cultural traditions, aesthetic perceptions, lifestyles, local craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. We act with purpose, yet more importantly, we maintain reverence and restraint.

Ultimately, creative consciousness culminates in the awakening of universal consciousness. All things coexist within the same time and space, with no inherent hierarchy of value. A stone, a leaf, a life—all are born equal, without nobility or humility. They interrelate, constrain, and coexist with one another. Breaking artificial boundaries of religion, culture, geography, and ethnicity, and embracing a highly self-aware universal vision, represents the highest realm of creative awakening.

Creation has no final destination. As long as the path unfolds ahead, BENTU remains willing to embark with humility, independently exploring the boundless possibilities of spirit and matter, and always acting as a pioneering experimental practitioner. More importantly, value-aligned peers are bonded by shared values. Some missions can never be accomplished by individuals alone; only collective progress leads to transcendence. A cohesive team is united by shared values and equal aspirations. Passive waiting never reaches the ideal shore. Individual light is limited, and solitude cannot sustain the whole vision; yet countless beams of light converged together shine as brightly as the sun and moon. We walk side by side, never allowing the spiritual desolation of the era to dim the light ahead.

III. Local Is Global, Creation Knows No Boundaries

“Local Is Global” and “Creation Knows No Boundaries” are never isolated propositions. The former defines our spiritual coordinate, the latter guides our code of action; the former answers where we stand rooted, the latter points to where we journey forward.

When we crouch beside piles of waste ceramics in Chaozhou and pick up a broken porcelain fragment, that moment embodies both deep connection to local roots and the commencement of a creative journey. We always believe: the deeper we root ourselves in the land beneath our feet, the closer we connect to the spiritual nerve linking the whole world. Every local practice of waste regeneration serves as a micro sample for global sustainable design. The dilemmas faced locally are shared by the world; the solutions explored through local practice will eventually become valuable references for global counterparts.

Creation knows no boundaries: it refuses to be confined by disciplinary divisions, industrial barriers, or inherent cognitive rigidity. From material science to design aesthetics, from field research to public art, from 3D modelling to geopolymer chemistry, we focus solely on solving real-world problems, never limiting ourselves to fixed identities or closed domains.

Local Is Global, Creation Knows No Boundaries.

This is not a final conclusion, but a belief we recite inwardly before every new departure. It reminds us always: the land beneath our feet is our eternal starting point, while the boundaries of creation extend far beyond imagination.

Author: Xu Gang

This article is an original work of the BENTU Brand Speculative Series. Taking local cultural heritage and the creative ethos of the times as core propositions, it establishes the brand’s value foundation: rooted in the local, embracing the global, breaking all barriers, and pursuing perpetual creation.