‘London Streets Are Paved with Cardboard’ the title of the project, is a reimagining of the old saying from the 19th Century story ‘Dick Whittington and His Cat’, that suggests that London streets are paved with gold. In contrast, today’s streets in London are scattered with cardboard, a material of the mundane, of disposability and, but also often, the holding of memories.

Shaoyi collects discarded cardboard and transforms it into bronze vessels inspired by ancient Chinese Jue and London architecture. These crafted forms explore themes of memory, value, and permanence. By elevating a disposable material through traditional craft, the project invites reflection on what we overlook, discard, or preserve in contemporary urban life.