The Hardware Archive collects a series of items that may seem strange but – upon closer inspection – are actually familiar. A collection of objects that could be found under the sink, in the family toolbox, or at any hardware store originates from a design project, The Misused, conceived by designer Liang-Jung Chen in 2018. Initially, the project involved reconfiguring hardware items into homeware objects, inspired by the phenomenon of repurposing in her hometown. Liang-Jung was struck by the thrifty and ingenious spirit of the older generation, who transformed discarded items into things they needed.

These object experiments sparked a journey of hardware collecting that never really stopped for Liang-Jung. An incessant collection of hardware items from local stores gradually became a daily habit. Once he moved to London and had the opportunity to travel around Europe, he became fascinated by European hardware items he had never seen before. During his travels, Liang-Jung consolidated the idea that his interest in hardware had potential, representing an area of object research with anthropological and ethnographic depth.

This interest evolved into a study of material culture, culminating in the creation of The Hardware Archive website, made possible by a research grant received a few years ago. Liang-Jung Chen transformed his passion for hardware into an extraordinary and unique project, demonstrating how the most common objects can be reinvented with creativity and ingenuity, enriching our cultural understanding through repurposing.