Each designer-mentee will design and fabricate an object in response to one of the former Project Twelve works, as a new interpretation of the corresponding Chinese Zodiac sign. The object shall be no larger than 250mm (L) X 250mm (W) X 250mm (H).
Curatorial questions for the design and fabrication process:
Materiality
Craft & Technology
Narrative / Design Philosophy / Design-設計
Conceptual Display Layout
As an accelerated and compressed version, Design Trust Futures Studio 2022 experiments the methodology of collective mentoring, where each designer-mentee is paired with a primary mentor according to the matching Chinese Zodiac, and with a rotational mentor or advisor for additional support on materials, crafts and cultural research. A collaborative design process is fostered through this collective mentoring mechanism, providing multi-perspective inputs to designer-mentees’ exploration in heritage and design innovation.
Exchange of ideas are further encouraged among the designer-mentees, who host fabrication workshops for other mentees with similar interests in specific materials or technology. Collective learning is achieved and creatively generates new ways of making and thinking in unexpected ways.
Each new Zodiac project highlights the best of the designer-mentee’s expertise with master-mentors and advisors facilitating new elements outside of the designer mentees’ existing oeuvre and practice, while also responding to the urgency of our time and planet through their own design language.
Project Twelve is a cultural and design explanation of the twelve animal signs of the Chinese Zodiac. The project is produced by Culture Laboratory Limited and sponsored by M.K. Lau Collection Limited. For twelve years starting from 2008, artists and designers from Asia were invited each year to create a series of art and design items, using the zodiac sign of the year as a theme. The project attempts to integrate elements of Asian culture with contemporary design and modern production techniques.
Rat MicLAU by Michael Lau (2008)
Ox Yeeox by Cheung Yee (2009)
Tiger Yi Hu by Raman Hui (2010)
Rabbit Ru Tu by Cynthia Sah (2011)
Dragon Long Xing by Chelsia Lau (2012)
Snake She Wu by Dennis Chan (2013)
Horse eHorse by Kan Tai-keung (2014)
Goat Yang Xiang by Chi Wing Lo (2015)
Monkey Xiang Hou by Anthony Lo (2016)
Rooster He Luan by Man Fung-yi & Mok Yat-san (2017)
Dog Rocky by Edwin Chan (2018)
Pig Shi Zhe by Freeman Lau (2019)
Remarks:
Design Trust Futures Studio 2022 is inspired by the twelve original zodiac works of Project Twelve. Michael Lau and the late Cheung Yee are unfortunately not able to participate in Design Trust Futures Studio 2022, and the master-mentors of the Design Trust Futures Studio 2022 programme include: Raman Hui, Cynthia Sah, Chelsia Lau, Dennis Chan, Kan Tai-keung, Chi Wing Lo, Anthony Lo, Man Fung-yi & Mok Yat-san, Edwin Chan and Freeman Lau.
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