02 Multi-sensory Design

Designer Mentee: Xavier Tsang (Participant of Design Trust Futures Studio 2017, 2018)

Hong Kong-based Mentor: Michael Young

Lead Curator: Marisa Yiu (Co-founder/ Executive Director of Design Trust)

Design Brief:

Universality and accessibility are the two aspects of design that is often overlooked. Considering Haw Par's location, and its architectural and heritage characteristics, the designer will create fragrances around a narrative that represents and complements the building as a holistic space, inviting and orienting visitors. Fragrance inspiration also draws upon the neighboring Tai Hang community and the Tai Hang Fire Dragon dance.

"One of the most fascinating things I have noticed about Haw Par Mansion is the 'fragmentation' and eclecticism of the space. A melting pot of different cultural influences, architectural styles and the interplay of reality and the fictitious, underpinning the different elements is the universality of family values, which has inspired me to create works that reflect Haw Par's history and narratives."- Xavier Tsang

Designer Statement:

While I was collecting stories about people's memory of the Haw Par Mansion, the stories that inspired me the most is about the Ten Courts of Hell wall sculpture. I wanted to create a scent experience which brings back people's memories about this wall sculpture. By creating a fragrance which compliments with the rich history of Haw Par Mansion, the scent experience developed together with aromatherapist Jodie Chan, can be decomposed into ten individual scent notes that trigger memories about the "ten courts of hell", namely fire", "frozen-iceberg", "rusty metal", "flowing blood", and so on. Each scent will be diffused into the space with a pendulum diffuser. With the generous support of mentor Michael Young, the metronome diffuser will incorporate his experimental material aluminium foam, which perfectly traps and iffuses fragrance oil. With the swing of the pendulum, this work blends together the narratives of the Ten Courts of Hell wall mural that once stands in the Tiger Balm Garden.

Designer Mentee: Xavier Tsang (Participant of Design Trust Futures Studio 2017, 2018)

Hong Kong-based Mentor: Michael Young

Lead Curator: Marisa Yiu (Co-founder/ Executive Director of Design Trust)

Design Brief:

Decomposing the individual scent nodes into physical fragments on display, this installation reveals the underlying fragments that form the basis of 10 Scents. Re-configuring the moral narratives of Ten Courts of Hell into physical reality, the audience are submerged in an installation of plants, herbs, chemicals, ointments, minerals and objects in their exploration of goodness and evil.

"Working with aromatherapist and perfumer Jodie Chan, we have created a unique blend of fragrance that reflects the rich history of Haw Par Mansion through 10 provocative scent notes." - Xavier Tsang

Designer Statement:

One fundamental element underpinning the work stems from Tiger Balm Garden Hong Kong as a place of morality and public education, as well as Aw Boon Haw's fascination of tigers, myths and folklore. What evidence can we draw when we look closely at these different layers of history, stories and artefacts? The multi-sensory installation enables the audience to explore these layers, submerging them in dimensions between fiction and reality, and reflecting upon the different narratives of Haw Par's history while projecting future narratives.