Moderated by Laura Miotto (Italy/Singapore), Associate Professor and Co-director, MA Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices, School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University (NTU ADM) Dedicated to spatial and furniture design, this…
With over 600 species, rattan is astonishingly diverse with its main centre of distribution in Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago. Uses of the plants range from medicine to cigarette papers, from basket weaving to cane furniture. Leading rattan…
A climbing palm of tropical Southeast Asia, rattan has supplied material over the centuries for everyday objects and artworks. What is the surface made of? What are the unique characteristics of rattan? Examining laboratory analysis from electron…
Sopheap Pich, whose work is among those featured in Trees of Life – Knowledge in Material, started working with natural materials, such as bamboo, rattan, burlap, beeswax, and earth pigments, in the early 2000s to create sculptural objects informed…
Chaired by Dr Lisa Onaga (United States/Germany), Senior Research Scholar, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science and Assistant Professor, School of Humanities, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, NTU Sericulture, or silk…
Silk, known as the “Queen of Fibres” as it is strong, fine, and highly lustrous, is made from silkworm cocoons through a sericulture process. The triangular cross section with round edges of the silk fibre reflects light like a prism, making silk…
Manish Nai is interested in discovering the abstract dimensions of form through the manipulation of matter, exploring the new life assumed by the cast-offs that change from objects of use—jute, cardboard, newspapers, old cloths—to art objects,…
With a focus on Southeast Asia, this discussion will unveil the richness of traditional fabric making and dyeing through the lens of textile expert Lee Chor Lin, who will present a comprehensive overview of the region; anthropologist Geneviève…
Chaired by Dinu Bodiciu (Romania/Singapore), Fashion Lecturer, LASALLE College of the Arts Discussing issues of sustainability and environmentally-responsible design, the speakers will touch upon their strategies of operating in ways that cultivate…
Indigo, known as the “King of Dyes,” has been in continuous use and traded worldwide as blue dye, paint pigment, and medicine for over six millennia. Its unique chemistry is suited for all types of textiles, whether prestige silks or blue jeans, as…