Rattan is a material that is native and of high importance to the Southeast Asian region. Rattan furniture and household items were commonplace in the homes of Singapore in the 70s. However, its qualities have been replaced by solutions of the modern world: lightness and durability by plastic, pliability by rubber bands, and airiness by the accessibility of air conditioners. By learning from the past and coupled with unexpected inspirations from other disciplines and mediums, this research with rattan attempts to exhaust the material through exploring its potential in aesthetics and function. Every work is an ongoing dialogue to rediscover the relation between material-object-man and rattan’s purpose in our time.
Rattan Studies
Rattan as Weave
2021 – ongoingHow many ways are there to weave using rattan?Rattan as Weave is a continuation on the attempt to study and exhaust the rattan material, but this time, through the act of weaving.
︎ Current progress 1/100
Rattan as Wrap
2017 – 2021How many ways are there to wrap an object?
Rattan as Wrap is an attempt to study and exhaust the basics of rattan wrapping and its material through the act of wrapping. I liken it to learning the alphabets.
︎ Completed 100/100
Rattan as Wearables
2019 – ongoingHow can we use the rattan material in other ways that may fit into our time?Rattan as Wearables is a continuation on the attempt to study and exhaust the rattan material, by exploring alternative functions and uses for the material.
Rattan Combinations
2017 – ongoingHow many ways are there to weave using rattan?Rattan Combinations is a body of work that explores rattan in conversation with other hand made materials. The combination of techniques picked up over the course of the research manifest into further tangible forms as a visual and tactile investigation into rattan.
