April 2017 – clarrot

To think Foundation 2D has ended, this overall school year has ended, it’s really an overwhelming bittersweet taste of relief and sadness all these fun times are over.

From silkscreen to this actual zine, I’m really in love with this module.

Here’s some of the links below with various checkpoints of my project:
1. Research Findings – Site Visit
2. Project 2 Part 1: Infographic

Last but not least, Part 2 – PRESENTING MY ZINE!!!
Problem: Geylang often seen as a sleazy, red light district. How can we paint another light for Geylang? How is it perceived by the other Singaporeans in the neighbourhood?
Solution/Approach: Showcase other sides of Geylang in the Zine, together with a sticker pack with people from all walks of life, found in every parts of Singapore.
Message: Our Geylang, is for everyone.

Final Cover

Sticker Pack Images – Intention, they are people from all walks of life, everywhere in Singapore (not just limited to Geylang).

Process and Inspiration:

The amount of drafts was pretty intense.
Texture play, placement exploration, the slide show below show all the different layouts over the progress of my submissions.

The beauty of having a visual journal includes making super cute mini zines to cut printing cost AHHAHAHAHA

The biggest most amazing process I would say is really to explore different chinese typefaces to suit the overall look and feel of this magazine.

In the end, after much exploration, I’ve settled for:
Miao Miao

Inspiration:
Pann Lim from Kinetic has always been some of inspiration from design.
I think one of the theme I try to keep to my inspiration board is definitely local designers first above everything else. It’s not because I want to be limited to our island shores, but I seriously think our country has some of the best talent. It’s true that overseas is always good, but hey, Singapore Design is amazing too. We are all learning to be better.

Reflections:
This is one of my proudest work yet. Only because of the motivation from the classmates around, during consults and during crunch time. To just break free from typical layouts and standby my own style and presentation.
It was interesting be motivated by Joy to return to previous alliterations of the design rather than a safer route.

Another conflict I had internally was also to execute the neon colours in Risography, but due to the budget of the project, and the fact that I’ll be spending another 3 more years doing VC, I’ve decided to stall this medium and leave it to future projects that requires it more.

Next Steps:
Challenge myself this holiday: Make this zine interactive:
Current Progress online hosting
https://indd.adobe.com/view/b756fdaf-fe4f-4833-9833-2b8695bcfef5
KEEP A LOOK OUT MATE! IMMA MAKE IT INTERACTIVE

“What am I doing in school, I should just go and my nyonya kueh” – midnight thoughts.

To see random thoughts materialise, is literally any artist/designers’ dream come true.
To have two amazing people onboard to share this crazy though and a class full of happy people, that’s insane. I never knew I would enjoy 4D as much as this.

Without further ado (and mushy lines), here’s a documentation of our project “Aunty! One Pack Kueh Tutu Please”

Catch up on our proposal here, a few weeks back.
In short here’s our focus:
1. We wanted to let the younger generation reconnect with fading trades such as making Kueh Tu Tu

With that focus, we came out with our artist statement —

“One pack Kueh Tutu please” is an installation that amplifies that minute you have while you wait for your tutu kueh. To intensify your senses in order for you to reconnect with this aunty and her efforts behind this beautiful, white and soft kueh.”

What’s her story? What’s your story with her and the kueh?

Check the video that inspired all this!

With these two big ideas out of the way here’s the actual documentation of our whole installation.

Music credit: Shawn Wasabi – SPICY BOYFRIEND

Station 1: Touch
This station allows you to look feel hands on, how to make the kueh tutu.
The Kueh Tutu moulds are courtesy of Gold Tat Lee, supplier of Kueh Tutu materials.
We’ve seek their kind support and this project couldn’t have happened without their help! On the screen, we had supporting videos of materials and preparation of Kueh Tutu flour.

Station 2: Smell
This station allows you to look feel hands on, how to make the kueh tutu.
The Kueh Tutu moulds are courtesy of Gold Tat Lee, supplier of Kueh Tutu materials.
We’ve seek their kind support and this project couldn’t have happened without their help! On the screen, we had supporting videos of materials and preparation of Kueh Tutu flour.

Station 3: Audio

This is probably one of my favourite station as it helped juxtaposed between the Old and New stalls of Kueh Tutu making. We’ve used the sounds modern and old stalls had.
One of the biggest challenge we had was this iconic “tutututu” sound that is said to be found in olden day charcoal fuelled steamers.How did we create the sounds? I’ve used voiceovers and recorded a beatbox like sound effect and overlayed with a base track of steaming. This over lay created this tutu sound.
Beyond the audio, I’ve also tried to challenge myself to create cinematographs.

Station 4: Sight
Inspired by the last lesson, one of my most favourite lesson of all about appropriation (i digress, but read this article I can’t help but reflect about this lecture by Ruyi). Najiha stitched together a couple of videos she found of the Malay Putu Piring and mash it together with the traditional Nyonya Kueh Tutu. It was the essence of our whole exhibit. A reflection of sorts, to articulate how very often we use Chili Crab (seriously, no Singaporeans I know eat this) or Chicken Rice as our national identity. But to our group, Kueh Tutu was what the Singapore spirit is about. How it had roots from China, traditional fluffy cakes (松糕 Song Gao) and adapted it to the current form, with added flavours. Most importantly, it was a dish all races can adapt and enjoy.

Station 5: Taste

The taste station was probably my favourite as well (so many favourites lol)
It was something Ruyi slightly advise against? But we did it in spirit of the last lesson and sort of our contribution to the “pot luck”. Eating is so quintessential to Singapore and we needed this part to wrap up our exhibit.

Here’s some quick visual mock up of our “Brochure” below:

Behind the scenes/Setting up:

here’s the space before we transformed it!

Some hipster looking shots we had while transporting these insane amount of things

Najiha and I setting this up and Jia Qi editing the videos upstairs LOL #lastmin

Reflections:

This overwhelming feeling, that first year is officially over. It’s so insane to think back into quitting my full time job and diving into what I love doing and pursuing this sad and pathetic paper. It’s these lessons that make that paper chase all worthwhile and friendships forged slaving through assignments that make them school fees justifiable.

Emotions aside, this project really exposed me to local and international artist that could paint a narrative or a strong message through their food. I’ve always thought food captured our culture and finding ways to reconnect with it always gives you a fresh perspective and roots you with your identity. It represents the context and environment in which you grew up in and how you interact with it could affect the narrative and the impact it could have to your viewers.

Thanks for everything RUYI!

BYE FROM OUR TEAM:

Month: April 2017

Foundation 2D II: Project 2 Part II Zine Layout (Final)

4D Final Project Documentation: Kueh TUTU?!