Spotted Nyonya is an industrial re-interpretation of Nyonya porcelain vessels which are traditional domestic wares native to Chinese-Peranakans in South East Asia. This contemporary take on the traditional objects transforms the original multicolored surface into a new dotted pattern, using a technique similar in concept to the resist-dyeing technique that is often applied to dye fabric patterns. The porcelain pieces are masked with the new dotted motif, which is then sandblasted, so that the areas protected are preserved, while the original glaze sections from exposed areas are erased, revealing the white porcelain which lies beneath.

For more information, see Spotted Nyonya.

This series of work transforms out-dated porcelain vessels sourced from old shops and thrift stores in Singapore. Made with the Resist Blasting technique where parts of the original glaze is strategically removed to expose the white porcelain bisque beneath, this series is subjected to a double-blast that achieves the embossed porcelain effect.

The pattern is appropriated from the Singapore Airlines sarong kebaya batik which represents the pinnacle of Asian hospitality. The resist blast administered to the bottom two-third of each piece takes after the Sarong, a traditional length of (batik) cloth worn around the waist in Southeast Asia. The original glaze is preserved at the top third of the vessel so that a contrast of the old and new is observable.

Sarong Party 470

Sarong Party 470

Sarong Party 275

Sarong Party 275

The everyday coffeeshop cup and saucer becomes a surface for Resist Blast, a technique developed by Hans Tan. Patterns emerge from fragments of Singapore —durian husks, Merlion scales, orchid petals, flip-flops, kaya toast, and the Flower Dome. Named after Temasek, an older name for Singapore, the work holds a quiet tension between layered history and daily ritual, suggesting that authenticity lies not in origins, but in the repetition of daily use and shared experiences.

Commissioned by Studio juju for Temasek Shophouse.

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Rails by Aw Ker Wey & Dannon Low

Rails by Aw Ker Wey & Dannon Low

Handrails from Mount Elizabeth

Present by Jocelyn Tan & Wan Iroina

Present by Jocelyn Tan & Wan Iroina

Cot from Mount Elizabeth

The coin bank, released from its shell with the coins held together solely by magnets, transforms into a sculpture through the dynamic placement of coins, inviting curiosity and exploration.

Only compatible with coins that are magnetic which have steel or nickel content. 

This work is inspired by Singapore’s current circulation coins from the Third (Iconic) Series, introduced in 2013, are made with multi‑ply plated steel planchets that include a steel core; this gives each denomination a distinct electromagnetic signature for machine detection and anti-counterfeiting.  

TBC

Jess' wedding shoes repaired by Aaah

Jess' wedding shoes

Jess and Aaah

Dory's chair repaired by Edmund Zhang

Dory's Chair

Dory and Edmund Zhang

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During Singapore Design Week 2024, ten showcases presented across the Bras Basah.Bugis Design District will creatively examine the rituals of daily life through the lens of design. Challenging the mundane, each showcase delves into a specific activity such as Eat, Sleep, Shop, Read, Heal, Make, Plant, Commute, Display and Design. Through new works and collaborative projects, visitors will discover imaginative design possibilities shaped to offer fresh perspectives on the world around us, inspiring new ways of thinking, seeing, and experiencing daily life.

READ presents Atelier HOKO's interrogation of the physical book through an immersive showcase at the National Library Building.

EAT explores food design by investigating seeds through culinary transformations and materials innovation.

SHOP explores the intricate dynamics of how shops, shopping and shoppers are intertwined with design.

HEAL explores mending emotional memories through restorative design in a curation of transformed broken objects.

SLEEP is a two-part experience comprising SLEEP: DIVING IN and SLEEP:LESS, exploring elements of ideal sleep hygiene rituals to overcome insomnia and the stories of individuals with different relationships to sleep. 

COMMUTE unveils your MRT personality at Bencoolen Station through 'My Riding Tribe', a design research adventure.

PLANT reimagines household planters that brings a fresh twist to traditional concepts of utility and appreciation.

DISPLAY focuses on the experimental approach of Studio Juju exploring the idea of "display" in exhibition making.

MAKE discovers metal's potential as creatives transforms scraps into treasures that celebrate its innate qualities. 

DESIGN showcases innovative works by everyday people, empowered by the transformative power of design.

The Mandarin Oriental fan is an iconic symbol of the luxury hotel group, adopted in 1985 to reflect its Asian heritage, elegance, and service philosophy. Each Mandarin Oriental hotel worldwide has a signature fan that tells a unique story, expressing both corporate identity and the culture of its location.

For the next era of Mandarin Oriental, Singapore—launched alongside its first major interior overhaul in 35 years—Hans Tan was commissioned to create its signature fan. The one-of-a-kind ceramic fan is crafted from pink porcelain with a distinctive green glaze, featuring an intricate tessellation of kebaya batik–inspired motifs that celebrate the flora and fauna of Singapore as a Garden City. The pattern is realized using Hans’ signature resist-blast technique, selectively removing parts of the green glaze to reveal the pink porcelain beneath.

The pink and green hues draw on Peranakan colour palettes and align with those chosen by Jeffrey Wilkes, who oversaw the hotel’s interior renovation, becoming the hotel’s corporate colours. This fan is the only ceramic piece in the Mandarin Oriental collection of signature fans worldwide.

Hans Tan collaborated with ceramic artist Jeanette Wee, who crafted the fan base, and with Terra & Ember, who developed the unique pink porcelain.

Mandarin Oriental, Singapore’s signature fan is displayed prominently in the hotel lobby, serving as a striking centrepiece that welcomes guests the moment they enter the lift lobby.

In this project, students work with a variety of pre-selected materials that have been salvaged from the T2 worksite. Students explored the physical capabilities of these materials, while developing a deeper contextual understanding for the stories and sensibilities that the materials hold. The salvaged materials are re-purposed into new functional objects, these could be a product or small piece of furniture. Bearing in mind that the materials had a past life being part of the airport that delivered the Changi experience through different forms, students appropriated these contextual meanings into their design narrative.

This bench is made from wooden panel fins found at Changi Airport Terminal 2

This bench is made from wooden panel fins found at Changi Airport Terminal 2

This weighing scale is made from salvaged stone tiles found at Changi Airport Terminal 2

This weighing scale is made from salvaged stone tiles found at Changi Airport Terminal 2