EMERGE @ FIND: ” THESE PRECIOUS THINGS” BY SOUTHEAST ASIAN DESIGNERS

Images courtesy of FIND – Design Fair Asia

MBS Singapore: 26-28 September 2024

The third edition of the showcase adds debut talents and recent graduates alongside the region’s seasoned designers

Southeast Asian design showcase, EMERGE @ FIND, returns to Singapore Design Week 2024 with a provocation on the notion of value. Presented by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) and supported by FIND – Design Fair Asia, this year’s showcase will feature more than 60 designers, and for the first time recent design graduates, from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam who will unveil their works across 1,000 sqm of space at Marina Bay Sands from 26 to 28 September 2024.

Shelf by Alvin Tjitrowirjo (Indonesia), Rebound Lamp Render by Selena Placino (Philippines), and Arowana Bench by Apiwat Chitapanya (Thailand). Photos courtesy of respective designers.

New to the third edition, EMERGE @ FIND is partnering with online gallery The Artling to expand commercialisation opportunities, with over 100 works expected to be for sale on the platform, connecting designers with The Artling’s extensive network of buyers and collectors. Visitors can browse and purchase the collection on The Artling from 13 September 2024.

Presented by Melandas Indonesia

Redefining the meaning of ‘Value’
Returning curator of EMERGE @ FIND, Suzy Annetta, frames this year’s showcase under the theme “These Precious Things”, posing the fundamental challenge: “Do we really need more?” The curatorial provocation opens up a critical examination of the concept of value in an era of excess and environmental urgency.

Buah Labu Kecil Ceiling Lamp by Budiman Ong (Indonesia), RE-UP Tables by Paphop Wongpanich (Thailand), and Valorem Chair by Phúc Vinh Đo Phong (Vietnam). Photos courtesy of respective de

“I am honoured to curate the EMERGE showcase again in 2024. This year, we are probing the very essence of value – its definition, arbiters, metrics, and potential evolution. It’s an exploration to question the core purpose of design in our contemporary world,” said Annetta. “I’m particularly excited for visitors to experience these thought-provoking works firsthand.”

In response to the curatorial brief, designers’ works span a spectrum from bold concepts to functional innovations, united by a common thread of questioning established value systems.

Bras Basah.Bugis Curator and Designers. Photos Courtesy of respective designers (first press release)

The distinctive curatorial approach of EMERGE @ FIND will add a unique dimension and enhance the offerings of FIND, a premier trade show and design fair in Southeast Asia that attracts interior designers, architects, developers, hospitality professionals, and design enthusiasts seeking to discover groundbreaking talent and commercially viable design solutions.

Carl Press, Event Director, FIND – Design Fair Asia said, “We are thrilled to host an exceptional array of talented designers presenting at EMERGE as part of FIND this year. We are particularly keen to see how designers interpret the highly-contested notion of value, witness this sociological debate unfold, and be presented at the empirical level. The innovation, diversity, and unique artistry on display shows there is so much to look forward to in Asia.”

Design Futures Forum 2024 Speakers. Photos Courtesy of respective speakers (first press release)

Design Value
The importance of sustainability and material innovation takes center stage for Singapore designers Ivan Ho of Tizumuka and Emeline Ong in their debut at EMERGE @ FIND. Ho, marks his first appearance with the Parasitic collection which transforms waste into objects of desire, offering “a critical social commentary about the need to look beyond superficial appearances.” Ong, who graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from the National University of Singapore, showcases The Pastille Collection where she gives new life to discarded paper in the form of her brother’s old school notes, aiming to “foster a greater appreciation for the lasting value and potential of overlooked and discarded materials.”

In a rapidly evolving region, culture and traditions remain deeply cherished. Revival and reimagining of tradition in contemporary contexts underpin many works this year. Emerging Vietnamese designer Khanh Linh Phan, who graduated in 2023 from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, brings a new perspective to the time-honoured crochet technique to create LUCIA, a collection of innovative lighting pieces, while Malaysian designer Mohd Sujak Hasbollah elevates pasak, an ancient woodworking method using wooden nails as a defining feature of his chair named Lokka. Both designers not only preserve traditional artisanal skills, they challenge perceptions of value in modern design, seamlessly blending heritage craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.

Re-route Orchard by PLUS Collaboratives. Photos Courtesy of PLUS Collaboratives

Among the returning alumni of EMERGE @ FIND are furniture designer Alvin Tjitrowirjo of alvinT (Indonesia), industrial designer Selena Placino (Philippines), and Apiwat Chitapanya of Masaya (Thailand). The trio reveals the enduring significance of their pieces in the harmonious blending of cultural preservation, sustainability, and traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Through their interpretation of the value of design, Tjitrowirjo reimagines traditional materials like rattan in modern forms; Placino transforms wood waste into elegant lighting; and Chitapanya presents furniture fashioned from brass, a homage to ancient Thai craftsmanship.

FIND – Design Fair Asia and EMERGE @ FIND 2023. Photos Courtesy of FIND – Design Fair Asia

“The value of an object should transcend mere monetary worth; it should encompass the spiritual and emotional connections it fosters,” said Tjitrowirjo who strives to reintegrate the respect for nature into people’s lives.

“Leveraging Singapore’s role as a gateway to Southeast Asia, EMERGE @ FIND will unite established and emerging designers from the region to explore how to enhance value and sustainability through design. This showcase presents exceptional objects to a wider audience and cultivates crucial dialogues and connections. As the organiser of Singapore Design Week, we are proud to offer this platform as a key event within our festival that elevates regional creativity globally,” said Dawn Lim, Executive Director of Dsg.

Future Impact 2. Photos by Mark Cocksedge

List Of Indonesian Designers at EMERGE @ FIND 2024
In alphabetical order

INDONESIA
Abie Abdillah, CB Design — Studiohiji
Helmed by designer Abie Abdillah, STUDIOHIJI is a Jakarta-based design studio that creates contemporary rattan furniture. Through the contemporary form and curves of his designs, Abie aims to renew consumer interest in rattan, and in so doing, contribute to the preservation of the rattan industry. His works have been exhibited in various showcases such as the ASIAN STAR SHOWCASE at the International Furniture Fair Singapore 2014 and MAISON&OBJET ASIA 2015.

LUCIA 03 Floor Lamp by Khanh Linh Phan (Vietnam) and Lokka Chair by Mohd Sujak Hasbollah (Malaysia). Photos courtesy of respective designers.

Alvin Tjitrowirjo — AlvinT
Founded in 2006, alvinT is a Jakarta-based furniture brand started by Alvin Tjitrowirjo that amalgamates Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage and artisanal approach with contemporary sensibilities. All of their products are handmade by skilled local artisans, reflecting their belief in delivering honest products that inspire genuine engagement, transcending the tethers of trend and time. alvinT’s furniture collections have been exhibited in various international exhibitions such as Milan Design Week, Stockholm Furniture Fair, Paris’s Maison et Objet, Tokyo’s Designart, and NYC Design Week.

Budiman Ong — Ong Cen Kuang
Budiman was born and raised in North Sumatra, Indonesia. He is a graduate of Gray’s School of Art, United Kingdom. Ong Cen Kuang was created in May 2008, focusing on quality handmade decorative lightings, producing a strong collection of unique pieces that reflect Budiman’s design principles that respect the process and characters of materials. In 2020, Budiman together with two of his friends Rudi Winata and Yang yang Hartono founded Jia by OCK, a Bali-based home accessories brand that revolves around craft, design, and culture. Their priority is to build and sustain a healthy ecosystem of creative communities in Indonesia.

Marina Central Design Pavilion. Photos Courtesy of Nathan Yong and Marina Central

Clarissa Nilistiani, Theresya Tan — Lana Daya
An ethical home textiles label, Lana Daya Home, was established by young designers, Clarissa Nilistiani and Theresya Tan, graduates of Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. The story behind the name of “lana daya” was inspired by Indonesian gardens; a place born out of the marriage between nature and human culture. It symbolises a vessel of craftsmanship in which a purposeful design should be inspired and nurtured back from our nature. 

Denny Priyatna — AIEVL Design Studio
Denny R. Priyatna is an Indonesian industrial/product designer who likes to explore the interaction between humans and inanimate objects. He experiments with materials and manufacturing techniques to create commercial, conceptual, and experimental products.

Parasitic Vessel 1 by Ivan Ho (Singapore) and The Pastille Collection by Emeline Ong (Singapore). Photos courtesy of respective designers.

Felix Sidharta — Cassia Studio
CASSIA Studio focuses on product and interior design for both commercial and living spaces. Engaging people through design is the foundation of their design philosophy. They strongly believe each object reflects the personality of one’s character. This inspires them to explore more shapes, textures, materials, and functions. Boundless of age, gender, and race, they strive to create objects that can be imprinted on one’s heart, where form and function go hand in hand, with colliding artistic feels.

Hana Surya — Threadapeutic
Threadwork has always been a source of therapy for Hana, who learned to sew from her seamstress mother as a young girl. In 2015, her discovery of the wasteful culture in fast fashion led her to start a textile studio with a focus on conscious production. Her team of local seamsters experiment with fabric offcuts and deadstock, creating one-off textile pieces for clients and architects. Hana hopes to inspire fellow makers to discover new potentials in “unwanted” materials around them.

Handhyanto Hardian — studiohand
Handhyanto Hardian is a product designer based in Jakarta, Indonesia. With a career in furniture and interior design for over 10 years, his expertise in the field of furniture design has resulted in innovative works that won various Indonesian furniture design competitions. He is also a finalist in the Rosana Orlandi Plastic Prize and Good Design Indonesia. His works have been exhibited in national and international design shows, promoting a new perspective on Indonesian design. His design characteristic focuses on new materials, involving local craftsmen to explore Indonesian traditional craftsmanship, which is presented in a simple form.

Hendro Hadinata — Studio Hendro Hadinata
Studio Hendro Hadinata, founded in 2016, is a creative studio that combines cultural heritage with explorative innovation. By ingraining contextual narratives into objects, the studio believes that cultural heritage and skills from the past are the keys to shaping a cultural future.

Nikko Wonoto
Nikko is a furniture and product designer from Indonesia.

Vincentius Aldi Masella — Owalla
Vincentius Aldi Masella is an Indonesian Designer who studied Interior Design at Sepuluh Nopember Institut of Technology Surabaya, Indonesia. Vincent started as an interior designer designing furniture, lighting, and rugs. Vincent has collaborated with many brands from Indonesia, Spain, and India, as well as partners such as the Indonesian Design and Development Center (Ministry of Industry and Trade Indonesia). Currently, Vincent is mentoring furniture designers in Malaysia with Sarawak Design Centre Malaysia. Together with Sarawak Design Centre, Vincent also organised Sarawak Design Week 2022.

Zulyo Kumara — Zulyo Kumara Studio
Zulyo graduated from the Indonesian Institute of The Art, Yogyakarta, and completed a short course at Istituto Marangoni in Milan. He previously worked for AlvinT, and Elenbee Cipta Design and collaborated with product & furniture brands. His works have won various competitions and have been exhibited internationally. In 2018, Zulyo was selected as one of the Creative Talents, representing Indonesia, at Salone del Mobile Milano 2018.

EMERGE @ FIND
26 to 28 September 2024
10.00 am to 6.00 pm   
Marina Bay Sands
Level B2, Sands Expo and Convention Centre
designfairasia.com