言(language)＋葉 (leaves)＝言葉 (spoken word) explores how words and nature can be used as forms of expression. The project uses waka poetry as inspiration, studying the words and meanings of the poems written up to a thousand years ago, and visualizes them into illustrations that aim to transcend time and language. According to the Kokinshu compilation of poems, waka poetry is that which flows from the poet’s heart through contact with beauties of nature or events of human life. These words intrigue all kinds of interpretations and meanings intended or not, by the poets.
This project is a personal interpretation of those words – visually and through translation of language, and a method of expression to convey the possible nuances intended by the poets. The illustrations and editorial aim to stimulate the imagination and emotions of the viewer, such that even without an understanding of the language or contextual knowledge of the culture, they are able to form their personal interpretations of the original waka poetry.
Belonging In Our Belongings examines a redefinition of home through a personal narrative and investigates the details of our belongings; the mundane around us that is often overlooked. Drawing from the ever so familiar space and definition of home, this project looks at how human beings situate themselves in a home, or perhaps, many different homes throughout one’s lifetime. Although typically portraying a safe space, every individual’s definition of home varies from one another. This space often encapsulates objects such as personal keepsakes, and these objects have a story to tell.
Grasping onto the concept of nostalgia and sense of belonging to objects, this project provides an opportunity to share my story as a third culture kid and explore the relationship between objects, identity, and creating a sense of home in a place away from home – making up for the lack of a permanent space to do so.
With an increasing awareness of mental health on issues such as depression and anxiety, anger and aggression is a mental health condition that is receiving much less limelight. Research has shown that excessive and uncontrollable anger can contribute to violence and have many negative effects on our everyday relationship with others and with the society.
Through interviews with psychologist from Club Heal, a voluntary welfare organisation, and surveying young people about their thoughts on everyday anger, this project aims to highlight anger as a concern of mental health issue. Illustrating the various anger management strategies, it is hoped that these tools can assist users in learning and practicing these strategies on their own, when dealing with everyday heated situations.
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the exploration and study of abandoned sites within the discipline of heritage studies. The very act of visiting abandoned spaces has become so widely recognised that there’s a global term for it — Urban exploration, or UrbEx for short.
Urban explorers see through extensive documentation and projects such as UrbEx photography and videography, in hopes of commemorating the historic aspect of these sites — but despite this, there is a lack of study of abandonment itself within these forsaken spaces.
The project aims to bridge this gap by using the visuals of abandonment as a driving force to inspire new designs and celebrate the beauty in abandonment. Ultimately, this project aims to encourage interest and bring awareness towards these abandoned spaces by transforming how they can be perceived; particularly through the study and documentation of 6 visual elements — colour, architecture, textures, marks, typography and symbols.
A Book Is A Body is an editorial project, which shows the similarities between a book and a body through three parts: Skin, Flesh and Soul.
Skin Affairs, talks about the form and appearance of a book and why parts of a book are named after the anatomy of a human body. Flesh Out, explores the concept of paper, a material made up of fibers which is similar to the flesh. Inner Soul, talks about the intangible aspect of a book; the way a book is written, the intimate relationship between a reader and a book. A book is almost like a person – has a personality and a tone of voice. All of which, makes a book a body.
