INSPIRATION

Where is the art in our homes?

As an artist and a designer, I found that many Singaporeans often do not appreciate the arts despite having created over 10 years worth of art as a child. These works are often thrown away, kept in storage or displayed without much thought into how it is curated before being taken down.

The most common reason for keeping and displaying an artwork is the memories associated with it. Many parents keep stacks of their childrens works from childhood, only to keep them tucked away at one corner of the storeroom as they cant bear to throw them away (Read more about this in my dissertation).

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Parents do not know how to curate

Despite the want to display, many parents choose not to as they do not know how to properly display their childrens art. Citing reasons such as - "Too much clutter", "Does not fit my home aesthetic", "I dont know what to do with them" and "Its troublesome to find a way to display them".

A state of the art display solution for families to easily display all types of artwork & memorabilia.

By properly curating and displaying these childhood memorabilia, these keepsakes and memories will be able to last into adulthood and looked back on dearly.

SOLUTION

MONUMENTAL DESIGNER FURNITURE FOR CHILDREN'S ART.

Ephemeral Beauty

This was designed to be a statement piece in itself and may suit a more artistic audience.

MODULAR. MULTI-FUNCTIONAL.

Grows with you

‘Curators Capsule’ is a modular shelf system with built in art frames. It serves as a dedicated place for both children and adults to curate their art alongside their posessions.

By adding more layers, the collection can continue to grow over the years. Essentially functioning as a memory capsule that keeps art pieces a part of daily routine, regardless of stage in life.

Feature

Her Excellency, Kara Owen, British High Commissioner pictured viewing my work.

I exhibited by final 1:3 scale model alongside my material samples, instructions of use and a copy of my dissertation showing my research for this project.

HOW IT WORKS

Dedicated safe space for all forms of art.

80% of parents surveyed displayed the 3D works created by their children. However, these works are often placed in any nook and cranny available and resulting in visual clutter.

These creations deserve spotlight as well, therefore, there is a need for a dedicated space for all types of works to be viewed together.

HOW IT WORKS

Preventing Artwork degradation.

The design has 2 module sizes. Each module size comes with a corresponding frame designed based on the common sizes of works being produced in school and at home,A3 Landscape, A4 Landscape and A4 portrait.

Proper frames prevent works from degrading over time, and they can also be stacked one on top of the other, allowing works on display to be rotated easily.

HOW IT WORKS

Height that grows with the child

Modular design allows you to stack as you make new art and new memories.

Additionally, the low starting height gives children the agency to curate their own artworks at their eye level. The displaying of art now become a bonding collaboration between both parties.

MATERIAL

Conceals & Reveals

The Frosted Resin Material allows objects silhouette to be seen from the side. I did not want the works to be overshadowed by its frame, and chose this material specifically as it would highlight the objects within it and 'illuminate' depending on the lighting.

The foggy nature of frosted resin emulates the ephemeral nature of life and how our memories turn hazy as time passes.

How it can be used in different areas of the house

Modelled in Rhino 3D, Rendered in Keyshot.

1:3 Physical Prototype

Frosted Acrylic

As the basis of my project revolved around Singaporeans and the arts, I drew form inspiration from what we are most familiar with, HDB flats. These apartment buildings are Singapore’s most common form of public housing, with over 80% of singaporean's residing in one.

The modularity of HDB flats means that many of these apartments look the same. However, the corridor space outside of each apartment can serve as a reflection of the owner based on what they place outside. Similar to how one chooses to curate on the shelf.

As a basis for this project, I provided secondary research through overview of Singapore's compulsory arts education curriculum and its physical outcomes, Singapore's perception of the arts outside of school hours and how one can go about applying the theories of curation to children’s art at home. Additionally, 3 case studies that provide different ways of display were chosen as examples.

I then conducted 3 methods of primary research. Firstly, a formal survey through google forms with parents to understand parents' views and methods of displaying children's artworks at home. Secondly, 2 interviews were conducted. One with an ex-MOE Primary school art teacher, and another with a parent of adult children. This was to understand how children's react to making art and how parents react to receiving them. Additionally, I used a Participant Photography method to collect visual information and a detailed insight into the ways in which parents choose to display their children's artworks and the type of works that are chosen to go on display.

Research Methods & Topics

Form Inspiration

Why this topic?

Due to my interest in children and the arts, I decided to embark on this project as a way to merge my interests and skills. When asked the question “What is Art?”, the artworks that one has created during childhood is probably the last thing on their mind. The ephemeral nature of children's art allows it to be easily overlooked and discarded. While the abundance of works being produced during childhood may seem overwhelming, they serve as tangible memorabilia of the fleetingness of childhood and should be given more importance.

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