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FEATURES 19
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provide supplementary lighting when needed. Designer Spotlight: Tan Wei Xiang
In addition to astute material choices, Wong restructured Wei Xiang graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts, Spatial
the typical gallery layout to enhance the social aspects of and Product Design BA(hons) with First class honours in
viewing art. The oversized reception desk morphs into a bar September, 2017.

area, while a concealed viewing room, accessed through an Upon graduation, Wei Xiang worked as a carpenter,
enormous pivoting door, creates a space for quiet contemplation. making furniture from trees grown specifically in Singapore.
As Wong explains, "There are often aspects to a gallery He worked with various species such as African mahogany,
that are left to the end and shoved in a corner…bathrooms, rain tree and tembusu tree, which were given a second life
reception, bar, prep area, viewing room, storage. We wanted amidst Singapore’s rapid land development.
to rethink that and actually brought a lot of it to the front. He is currently working as a Technical Executive at
It's all wrapped up in that main towering blackened timber Temasek Polytechnic, School of Design.
wall, challenging not just the visual experience but also the At Discovered Singapore, he showcased ‘Recollect’, a
programmatic arrangement." keepsakes cabinet imaged as a way to hold, preserve and

The result is a gallery that feels welcoming and inclusive, give respect to the items we hold dear.
enticing visitors to engage with art in a multi-sensory way. “My piece is about the ever-changing landscape of
"We wanted to structure the spaces so that they are Singapore’s environment. We are such a small country and
permanent and interesting even when not occupied," says yet we are rapidly developing our land. It looks totally different
Wong. The curved CAMBIA wall and integrated joinery than it did five years ago.”
elements create a dynamic spatial experience compels visitors Wei Xiang describes the sites as Singapore’s new
to explore the crafted, textural spaces and discover art in a vernacular. The pandemic meant that he also had plenty of

personal and unhurried manner. time in his room and he used the opportunity to clean up,
The James Makin Gallery provides an intriguing model for in the process finding a variety of souvenirs.
reimagining the art gallery experience. Through unconventional “I thought why not have a keepsake cabinet to officially
use of materials such as the thermally-modified American store them in,” he says.
ash and a reconfiguration of the typical gallery layout, Wong He shared more about his inspirations and experience
has created a space that challenges conventions and invites with wood in an exclusive interview with FDM Asia.
engagement.
1) Where do you draw your design inspirations from?
I personally spent my Circuit Breaker (Singapore’s 2-month

lockdown in mid-2020) taking frequent walks and took stock
of the sheer amount of construction sites, which is a constant
sight in Singapore’s ever-changing landscape. Typically, the
perimeter of construction sites has a hoarding created by
ridged zinc sheets. It is a very crude yet effective way to
use them. I thought about how relatable and meaningful
its purpose was – covering what is precious and important

inside and protecting those outside. It is similar to what I was
hoping to design; something that could keep one’s important