Page 47 - FDMAsia MayJun2024

DESIGN 45
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA MAY/JUN 2024

Communion
“Hand-sculpting fabric out of heavy materials
is something we’ve seen throughout history.
At Parti, however, we are interested in
utilising new technologies and processes,
and pushing them to the limit. As a result,

the making process is integral to the design,
informing its boundaries. The final design is
achieved through a process of negotiation
between the expression of the piece and
the process of making it. Although it would
be easier to design a one-off, hand-crafted
object, we wanted to push the limits of new
technology to create a feasibly manufactured Discovered Singapore
product.” A curation of designs from the original London Exhibition,

Discovered Singapore presents a visionary group of young
– Eleanor Hill, director, Parti creatives in an extraordinary showcase of furniture, objects
and sculptural works in wood.
Discovered Singapore provides a platform for new
creatives and an opportunity for talented emerging designers

to showcase their work to the public and the industry at
Maple’s density makes it especially suited to the creation Singapore’s premier design venue.
of sculptural shapes through CNC cutting. Because the Selected from the original global line up of 20, the 10
CNC machine cuts only one side of the wood, the forms designers exhibiting in Singapore this May worked alongside
are simplified, with each piece constructed from a series of design mentors and AHEC’s global manufacturing partners
complex shapes connected together, with top and bottom to each develop an object made from their choice of four
elements acting as ‘keys’ to lock everything together and sustainable hardwoods: American red oak, cherry and hard
sustain the furniture’s structure. and soft maple.
Running diagonally across the twisting timber ‘skirt’, the Throughout the project, designers were supported by AHEC’s

wood’s silky grain contributes to a sense of fluidity and motion technical experts, and mentored by established designers
within the pieces, which are tactile and dynamic, reminiscent Nathan Yong (Singapore) and Adam Markowitz (Australia).
of dancers frozen in the moment. The collaboration was initiated during the pandemic.
Despite Pirouette’s intricate appearance, meticulous attention Selected designers were invited to think freely about their
to detail ensures that the manufacturing process remains experience of living and working in isolation, responding to
streamlined and efficient, allowing for a seamless blend of themes of touch, reflection and strength, and to channel their
complexity and simplicity in each piece. own experiences into a piece that represents our functional