2022

WE | 我們, a grooming kit for the monkey within us

Clear glass mirror, beech wood, pine wood, horsehair, brick, seashell, stone, porcelain, and cotton glove
Unique piece

A project for Design Trust Futures Studio 2022 themed “Heritage is creative generation”.

We is a collection of grooming tools that alludes to togetherness, hints at our affinity with monkeys, and draws from the belief that Chinese zodiac animals act as reminders of our connection to nature.

The paraphernalia of the kit is an invitation to participate in a bonding activity, relying on the power of physical contact to strengthen relationships.

The hand-held mirror, in which we see ourselves echoed as monkey, establishes a space for contemplation on our relationship to zodiac animals. Appropriately, the mirror image creates a visual parallel on how we reflect one another coupled with a cheeky hint at a kinship between human and monkey.

The set of brushes, the comb, the scrubbing and the massage stone explore allogrooming, a collective behaviour of monkeys akin to humans. Grooming is a ritual that nurtures ties and triggers feelings of relaxation through social touch.

From the Tang dynasty onward, zodiac animals were routinely modelled as having human attributes, recognizing the interconnectedness of our universe and practice of ascribing a person’s character to the personality of their zodiac. We mirrors these relics and embodies the past to reflect on the present.

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Words: Julie Progin
Photography: Design Trust, Hong Kong Palace Museum & Julie Progin

Process and materials

Found materials

Regarding their making process Julie & Jesse write

“We summoned our inner monkey and explored Hong Kong with a new-found curiosity, collecting materials from the natural world, to fashion tools spontaneously, and emulate the intellect and inquisitive nature of monkeys. We chose materials that manifest time, and a visual language that examines generations and the cycles of the zodiac calendar.”

About DTFS 2022

Heritage is creative generation

The theme for the Design Trust Futures studio 2022 programme is Heritage is creative generation.

This year DTFS partners with Hong Kong Palace Museum, inspired by Project Twelve, a cultural and design exploratory project using a theme of the twelve animal signs of the Chinese zodiac. During a 12-year period starting from 2008, an outstanding Asian artist or designer, was invited each year to create a masterpiece sculpture, using the zodiac sign of the respective year as a theme.

The six-month long programme is an accelerated, compressed version of DTFS created out of creative urgency to collaborate during the pandemic. With the team and partners, 12 designers/ collectives are invited to propose and craft a new interpretation of one Chinese zodiac work relating to Project Twelves past works, with their creative spark; whilst adding their independent and creative skills informed by a series of dialogues and workshops, and showcased at Scholars Commons, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, that opens to the public July 2022.

Designers: Adonian Chan (Co-founder, Trilingua Design), Elaine Yan Ling Ng (Founder, The Fabrick Lab), Florian Wegenast and Christine Lew (Co-founder, Studio Florian + Christine), Alexandra Batten & Daniel Kamp (Co-founders, Batten and Kamp), Julie Progin and Jesse Mclin (Co-founders, Julie & Jesse), Bob Pang, Ken Chow (Founder, Yat Muk Studio), Su Chang (Principal of Su Chang Design Research Office), Jacqueline Chak (Partner of EDIT and EDITECTURE), Mic Leong & Soilworm Lai (Stickyline), Tin Lau, and Niko Leung (Founder, Future is Transparency)

Mentors: Raman Hui, Cynthia Sah, Chelsia Lau, Dennis Chan, Kan Tai-keung, Chi Wing Lo, Anthony Lo, Man Fung-yi & Mok Yat-san, Edwin Chan and Freeman Lau.

Advisors: Daisy Yiyou Wang (Deputy Director at the Hong Kong Palace Museum), Tianlong Jiao (Head Curator at the Hong Kong Palace Museum)

Lead curator: Marisa Yiu

Collaborators: Louis Ng, Freeman Lau

Design Trust Futures Studio 2022 Curatorial and Project Team: Marisa Yiu (Lead Curator), Zheng Zhou (Associate Curator & Designer), Mavis Wong (Project & Communications Manager)

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