The third edition of the showcase adds debut talents and recent graduates alongside the region’s seasoned designers.
Southeast Asian design showcase, EMERGE @ FIND, returns to Singapore Design Week 2024 with a provocation on the notion of value. Presented by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) and supported by FIND – Design Fair Asia, this year’s showcase will feature more than 60 designers, and for the first time recent design graduates, from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam who will unveil their works across 1,000 sqm of space at Marina Bay Sands from 26 to 28 September 2024.
New to the third edition, EMERGE @ FIND is partnering online gallery The Artling to expand commercialisation opportunities, with over 100 works expected to be for sale on the platform, connecting designers with The Artling’s extensive network of buyers and collectors. Visitors can browse and purchase the collection on The Artling from 13 September 2024.
Redefining the meaning of ‘Value’
Returning curator of EMERGE @ FIND, Suzy Annetta, frames this year’s showcase under the theme «These Precious Things», posing the fundamental challenge: “Do we really need more?” The curatorial provocation opens up a critical examination of the concept of value in an era of excess and environmental urgency.
“I am honoured to curate the EMERGE showcase again in 2024. This year, we are probing the very essence of value – its definition, arbiters, metrics, and potential evolution. It’s an exploration to question the core purpose of design in our contemporary world,” said Annetta. “I’m particularly excited for visitors to experience these thought-provoking works firsthand.”
In response to the curatorial brief, designers’ works span a spectrum from bold concepts to functional innovations, united by a common thread of questioning established value systems.
The distinctive curatorial approach of EMERGE @ FIND will add a unique dimension and enhance the offerings of FIND, a premier trade show and design fair in Southeast Asia that attracts interior designers, architects, developers, hospitality professionals, and design enthusiasts seeking to discover groundbreaking talent and commercially viable design solutions.
Carl Press, Event Director, FIND – Design Fair Asia said, «We are thrilled to host an exceptional array of talented designers presenting at EMERGE as part of FIND this year. We are particularly keen to see how designers interpret the highly-contested notion of value, witness this sociological debate unfold and be presented at the empirical level. The innovation, diversity, and unique artistry on display shows there is so much to look forward to in Asia.»
Design Value
The importance of sustainability and material innovation takes centrestage for Singapore designers Ivan Ho of Tizumuka and Emeline Ong in their debut at EMERGE @ FIND. Ho, marks his first appearance with the Parasitic collection which transforms waste into objects of desire, offering “a critical social commentary about the need to look beyond superficial appearances.” Ong, who graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design from the National University of Singapore, showcases The Pastille Collection where she gives new life to discarded paper in the form of her brother’s old school notes, aiming to «foster a greater appreciation for the lasting value and potential of overlooked and discarded materials.»
In a rapidly evolving region, culture and traditions remain deeply cherished. Revival and reimagining of tradition in contemporary contexts underpins many works this year. Emerging Vietnamese designer Khanh Linh Phan, who graduated in 2023 from the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City, brings a new perspective to the time-honoured crochet technique to create LUCIA, a collection of innovative lighting pieces, while Malaysian designer Mohd Sujak Hasbollah elevates pasak, an ancient woodworking method using wooden nails as a defining feature of his chair named Lokka. Both designers not only preserve traditional artisanal skills, they challenge perceptions of value in modern design, seamlessly blending heritage craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.
Among the returning alumni of EMERGE @ FIND are furniture designer Alvin Tjitrowirjo of alvinT (Indonesia), industrial designer Selena Placino (Philippines), and Apiwat Chitapanya of Masaya (Thailand). The trio reveal the enduring significance of their pieces in the harmonious blending of cultural preservation, sustainability and traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.
Through their own interpretation of the value of design, Tjitrowirjo reimagines traditional materials like rattan in modern forms; Placino transforms wood waste into elegant lighting; and Chitapanya presents furniture fashioned from brass, a homage to ancient Thai craftsmanship.
“The value of an object should transcend mere monetary worth; it should encompass the spiritual and emotional connections it fosters,” said Tjitrowirjo who strives to reintegrate the respect for nature into people’s lives.
“Leveraging Singapore’s role as a gateway to Southeast Asia, EMERGE @ FIND will unite established and emerging designers from the region to explore how to enhance value and sustainability through design. This showcase presents exceptional objects to a wider audience, and cultivates crucial dialogues and connections. As the organiser of Singapore Design Week, we are proud to offer this platform as a key event within our festival that elevates regional creativity globally,” said Dawn Lim, Executive Director of Dsg.
Admission to EMERGE @ FIND is complimentary, with pre-registration available until 26 September 2024. An admission fee of S$39 will apply for on-site registration.
