︎Design Research︎︎Publication Design
Screenplays of a Heterotopic City: Techno-Orientalising Hong Kong’s Cultural Identity
Screenplays of a Heterotopic City dives into the techno-orientalisation (the envisioning of Asia and its cultures) on Hong Kong's cultural identity through the mise-en-scène of science fiction cinema. By looking at the backdrops of the Blade Runner and Ghost In The Shell franchise, Johnny Mnemonic (1995), and 2046 (2004), revealed the hidden layers of the techno-orientalisation of Hong Kong. The revelations range from the misrepresentations of the culture by fragmenting the Chinese inscriptions in the backdrops of the Blade Runner franchise and Ghost In The Shell (2017), to using techno-orientalism as a political commentary in 2046 with dark colour palettes. This project also questions Hollywood's role in aiding the process of cultural erosion with misrepresenting the cultural identity of Hong Kong.
The artifact aims to apply techno-orietanlism’s cultural envisioning in the context of mise-en-scène, to inform filmmakers of both Hollywood and the East not to misrepresent the culture that would aid the process of eroding its identity when techno-orientalising the city. A case study on Hong Kong’s self-orientalisation is also inclusive to ensure the East does not encourage misrepresentations for the lens of Hollywood. Additional voices from Wong Kin Yuen’s essay on Hong Kong’s cityscape informs the audience where research of the city’s historical context, the language it speaks, and the culture it offers are lacking, that the notion would then bring stereotypical elements. Seeing Hong Kong in Hollywood cinema is fascinating and filming the urban landscape of the city is not discouraged, but filmmakers should be aware of unknowingly taking part in the erasure of the identity.
︎Year: 2021︎︎Size: 159×246mm
Screenplays of a Heterotopic City: Techno-Orientalising Hong Kong’s Cultural Identity
Screenplays of a Heterotopic City dives into the techno-orientalisation (the envisioning of Asia and its cultures) on Hong Kong's cultural identity through the mise-en-scène of science fiction cinema. By looking at the backdrops of the Blade Runner and Ghost In The Shell franchise, Johnny Mnemonic (1995), and 2046 (2004), revealed the hidden layers of the techno-orientalisation of Hong Kong. The revelations range from the misrepresentations of the culture by fragmenting the Chinese inscriptions in the backdrops of the Blade Runner franchise and Ghost In The Shell (2017), to using techno-orientalism as a political commentary in 2046 with dark colour palettes. This project also questions Hollywood's role in aiding the process of cultural erosion with misrepresenting the cultural identity of Hong Kong.
The artifact aims to apply techno-orietanlism’s cultural envisioning in the context of mise-en-scène, to inform filmmakers of both Hollywood and the East not to misrepresent the culture that would aid the process of eroding its identity when techno-orientalising the city. A case study on Hong Kong’s self-orientalisation is also inclusive to ensure the East does not encourage misrepresentations for the lens of Hollywood. Additional voices from Wong Kin Yuen’s essay on Hong Kong’s cityscape informs the audience where research of the city’s historical context, the language it speaks, and the culture it offers are lacking, that the notion would then bring stereotypical elements. Seeing Hong Kong in Hollywood cinema is fascinating and filming the urban landscape of the city is not discouraged, but filmmakers should be aware of unknowingly taking part in the erasure of the identity.
︎Year: 2021︎︎Size: 159×246mm
︎Publication Design
Sheridan Morley’s Rare Music Box Collection
A palm-sized publication on the great Sheridan Morley’s love of music boxes discovered during the visit to Penrhyn Road Archives. The booklet contains a collection of music boxes found in Central London and Kingston as well as an interview with Nicolas Simons of Music Box Society of Great Britain. The hydraulic press embossed cover mimics the teeth comb of the mechanical elements inside of the musical box.
︎Year: 2019︎︎Size: 60.6x82.2mm
Sheridan Morley’s Rare Music Box Collection
A palm-sized publication on the great Sheridan Morley’s love of music boxes discovered during the visit to Penrhyn Road Archives. The booklet contains a collection of music boxes found in Central London and Kingston as well as an interview with Nicolas Simons of Music Box Society of Great Britain. The hydraulic press embossed cover mimics the teeth comb of the mechanical elements inside of the musical box.
︎Year: 2019︎︎Size: 60.6x82.2mm
︎Design Research︎︎Publication Design
Appropriation or Appreciation? An Exploration of Cultural Appropriation on Orientals in the Creative Industry.
Whilst researching about Chinese takeaway fonts for my dissertation, I stumbled across a ‘print & sell your own’ gift store that was selling a t-shirt with the racial slur against East Asians.
Amazed at how certain slurs are able to bypass the current politically correct society, the slur and the ‘chink’ eyes face is embossed onto the publication cover to symbolise the hidden microagression that East Asians still face in our modern day society. Is it true that some minority groups are less important than others? Do we have to take action before it’s too late?
︎Year: 2019︎︎Size: 111x193mm
Appropriation or Appreciation? An Exploration of Cultural Appropriation on Orientals in the Creative Industry.
Whilst researching about Chinese takeaway fonts for my dissertation, I stumbled across a ‘print & sell your own’ gift store that was selling a t-shirt with the racial slur against East Asians.
Amazed at how certain slurs are able to bypass the current politically correct society, the slur and the ‘chink’ eyes face is embossed onto the publication cover to symbolise the hidden microagression that East Asians still face in our modern day society. Is it true that some minority groups are less important than others? Do we have to take action before it’s too late?
︎Year: 2019︎︎Size: 111x193mm
︎Packaging
Study Die Book/ Duk Sei Syu
Students in Hong Kong are always reminded that grades carry a deep burden to them. Many are still expected to become lawyers, doctors, engineers or anything that are not art and design career-related.
Here I have imprinted the Cantonese phrase ‘讀死書’ (Duk Sei Syu), or word-to-word meaning: Study Die Book, to mock the city’s rigid education system onto stationaries that the local students always use.
A lot of unfortunate students do not have mental support and teenage suicide rates are high in Hong Kong, as they literally study to death.
︎Year: 2020︎︎Size: 75x130mm
Study Die Book/ Duk Sei Syu
Students in Hong Kong are always reminded that grades carry a deep burden to them. Many are still expected to become lawyers, doctors, engineers or anything that are not art and design career-related.
Here I have imprinted the Cantonese phrase ‘讀死書’ (Duk Sei Syu), or word-to-word meaning: Study Die Book, to mock the city’s rigid education system onto stationaries that the local students always use.
A lot of unfortunate students do not have mental support and teenage suicide rates are high in Hong Kong, as they literally study to death.
︎Year: 2020︎︎Size: 75x130mm
︎Packaging ︎Print
Make Fail — Make Repreat
As each projects require plenty amount of experiments and prototypes, I have made a folder showcasing my many failed attempts or early “dummy” books as a reminder of the importance of trial and error within my practice.
︎Year: 2019︎︎Size: 176x245mm
Make Fail — Make Repreat
As each projects require plenty amount of experiments and prototypes, I have made a folder showcasing my many failed attempts or early “dummy” books as a reminder of the importance of trial and error within my practice.
︎Year: 2019︎︎Size: 176x245mm
