We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Rachel Tan Hui Min about their original and creative Jewellery Design design work. Rachel Tan Hui Min is an award-winning fashion designer, that makes our world a better place with their original jewellery design works.
Rachel Tan Hui Min ("RTHM") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Enteroctopus Jewellery Design. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
RTHM : This collection was first inspired by a trip to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada where I witnessed so many wondrous and beautiful deep sea creatures firsthand. They were breathing and moving so naturally in their habitat, suspended in space in a world so different from ours. Frantically trying to record all their scientific names, I was awed by the complexity of the marine ecosystem. Breaking down each kingdom into its phylum, then class, then order, then family, then genus, then species opened my eyes to the endless permutations of God's creativity in forming each unique creature. Each so distinct in its existence.
RTHM : Through this collection, I want to transcribe just a little of that wonder and provide a window into depths beyond our human reach. These pieces also meld influences from African textile patterns, Moroccan art, French renaissance ceiling paintings, Italian renaissance faience plates, Gothic wood inlays and Byzantine mosaic patterns. Transcending cultures, space and time, I hope to encapsulate the beauty of His creations in timeless pieces marked by geometry play and bold and accented forms. I hope you will experience the same awe and also be reminded of our role as protectors of our precious ecosystem.
RTHM : My future plans is to meld technology, arts and business in future transforming jewellery into wearable technology. Through this process I hope to encourage cross-discipline thinking and practice and spur the creation of useful design combined with aesthetic value and develop the market for them.
RTHM : It took me several months to do an in-depth study of my subject matter for the project and then transcribe and encapsulate key distinct characteristics into wearable art. Further thinking and research was then needed to address the challenge of mounting the jewellery on the human body, create it using the right material for appropriately pricing the product and sizing everything appropriately.
RTHM : The design was inspired from my personal travels and experiences and borne out of a heart of wonder, awe and thanksgiving.
RTHM : I intend to produce the work myself for my growing clientale base.
RTHM : I enjoy the medium of jewellery design as to me it is a form of artistic poetry. There are constraints within the practice in terms of material, cost and manufacturing and these challenges present themselves to me as interesting puzzles to take apart and solve. I love jewellery as it is almost like a type of wearable sculpture art that accentuates the human form and wearer. There is an element of personal identity linked to the art form that is mesmerising to me.
RTHM : Yes, I was inspired by art deco artists and vintage jewellery designers that captured the spirit of their time and age with boldness, class and vivaciousness.
RTHM : My target customer is the modern woman who appreciates art as a reflection of one's spirit and personality. She is fearless and confident, lives life to the fullest, connects to larger causes and is not afraid to express herself in a distinct and unique way.
RTHM : Enteroctopus comes form the scientific Latin genus name of the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus Dofleini). The creature is a large marine cephalopod found in the intertidal zone and has bilateral symmetry, a shell gland, a mantle, and a well-developed head with sucker-covered arms.
RTHM : Designs were hand drawn with graphite pencils and colour pencils and then transferred to Adobe Photoshop to edit colour and size.
RTHM : This particular design is unique in its desire to meld both organic and architectural forms. It maintains its structural integrity around the neck while also incorporating flexibility into the design. The end result is a statement piece distinct in its shape and form.
RTHM : 3D design was required to understand how the frame of the piece would sit around the neck with appropriate space at the back for a clasp.
RTHM : I had to do scientific research to understand this particular species of octopus and capture its essence in the design and accompanying haiku written for it.
RTHM : This was the first piece of jewellery that I produced and had manufactured and I learnt how to work with my team to communicate the design and also interact with different materials to understand how I could use them effectively to create the right product with the right price point and aesthetics.
RTHM : Poiesis Jewellery is a budding Singapore based fine jewellery company curated for the modern woman. With the launch of its first collection it hopes to contribute effectively to enlarging the visual repertoire for what is possible with jewellery in Singapore and Asia and inspire and empower women with its designs.
