Soul Ibirika cy'Icyayi by Peng Sun is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Ibikoresho by'Igikoni Competition Category.

BuronzeIbikoresho by'Igikoni· 2026

Soul Ibirika cy'Icyayi

by Peng Sun

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Ibikoresho by'Igikoni Category

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Colors

The Design

About Soul Ibirika cy'Icyayi

Soul ni ibirika cy'icyayi gikozwe mu cyuma cy'ubutare (cast iron) cyakozwe kugira ngo giteke amazi no gutegura icyayi ku bwoko butandukanye bw'imbabura. Ishusho yacyo yahumekewe n'imyifatire yisanzuye y'igishushanyo cy'umuvugizi ucuranga ingoma wo mu ngoma ya Han y'Iburasirazuba, cyongeye gukorwa binyuze mu buhanzi bwa none. Soul icurwa n'intoki hakoreshejwe uburyo gakondo bw'Abashinwa bwo gushonga ibishashara (lost wax), ihuza imiterere y'urukiramende rufunganye hejuru (trapezoidal) n'uruziga. Hejuru yacyo hari imitako imeze nk'amatonyanga y'amata, naho izahabu yashyizwe imbere n'inyuma yongera ubushobozi bwo kurwanya ingese. Umukono uri ku ruhande ukozwe mu giti cy'umusave (rosewood) ugabanya ubushyuhe bwinjira mu ntoki, kandi umunwa wawo ukubitse ku mpande utuma isuka neza nta gutakaza.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Soul Ibirika cy'Icyayi ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Soul Ibirika cy'Icyayi biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Soul Ibirika cy'Icyayi ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Lingpo is an iron tea kettle hand cast using the traditional Chinese lostwax method. Its shape is inspired by the relaxed poise of the Han dynasty drumming storyteller, reimagined through contemporary art. The surface is decorated with milk spot patterns and finished with gold plating. It embraces an open design philosophy, accepting all viewer interpretations and presenting a unique dialogue between contemporary and classical aesthetics.
Dimensions & Packaging: 183 mm x 91 mm x 88 mm
Tags: Lost Wax Casting, Cast Iron Potware, Tea Brewing, Water Boiling, Contemporary Art Piece, Gold Plating For Rust Prevention
Production Technology: Hand cast via lost wax, integrating trapezoidal and circular design languages. The process includes hand drawn modelling, wax model making, casting, grinding and finishing, high temperature oxidation, and both internal/external gold plating. The result is a structurally complex, agile form with exquisite texture, combining utility and artistic value, showcasing the unique spirit of handmade iron kettles and contemporary sensibility.
Design Challenge: The greatest design challenge was the seamless integration of the body, spout, lid, and side handle lines, meeting contemporary artistic aesthetics while sparking infinite imagination, balancing beauty with smooth pouring and ease of use. The most difficult aspect lies in the traditional lost wax casting process, highly intricate and demanding. Coordinating high temperature nitriding with gold plating adds further complexity.
Research: For a long time, iron kettles were constrained by traditional aesthetics and functional demands, mostly adopting stable forms like flat round or square. Lingpo, rooted in the lost wax method, integrates contemporary art concepts to shatter these structural limits and reshape possibilities. The internal and external gold plating not only enhances corrosion resistance but also softens the water and improves mouthfeel.
Inspiration: The morphology of Lingpo, or Spiritual Form, derives from the famous Eastern Han Dynasty drumming storyteller figurine.Its relaxed posture has been artistically reconstructed, evoking multiple images, Chaplin, a gentleman, Pinocchio, without imposing a single interpretation. Instead, it invites viewers to project their own experiences. This open design concept endows the object with stronger visual intrigue and imaginative space.
Project Duration: The project commenced in Beijing in March 2025, with the initial design finalized in April 2025. The final piece was produced in October 2025 and exhibited at the Songzhuang Grand Canal Art Season in Beijing later that month.
Operation Flow: Lingpo can be used for boiling water and brewing tea, compatible with multiple heat sources. The side rosewood handle offers excellent heat insulation and follows the natural inward rotation of the wrist when pouring. The spout and lid feature consistently angled, inward cut geometry. Water flows smoothly along the spout, minimizing dripping, with a clean cut off. The inner rim of the lid is extended so that even when the kettle is fully tilted, the lid remains securely in place.
Team Members: Peng Sun
Image Credits: Peng Sun