Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Kupumzika Kwa Mkono by Jesvin Yeo

Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Kupumzika Kwa Mkono by Jesvin Yeo is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Zawadi Competition Category.

ChumaZawadi· 2021

Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Kupumzika Kwa Mkono

by Jesvin Yeo

Client: Designing Cultures Studio

Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award Winner in Zawadi Category

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Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Kupumzika Kwa Mkono

Wakitengeneza kwa mbinu ya kitamaduni ya maganda yaliyokaushwa ya maharagwe, Wanasesere wa Maharage wana sura nne za mfano za Chinatown ya zamani ya Singapore: Towkay, mjomba wa Kopi, mwanamke wa Samsui na Majie. Walisaidia kujenga Singapore ya zamani kupitia kuunda kazi, kutoa faraja ya kikombe, ujenzi wa miundombinu na kutoa huduma ya watoto, mtawaliwa. Kwa juhudi za wazee wa sasa wa Chinatown, wanasesere wa maharagwe wameundwa kama sehemu ya kupumzika ya mkono, toy ya kupendeza au kumbukumbu ya biashara ya zamani. Inalenga kutumika kama jumba la kumbukumbu la ugunduzi wa historia ya ndani na kuhimiza vizazi vichanga kuchunguza zaidi utamaduni wao.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award

Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Kupumzika Kwa Mkono ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima unaotolewa kwa miundo mizuri inayokidhi mahitaji ya kitaalamu na ya kiviwanda yanayotarajiwa kutoka kwa kazi zilizobuniwa vizuri. Washindi wa Chuma huonyesha ustadi mkubwa, utaalamu wa hali ya juu, uelewa wa kitaalamu na uwezo wa kibunifu wa waumbaji wao. Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Kupumzika Kwa Mkono inatarajiwa kuwa kazi inayothaminiwa sana, kupendwa na kuenziwa, ambayo ni ya vitendo na bunifu. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Chuma ya A' Design Award unajumuisha mbinu bora za tasnia na una sifa za kiufundi zenye uwezo zilizounganishwa na ujuzi na kipaji. Bean Dolls of the Old Trades Kupumzika Kwa Mkono inaheshimiwa kwa uangalifu wake na imebuniwa kutoa maboresho ya ubora wa maisha yanayosaidia kuufanya ulimwengu kuwa mahali bora zaidi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Hand-sewn and filled with dried bean sprout husks, the Bean Dolls of four symbolic figures of Singapore old Chinatown are designed as a wrist rest, a plushie, or a memento of the early trades of Singapore. The design is a combined effort of the designer and the elderly of current Chinatown who used the traditional method of making bean husk pillows. The design seeks to raise public awareness and serve as a muse for the younger generations to discover local history, culture and heritage.
Dimensions & Packaging: 120 mm x 60 mm x 270 mm
Estimated dimensions as the size of the hand-sewn bean dolls may vary slightly.
Tags: Traditional Occupations, Old Trades, Cultural Heritage, Bean Doll, Wrist Rest
Production Technology: The making of the bean dolls was a community effort. With help from the elderly of Kreta Ayer Senior Activity Centre, sacks of bean sprout husks were collected from neighbours, washed and dried in the sun till the husks are dried and solidified. The dried husks were then left in a cool, dry place and carefully handpicked for production. Illustrations of the figures were printed on organic textiles using digital textile printing, which is an eco-friendly process. Next, the elderly cut and stitched the fabric, stuffed them with bean sprout husks, cotton and gave shape to a nice and firm bean doll.
Design Challenge: The challenge was to interview the remaining trade people as they:
i) only speak dialects which lead to some difficulty in understanding
ii) are too old to be interviewed
iii) feel ashamed of their ex-job
iv) are the only survivor of their trade (Samsui woman and Majie) and has been interviewed too many times before.
Samsui woman, dressed in blue samfoos and a red headgear, is a construction worker who fetches building materials. Majie, dressed in black and white samfoos, dedicate their lives to servanthood with unwavering loyalty.
Research: The project employed Cultural Design Studies method to explore the culture of old trades and occupations of Chinatown from 1950 to1970. Desk research and empirical data from scholars and trade people were collected and analyzed to envisages the culture through the perspective of visual communication and to shape multiple conceptions of place and identity. The design outputs are functional mementoes that aim to promote the values and appreciative awareness of Asian cultures and history. Commission by the Singapore Chinatown Association and funded by the National Heritage Board.
Inspiration: The project was inspired by the small bean husks pillow used by Chinese Singaporeans to give a sense of security and cushions any sudden noises that may shock their babies. Relating jobs with security. The initial idea was to introduce exciting occupations in the 1950s, such as gangsters of secret societies and coolie, laborer from China. However, the client rejected the unglamorous occupations to avoid any touchy subject. Eventually, the design focused on people who help built Singapore.
Project Duration: The project started in May 2010 and finished and launched in January 2012 in Singapore.
Operation Flow: The design is multifunctional as it can be used a wrist rest or played as a comfort stuffed toy. Importantly, it is also a memento of the old trade of Singapore Chinatown, which supported the critical period of the development and independence of Singapore. Through interaction, the design seeks to raise public interests and encourage the younger generations to probe further into our culture and heritage.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Jesvin Yeo, 2012-2020
Team Members: Jesvin Yeo
Alvin Ng
Image Credits: Image #1: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_Main, 2012
Image #2: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_01, 2012
Image #3: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_02, 2012
Image #4: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_03, 2012
Image #5: Designer Jesvin Yeo, Bean dolls old trades_04, 2012