Craft & Guild Foundation

Out of Teak

Date:
29^th Aug 2024 - 2^nd Sep 2024
Venue: 2/F, Gold Ball, K11 MUSEA, Hong Kong

Presented by K11 Craft & Guild Foundation (KCG) and Burmese furniture maker Paribawga, “Out of Teak”, a celebration of Burmese traditional craftsmanship and the contemporary vision of Chinese artist Wang Yuyang, will open to the public from 29 August to 2 September at K11 MUSEA located in Victoria Dockside, K11 Art and Cultural District in Hong Kong.

At the heart of this exhibition lies a rich, innovative intercultural and multidisciplinary dialogue cultivated by KCG, Paribawga and Wang Yuyang with the aid of modern digital technologies. Endeavoured to ensure centuries-old artistic traditions remain relevant today through the future, they present a sculpture and five pieces of furniture that blur the boundaries between tradition and modernity, showcasing an old-world charm alongside a contemporary aesthetic that resonates with the digital age.

Teak, native to Myanmar, is renowned globally for its durability and distinctive patina. It not only stands as one of the most prized timbers but also a witness to the cultural and artistic legacy of the golden land, characterised by a rich tapestry woven from diverse and enduring traditions of various regions. Such complexity is reflected in the exquisitely crafted wooden furniture, brought to life through elaborate hand carvings that embody the culmination of dedication and craftsmanship honed over generations.

From zero to one to art and beyond: METONYMY, when computer meets heritage

Delving into the artistry and heritage of Burmese craftsmanship and furniture, tech-art-focused artist Wang Yuyang embarked on his exploration with a singular question in mind: What do they look like through a machine’s eye? A relentless innovative artist pushing boundaries, Wang chose to step back into the role of an “audience”, interpreting Myanmar’s cultural legacy through the lens of a computer.

Utilising digital scanning, Wang converts a classic Burmese chair made by Paribawga into binary code; the sequence of 1s dictates the artwork’s dimensions, materials, colors, structure, generation procedures, and even its name, which the artist randomly selects from a data-generated word bank. To visualise the computer’s language, the data is fed into the 3D rendering software 3DMax, which computes material properties and sculpts the form.

The outcome, METONYMY, presents a progressive reinterpretation of traditional Burmese furniture expressed through three main elements: the chair, the ball, and the ring. In stark contrast with the organic refinement of aged teak, the two bold circular forms are made of cold, angular metallics, yet compete and complement the natural wood in a strange harmony. Appearing almost like a surrealist work of art, this human-machine collaboration is a perfect fusion of traditional art and contemporary technology, transcending time and space.

Art furniture, functional sculpture: The magic touch of Paribawga

Inspired by METONYMY, Paribawga fabricated a collection of five furniture pieces crafted of teak: a chair, a table, a bench, a console, and a floor lamp, all weaved together by the three main components of Wang’s cutting-edge sculpture.

Each element from METONYMY is meticulously translated into a functional decoration for the pieces. Reimagined in wood, the ring is intricately carved with a twisting pattern to mirror the original angular form, while the silver ball adds a metallic twist to the warm-toned teak – both elements serve as pivotal features for the furniture. Demonstrating the refined craftsmanship of Burmese furniture, the sophisticated carved decoration represents an elevated version of the machine’s rendition of patterns, achieved with the human touch that carries a centuries-old heritage.