Design show pays tribute our national pastime - food

SINGAPORE — Here’s design exhibition even the design-obtuse will appreciate, because it’s focussed on that little thing Singaporeans are big about — eating. Makan Time! Tuck Into Good Design, has harnessed the talents of 18 local and expatriate designers hailing from different design disciplines — furniture, lifestyle and industrial — to create products that are inspired by our vibrant food culture.

Organised by the Little Thoughts Group, which was behind the popular Designing For Memories exhibition in December 2010 (which centred on local memories), Makan Time! is no less heartwarming.

For instance, product designer Terrence Loh has updated the traditional ang ku kueh (red “tortoise” cakes commonly given out on a baby’s first month) into a colourful plastic variant that can be customised he calls Memento. Industrial designer Christopher Lim turned his attention to chilli crabs to create Tok Kong, a sleek device to crack the crab shell without the usual mess (if only because the shell crackers are hard to operate with greasy fingers). Meanwhile, expat designer Yuri Kim from South Korea came up with her Lo Hei Dining set, inspired when she first experienced this dish here.

“I found Lo Hei or yu sheng very interesting. It is a dish meant for sharing and for wishing fortunes together,” she explained. “It came to my mind to design a tableware for a dish that could be shared. The tray comes with a big space in the middle and 10 smaller individual plates for each person to take away. The party tray can be placed in the middle of the table and it rotates when people want to reach to other sides of the tray.”

The designers didn’t just concentrate on what can be used on the table. Among the other exhibits is a Fishball Chair, a Go Chicken Pendant, and a One-Ton Mee Bench.

While the quirky creations at the exhibition aren’t for sale, there are discussions underway for them to be produced for purchase. After all there’s nothing like having a Chicken Rice Pendant you can wear — in case you ever want to show off your favourite dish, sans the garlic breath.

Makan Time! Tuck Into Good Design is currently held at the Concourse of National Museum until Jan 27, 10am to 8pm. Admission is free.