This is a casual studio discussion with multidisciplinary artist and designer Quek See Yee that will delve into research, histories, and discussions thus far on the relationship of man with his surroundings, in particular with nature. We look at communities of tropical forests across the equator and consider circumstances given the same climate, resources and desires. Being acutely aware that this encounter with nature is of reversed sequence to indigenous communities - i.e. we have climbed a playground slide, even before a tree. Played in parks before being acquainted with the forest, and learned about structural systems and modulations as a designer before finding them cleverly executed in nature. Looked at a palm leaf and thought "Issey Miyake!", or understood the construct of a living room as tv, sofa, cofee table, lamp, lounge chair before realising (much later) that there can be other interpretations of a "living space".

Image Credits: Quek See Yee, Petiole Lamp, 2021

Artist: Quek See Yee