Designers rethink chopsticks in debut exhibition from design platform S—3
Sticks, pasta and braille all feature in an exhibition of chopsticks, presented at Milan design week by a new platform that brings together design from Japan, China and South Korea.
Chopsticks is the debut exhibition from S—3, an initiative from Yoko Choy of Cultural Associates and design fair Manifesto, aiming to connect East Asian design with a global audience.
Choy invited 11 product designers to redesign chopsticks, based on their experiences and understandings of this centuries-old object.
"Chopsticks are a rare design object: universally familiar, yet profoundly cultural and historically grounded," she told Dezeen. "Few East Asian typologies hold this balance between specificity and contemporary relevance."
Japanese designer Jin Kuramoto produced one of the most radical designs. He made his chopsticks from pasta, playfully linking them with European cuisine while allowing them to be eaten after use.
Chinese designer Mario Tsai went one step further. He designed a sharpening tool, similar to a pencil sharpener, that allows people to make their own chopsticks from twigs, thin bamboo stems or other natural materials.
"I encouraged each designer to ground their response in personal experience and perspective, rather than being guided by expectations of cultural representation or the need to 'be international'," explained Choy.
South Korean designer Joongho Choi and Seoul-based studio Kuo Duo both created chopsticks from metal, which is more common in their home country.
Kuo Duo paired chopsticks with matching spoons, for eating soup and rice dishes, while Choi created unmatching chopsticks, allowing for different pairings.
Chinese designer Duyi Han was also interested in the relationship between the two chopsticks, but particularly the "urge of OCD" in placing the chopsticks perfectly together.
His lacquered chopsticks feature an inlay of lapis lazuli, which creates a thin stripe. They sit on a plate decorated with a grid of lines and circles, so it's very obvious when they are out of alignment.
The series includes two European contributors, both with connections to East Asia. These include Swiss studio Big-Game, whose co-founders include Augustin Scott de Martinville, who grew up in China.
Big-Game's chopsticks were made from titanium and engineered to be as light as possible, making them travel-friendly.
The other European is Shanghai-based Italian designer Aldo Cibic, who based his design on a memory of dining with his mentor Ettore Sottsass.
In his 20s at the time, he was embarrassed to discover he was the only one at the table unable to use chopsticks. This led him to create a design with a ridged tip, making it easier for inexperienced users to pick up slippery foods.
South Korean studio Niceworkshop similarly reinterpreted the chopsticks to make them easier to hold.
Chinese studio We+ playfully combined a highly crafted urishi lacquer over a low-value aspen wood, while Japanese designer Sae Honda created a pair of cherry wood chopsticks that balance on a pebble-inspired block.
The final design is from Chinese designer Ellen Hu, founder of London-based Haus of Hu, who created colourful chopsticks that sit on a surface with braille engraving.
Choy conceived S—3 to offer "a more complete view of East Asian design" and how it can contribute to global conversations. The name stands for sinosphere, stories and synergy.
"East Asians share deep histories, beliefs, and customs that bind us – ancient traditions that continue to shape our perspectives," she said.
"Today, pop culture, lifestyles, and a mutual appreciation for one another’s aesthetics draw us even closer. These shared foundations create an intuitive understanding of each other's creative choices and positions," she continued.
"At the same time, opportunities for sustained exchange and collaboration remain limited. S—3 responds to this by creating a space to share, learn, and co-create."
Chopsticks in on show at Via Pietro Giannone 3 in Milan from 21 26 April. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.
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