6 talents from Hong Kong and mainland China to catch at Singapore Design Week

Duyi Han

Atelier Duyi Han

Work: They Told Me

Shanghai-based artist and designer Duyi Han has a diverse portfolio of work spanning installations, prints and scenography. His projects explore the relationship between humanity and nature, incorporating mythical and symbolic elements.

He has developed an interest in textiles and embroidery. This, he explains, is connected to his passion for fashion, which he feels is a major force driving contemporary visual culture. “Through them, I have found a way to communicate content and meaning,” he says. “I see my design and art as an exploration of the intricate semiotics of beauty.”

This is evident in his They Told Me chair. Jointly created with Shanghai artisans, it took 80 hours to embroider the silk. The stitches form words, postcodes and luggage tags that reflect Han’s attach­ment to the places he’s visited. “I wanted to create a piece in relation to the theme of contemporary nomadism,” he says.

Ewan Lamm

Ultramar Studio

Work: Citadel Collection

Ewan Lamm, of mixed Hong Kong and British heritage, crafts a narrative that challenges racial biases and outdated perceptions of Asia. He does this through Ultramar Studio, founded in 2023.

“I aim to bridge the past and present in a way that feels authentic, forward-looking and part of a cultural conversation,” says Lamm, who is based in Spain. “With my mixed background, I feel both a responsibility and a privilege to present a vision of Asian design and identity that is modern, nuanced and relevant.”

Made up of a series of four luminaires printed in polylactide, the Citadel Collection comprises table and floor lamps and two sculptures. Each piece is a rhythmic composition of tiered geometries and curved facets. When turned on, warm gradients of light emanate, making for a cosy companion.