“Seed Terrain” translates the spatial poetics of traditional Suzhou gardens into a modern, abstract ceramic landscape—not merely an object to be viewed, but a miniature living world to inhabit, where ceramic earth, seeds, water, and life converge.
The work comprises two integrated layers. The base is an undulating ceramic surface serving as both foundation and stage, its topography blurring crafted artefacts and natural forms. Infused with living plants, the surface invites seeds scattered directly upon it to grow unpredictably, revealing the unique character of each ceramic texture.
Scattered atop the base, ceramic elements draw from the classical Chinese scholar’s rock tradition in Suzhou gardens, where naturally formed stones were collected and revered as microcosms of the natural world. This project reinterprets that ancient practice through contemporary ceramics: different clay bodies, hand-formed textures, and 3D-printed surfaces create varied micro-habitats. Integrated with living plants, the pieces echo the garden’s fusion of stone and life. Displayed alongside prototypes, they narrate the making process—how objects are studied, shaped, fired, and transformed through experimentation.
(1) éphēlis - Kwan Wai Chan
éphēlis was founded in 2018 by KwanWai Chan, a Hong Kong-based ceramic artist. After graduating with a BA in Fashion Knitwear from Central Saint Martins, London, in 2014, she worked as a Fashion Designer at Christian Dior in Paris.
Returning to Hong Kong in 2017, KwanWai established éphēlis to explore themes of intimacy, memory, nature, and healing. Rooted in Zen principles and Buddhist philosophy, her practice encourages slowing down and appreciating the present. Shortlisted for the Dezeen Awards China 2024 (Craft and Collectible Design), her work has been featured in Design Anthology, Vogue Living Hong Kong, and Elle Decoration Japan, and exhibited across Seoul, Tokyo, Kyoto, Paris, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.
(2) Carolyn Tam
Carolyn Tam is an architectural designer who earned her Master of Architecture from MIT in 2022, following a background in Innovation Design Engineering. Fascinated by the dialogue between materiality, technology, and artistry, she crafts narrative-driven sculptures and spatial designs.
For deTour 2026, Carolyn explores material layering strategies by combining clay with bio-medium for surface plant growth. She employs 3D printing to create ceramic sculptures with precise micro-structures, controlling capillary action and water retention to sustain plant life. Her work has been featured in the Financial Times, Dezeen, ArchDaily, and Domus, and presented at lectures hosted by Swire Properties and the Hong Kong Designers Association.
11:00–15:00 (20/11)
11:00–20:00 (21–29/11)
11:00–15:00 (20/11)
11:00–20:00 (21–29/11)