This piece is a modern take on a traditional Chinese hot pot, called a Steamboat in Singpore, where it is a popular fondue-like dish often served at Chinese New Year. As Singaporean and Chinese culture are strong elements of my heritage and identity, I wanted to design an updated version that still honored the classic form.
Traditional Steamboats are charcoal-fueled, which can be both inconvenient and potentially unsafe for indoor use. Newer Steamboats, fueled by propane, aren't much more than a big pot over a burner - casting aside all elegance and ritual in favor of pure functionality.
Given the iconic status and significance in Singaporean culture, this piece seeks to blend the modern and the traditional - for example, using clean-burning gas instead of hot coals, while retaining the chimney that is central to the gestalt of the classic form.
This piece was exhibited in the show Design Unassigned at the Thomas Welton Stanford Art Gallery in April 2010.
