New Territory Award

AWARD WINNER

Winner: Helen Wat

Title of work: Chá Table

University: Northumbria University

JUDGES COMMENTS

‘Wonderful storytelling and energy, great execution. Very broad interests intelligently brought together.’

AWARD PRIZE

Mentorship and internship

NewTerritory

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Chinese tea is symbolic of heritage and hospitality. In homage to Hong Kong-British diasporic experience, this ritual is adopted to offer a contemporary proposition to examine the role of tea in spaces of gathering from the community outside the homeland. Chá Table explores ideas of identity and belonging while alluding to critical social issues of autonomy and post-British colonialism. Inspired by traditional architectural structures and joinery, the Eastern-informed design fuses manufacture with Western timber — a reflection of the blended cultural position of Hong Kongers in Britain.