Ceramic Bamboo Steamer and Dim Sum Chess Set
UNSW Year 2 Term 2 Object 2 Assessment 2 - Dining Ritual Slip Casting

Dim Sum in Cantonese means "Touch" and "heart" This project introduce the dining rituals of most common meal in Hong Kong - Yum Cha (Drinking Tea), which con-lains great and rooted meaning - 'HOME.

Steaming is one of the oldest cooking methods in Hong Kong and Yum Cha is a social activity that brings generations together.

​

In this project I would pay homage to crafismanship of the master of both bamboo steamer maker, dim sum chef. These are craft, culture, step and process. I would love to praise the makers for preserving the cultures, which encourage me to apply the spirit in my future assessments, designs, and life.

​

The chess board concept is came from the behavior Fly an elephant across the river' (Feir Zoeng6 Gwos Ho4), which means reaching across the table for food, or doing something intolerable from chess. We are not supposed to go beyond to reach for dishes that are placed opposite side of table, it is considered rude and undesirable behaviour. This combine Kum Cha, Dim Sum, dining rials, and Chess together.

​

This set of ceramics also show the pecking orders and respectfulness for the seniority.In such big family gathering. we need to be respectful to the elders, social structure is represented in the game.Some minor dining rituals include reminding the staff to refill the teapots by leaving the lid open and balanced on handle.

The messages of warmth, closeness, intimacy, toughness of the family would also be transferred. Relations are interlocking, tough as the structure of the steamer, love as bulletproof as the anti- bacterial bamboos. While bamboo steamer improves the flavours of what are cooked inside, emotions are being brewed eventually.