BIC TIEU

I have taken on the tea leaf motif of the camellia sinensis to graphically draw a boat in metal.

This boat object amulet is to honour the place of Fairfield. Fairfield is largely a Chinese and Vietnamese migrant community where I grew up. The design derives from eastern cultural symbols and western material making practices to speak about movement and migration of a place. The layered arrangement of the emblematic motif of tea leaves are shaped to embody complexities associated with my personal experiences of migration. Sinensis is the Latin word translating Chinese. Tea’s origins are from China and through time became global. The tea leaf motifs have a deep historical association with Asia connecting trade routes and metaphorically contribute to the layered meanings associated with the diasporic community of Fairfield.

To construct the silhouette of a boat form presented technical challenges. In addition to this, working with a more literal structure is new to my practice as all my works have taken on simple geometric shapes including the rectangular and cylindrical prism. Other challenges included the surface pattern. This required manipulation and arrangement of the metal work to connect seemingly. The resulting pattern is a metaphorical translation of meanings. The undulating flow of the tea leaves extending and intersecting appears like leaves cascading from a tree or like the current of water waves. I chose to use sterling silver for its soft white metallic colour but also to signify Fairfield as a place of charm.

Bic Tieu is a Sydney based designer, object maker, jeweller. She also lectures at the School of Art + Design at the University of NSW. Specialising in metal technologies, traditional Vietnamese and Japanese lacquer, her practice often utilises a synthesis of materials to create new perspectives on contemporary object making practice.

Camellia Sinensis, 2023
Sterling silver
280mm L x 100mm W x 113mm H
$2750