Science of the Secondary – Window
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
For the first instalment of a building-centric research initiative under the Science of the Secondary series, the common Door, Window and Pipe were chosen as starting points towards an inquiry into the openings of a dwelling. Drawing from the findings of this study, Atelier HOKO developed another mad afternoon at home; an activity piece that contains sixty instructional postcards to be performed by individuals in the comfort of their own home. Using the familiarity of everyday actions and materials to investigate and experience the different openings, this project attempts to draw a closer and more intimate relationship between people and buildings.
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Socks
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
“Among the many clothing types in our wardrobe, none leads a more unappreciated existence than the sock. Wavering between undergarment and outerwear, the staggering amount of pressure and force applied to the sock each time we take a step forward attests to its silent resilience. It is thus, not without irony, that the common definition of quality socks lies precisely in how little we take notice of its presence; a good pair of socks becomes one that is absent when worn on the feet…”
Science of the Secondary: Socks is the eighth edition in the series of ongoing research conceived and developed by Atelier HOKO.
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Plate
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
“In spite of the plate’s supposed ubiquity, very little is known and discussed of this practical tableware beyond fine craftsmanship or pretty decorations. While the use of plates has long since settled comfortably in our everyday, our daily interactions with the plate are often ‘from a distance’ since we almost never have to touch it throughout an entire meal; not especially during one dominated by presumptuous conversations around magnificent tableware that exists only to impress the shallow… ”
Science of the Secondary: Plate is the ninth edition in the series of ongoing research conceived and developed by Atelier HOKO.
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Pipe
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
For the first instalment of a building-centric research initiative under the Science of the Secondary series, the common Door, Window and Pipe were chosen as starting points towards an inquiry into the openings of a dwelling. Drawing from the findings of this study, Atelier HOKO developed another mad afternoon at home; an activity piece that contains sixty instructional postcards to be performed by individuals in the comfort of their own home. Using the familiarity of everyday actions and materials to investigate and experience the different openings, this project attempts to draw a closer and more intimate relationship between people and buildings.
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Egg
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
“Ever since the egg has been perverted as a rich and readily available source of food for human beings, we have not thought much of it beyond its role in our diet. An altogether loathsome person was once overheard commenting (with complete disregard for the minuscule strength of a chick) that the brittleness of eggshells is meant for the convenience of the human hand. To allow a faint glimmer in the gloom of ignorance, we must begin to become conscious of the subtleties within each egg…”
Science of the Secondary: Egg is the seventh edition in the series of ongoing research conceived and developed by Atelier HOKO.
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Door
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
For the first instalment of a building-centric research initiative under the Science of the Secondary series, the common Door, Window and Pipe were chosen as starting points towards an inquiry into the openings of a dwelling. Drawing from the findings of this study, Atelier HOKO developed another mad afternoon at home; an activity piece that contains sixty instructional postcards to be performed by individuals in the comfort of their own home. Using the familiarity of everyday actions and materials to investigate and experience the different openings, this project attempts to draw a closer and more intimate relationship between people and buildings.
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Clock
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
In general, there are two different kinds of clocks. The first tells time in the form of a common factor that most of us can relate to, a concept of ‘time’ that is shared in order for a social and ordered life to be lived with one another. Then, there is another ‘clock’ that is neither time nor instrument but a continuous stream of rhythm that flows through each and everyone of us. Between these two, which clock have you been using daily?Science of the Secondary: Clock is the third edition in the series of the ongoing independent research programme conceived and developed by Atelier HOKO.
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Cup
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
…but what does it mean to drink? Do we drink with our skin when the hands are hugging the cup? Are we drinking with our body posture while sipping earl grey in a tearoom? Are the ears drinking as we take each sip of coffee? Can we consider the act of licking one’s lips drinking? Does the nose know that it is drinking as it hovers above the caramelized milk froth sitting atop a very large cup of coffee…?
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
Science of the Secondary – Apple
Science of the Secondary is an inquisitive approach towards uncovering implicit conditions that exist in our experience of the everyday. When speaking of the term ‘secondary’, we are referring to conditions and sensations that human beings are not conscious of in their day-to-day interaction with things and the immediate surroundings. Accumulating this rich and boundless field of knowledge, the research hopes to draw upon a renewed sensibility towards living, with much excitement and freshness.
With ‘Apple’ as the subject of the first publication from the research programme Science of the Secondary, Atelier HOKO presents an inquiry into our behaviours and experiences observed through our interaction with the humble fruit. From the very moment we set our eyes on the apples that are displayed in the fruit stall to the strangely familiar memory of an apple within us, this book offers an alternative insight into things that are not yet discovered…
About Atelier HOKO
Atelier HOKO (2002) is an independent research lab that focuses on the study of the growing disengagement between people, things and space. The atelier hopes to cultivate in people, an open-ness and ability to un-know, bringing about a heightened curiosity towards all phenomena by taking a fresh look at reality. Founded by Alvin Ho and Clara Koh.
CONVERGENCE by Wei Leng Tay
Comprising 65 images, Convergence is an intimate look at segments of the Chinese community in Singapore and Malaysia. This book questions and records the changes current generations experience as they grow increasingly distant from their grandparents’ homeland, as attitudes and values shift with each generation. It also looks at how this Chinese community has evolved with characteristics shaped by the co-dependent history, and social landscapes particular to Singapore and Malaysia. Convergence explores the ways of life and relationships of these people and reflects the ideas of race, heritage and language that are ingrained in the community.
Read an interview with Wei Leng Tay and her thought process behind this book here.
About Wei Leng Tay
Wei Leng Tay is an artist working with photography, audio and video that are made into installations and prints. Her process begins with conversations and interactions with people she meets, which inform the images and forms the projects take.
As she works with various parties on her projects, she reflects on the significance of this interaction for both herself and the other party, and how this relationship, however transient and brief, can be articulated in the work. Her works are usually based on how desires, personal relationships and histories are tied to family, society, and the state, and migration. They also reflect on the politics of perception and relation: Who is looking and how is one looking? What is being heard? Why does one, as viewer, maker, participant, feel certain ways about the work? In this way, the works also consider the impossibility of representation and knowing, adding another dimension to the complexities of identity and sense of place or displacement dealt with.
Read More