“Many coming together is strength. That’s what ASEAN represents.”

[en]The people of South East Asia, especially those that live in the villages, commonly uses wooden sticks and wire to build their house. They build the structure from assembling the sticks that are then tied together with wire.[/en]

[id]Orang-orang Asia Tenggara, terutama yang tinggal di pedesaan, banyak menggunakan tongkat kayu dan kawat sebagai bahan untuk membangun tempat tinggal. Mereka membangun struktur rumah tinggal dari banyak tongkat kayu yang kemudian diikat dengan kawat.[/id]

www.angyiansann.com

[en]Ang Yian Sann, a Singaporean designer who works both in Vietnam and Singapore, as part of the South East Asian people himself, sees that course of action as a representative of Asians themselves. “Many coming together is strength, that’s what ASEAN represents,” he thinks. He then adaptates that concept into his own work titled Asean Coffee Table, using glass and wood from window panels of traditional Vietnamese houses as the material. For the table support, he assembles wooden sticks that are tied together with wire.[/en]

[id]Ang Yian Sann, seorang desainer Vietnam, sebagai bagian dari penduduk Asia Tenggara melihat hal tersebut sangat merepresentasikan orang-orang Asean itu sendiri. “Many coming together is strength, that’s what Asean represents,” menurutnya. Ia mengadaptasi konsep tersebut kedalam karyanya yang bertitel Asean Coffee Table, dengan material kaca dan kayu dari kisi-kisi jendela rumah tradisional Vietnam. Sebagai penopang meja, ia merangkai tongkat-tongkat kayu kemudian mengikatnya dengan kawat.[/id]

[en]This coffee table is a form of expression from Ang Yian Sann regarding the statements from international observers that concludes that ASEAN is an organization that “talkes big, but takes little action”[/en]

[id]Fungsi meja ini sebagai “coffee table” merupakan bentuk ekspresi Ang Yian Sann terhadap pernyataan para pengamat internasional yang menganggap Asean sebagi sebuah organisasi yang “banyak berbicara dan sedikit berbuat.”[/id]

“It is just a mere “coffee-table” organization, rather than “round table” institution that can effect change. In my creation, while the object has an intended function of a coffee-table, its alternative function is also a socio-political art commentary about freedom of expression“.

[en]The Asean Coffee Table is full of meaning, and at the same time, represents art and design. Without loosing it’s freedom of expression, but also fulfilling it’s function as a design.[/en]

[id]Asean Coffee Table ini sarat makna serta menyajikan seni dan desain bersamaan, tidak terlepas dari kebebasan berekspresi, tapi juga sekaligus memenuhi fungsinya sebagai desain.[/id]

“I believe, art and design do not necessary have to serve its singular intended function, but  dual functions in our time because Southeast Asian is yet to be transformed its culture and heritage where traditions and modernity co-exist.” (Ang Yian Sann)

www.angyiansann.com