‘Meridian Mettlach’ reflexology path
For Singaporean fashion designer Elyn Wong, the chance to collaborate with German tile and ceramics manufacturer Villeroy & Boch was an opportunity to try something completely new while reconnecting with her heritage. ‘I began by looking deeper into my own heritage, and what wellness means in Chinese culture,’ says Wong. ‘I looked at the Chinese practice of reflexology, where pressure is applied to meridian points on the body in order to improve overall wellbeing and health.’
She created a reflexology path, seamlessly connected to a wall on one side, featuring a patchwork of porcelain tiles of various sizes stacked at different heights, making for a surprising sensation underfoot. As you walk along the path, the tiles become smaller and more uneven, creating an increasingly intense massage. Smoothing the edges of stacked tiles was a particularly challenging part of the process, as the tiles had to be sharp enough to provide stimulation but not cause pain to the hands and feet. From the wall, brass handles arch downwards, each supporting a twisted stack of tiles that guide users across the floor while stimulating pressure points on the hands.
‘In the West, medicine and spirituality are treated as separate entities. In the East, the distinction between the two is less clear. I hope I’ve captured these cultural differences,’ says Wong, who set up womenswear label Stolen in 2007. ‘Fashion is something I’ve been doing for a while, but this forced me to move out of my comfort zone, which is good.’
Intrigued by Villeroy & Boch’s 270-year history, Wong visited the brand’s HQ in Mettlach, Germany, and delved into its archive. She was immediately drawn to a porcelain tile collection called Century Unlimited. Although only launched three years ago, the elaborate tiles are based on a Villeroy & Boch design dating from 1852 and found in Cologne Cathedral and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. The tiles’ matt finish has a texture similar to smooth concrete, while the decorative patterns, made up of interlocking triangles, rhombuses and circles, can be used to make up a variety of designs depending on orientation and configuration. The colours also increase in intensity as the tile sizes get smaller and the heights become more uneven. As the tiles shrink, the colours strengthen from pale neutrals into terracotta, rusty orange and a deep blue.
‘Villeroy & Boch is such a big brand that I was worried there would be constraints when it came to working with them, but they were so open to experimentation,’ enthuses Wong. In fact, when it came to designing the handles that users grip as they walk across the tiles, Wong let Villeroy & Boch take the lead. ‘I had imagined using the same method of uneven stacked tiles that we used on the floor, but the Villeroy & Boch team suggested using handles. I loved the idea – it was more creative and achieved the same effect.’
Going forward, Wong imagines the walls could be installed in both public and private spaces, seamlessly blending into the architecture. ‘It’s pushing the use of tiles in a completely different way.’ stolenstolen.com; villeroy-boch.com. The project is on show at Handmade On Tour, an exhibition by Wallpaper* in partnership with the Designsingapore Council, at Gillman Barracks, Singapore, until 26 August