Ng Lei Kee

The Jade Craftsman Kit is an interactive learning experience designed to make the meanings and symbolism behind jade more approachable for younger audiences. Framed through the idea of apprenticeship, the project invites participants to learn, experience and create through a guided process that transforms jade from a distant cultural artefact into something personal and engaging.

'The Colours: Starter Guide' introduces participants to a spectrum of jade colours. Through swatches and simplified explanations, participants learn how jade's colours contribute to jade’s symbolic and cultural associations.

'The Motif: Starter Guide' focuses on recurring jade motifs and the meanings they carry. Rather than simply listing definitions, the booklet encourages participants to observe and decode motifs through prompts such as what the motif represents, how its meaning is constructed, and where it might still appear in contemporary life. This approach reframes jade motifs as a visual language that communicates cultural values and beliefs across generations.

After learning, participants move into the making stage. Drawings are scanned and digitally transformed through a TouchDesigner system that simulates jade's material qualities. As the motifs are processed, they are projected within the exhibition space as large-scale digital artefacts, allowing participants to see their creations displayed as part of the environment. This projection turns the participant’s drawing from a simple sketch into an immersive, present artefact, reinforcing the idea that jade symbolism is not static or confined to the past, but something that can continue evolving through contemporary interpretation.

The final outcome of the kit takes the form of a personalised acrylic keychain accompanied by a motif identity card documenting the participant’s motif name, symbolic meaning, craftsman name, and date of creation. By allowing participants to create and claim ownership over their motifs, the experience reshapes them from passive observers into active participants within the cultural learning process.