Advertisement
Advertisement
Hong Kong interior design
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Cocoa Bean lidded vessels by Lok Ming Fung. Pictures: courtesy of Lok Ming Fung

Hong Kong ceramic artist believes in making tableware as enticing as the food

British-born, Hong Kong-based Lok Ming Fung’s one-of-a-kind designs are almost like works of art

Lok Ming Fung.
What do you like most about ceramics? “With a single material, I am able to create beautiful, diverse styles and different products, from art installations to jewellery to tableware. I am constantly learning, getting to know the material, how far I can push it and experimenting with finishes.”

What tableware collections have you produced? “My first design for Tom Sellers [Three Bears’ Porridge bowls for the chef’s Michelin-starred Restaurant Story, in Britain] has developed into an ongoing working relationship. I’ve also designed tableware for Lee Westcott’s Typing Room, in Britain, and for Chocolate Academy, in Japan; and for Mercedes Me, Aberdeen Street Social and the Mandarin Grill + Bar, in Hong Kong.”

Lok Ming Fung’s container for Chef Uwe Opocensky's Flower Pot salad at the Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.
What inspires your designs? “My early style was more delicate but creating Restaurant Story’s tableware gave me the opportunity to make rustic, irregular forms. It’s fascinating to replicate textures on a ceramic surface. I design and hand-make each piece.”

Describe one of your more unusual creations. “Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong’s executive chef, Uwe Opocensky, wanted a container for his Flower Pot salad, a bouquet of organic vegetables and greens in edible soil. I deliberately broke bits off, to get a weathered look, as if exposed to the elements. He loved it.”

Tell us about your art installation for the Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi. “I worked with [architect] André Fu and art expert Alison Pickett to come up with the idea of abstract tiles that would adorn the shelves at the restaurant entrance. It’s exciting to work on something site-specific.”

The Ombre tile installation for Motif Restaurant & Bar at Four Seasons Toyko.
What are you working on now? “I’m working with [Singaporean chef] Edward Voon, who is opening a new restaurant in Kowloon Bay in September.”

What does your work bring to the dining experience? “I want diners to experience the contrast of naked, rough-fired ceramic clay against the smooth glaze, and to under­stand that there are other exciting and beautiful ceramics besides white plates. The food is carefully thought out, so why not the tableware?”

Post