Kueh: a bite-sized cake/pastry in Southeast Asia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Most traditional South East Asian Kuehs have intriguing cultural and historical narratives that establish meaning to their appearance, making method and ingredients. This cognitive perspective connects food and people at a phenomenological level, works up memories, experiences, heritage, and identity. The project aims to create an original Kueh, and stretch the plasticity of belief to shape the story behind.
[Kueh Hamil: A Fictional Narrative]
An Indonesian-Chinese immigrant couple had been trying to conceive for 10 years. One day, craving Kueh-Ampong (an Indonesian honeycomb cake), and uncertain of the recipe, she made a Kueh with a pink protruding bulbous form enveloped by walls. Shortly after, she was pregnant! Word got around; Kueh Hamil has been consumed since to bless couples with children, and for children to eat it as a symbolism of growing up healthily.