Fawn World, the Singapore-based botanical design and art practice, is driven by the uncompromising manifesto, "subvert convention and champion alternative beauty." In this piece, Founder and Creative Principal Dennis Ng challenges mainstream aesthetics, detailing how he uses time, decay, and deliberate imperfection as raw creative tools to forge truly singular, arresting narratives.
The Goth Approach to Curation
For Fawn World, an object or material is most valuable when it carries the weight of its own history, scars and all. This appreciation is central to their curatorial practice, extending from the natural world to the structural vessels they select.
Dennis has previously described the studio's unique aesthetic, noting: "We do have a propensity for a more goth approach at times as well—using darker colours, plant parts that might resemble bugs or tentacles." This approach is rooted in an expansive appreciation for the natural world—in all its forms.
This drive for the lived-in quality of materials finds its expression in their approach to form and tension. Fawn World sees objects as critical opportunities to introduce narrative friction. As Dennis explains, "A vessel with a rough or primitive finish when paired with a neat and controlled arrangement allows for interesting tension to arise." This deliberate, structural friction is the key to generating their signature, provocative aesthetic, ensuring no piece is ever purely passive.
Resistance is Specific
Fawn World actively views its work as a decisive form of resistance against the easy comfort of fleeting trends. They approach every creative request not as a constraint to be solved, but as a potent opportunity to deliver floral delirium through thoughtful deviation.
"It's always a fun challenge for us whenever we get a brief that is very trendy or focused on a floral trend, to try and formulate a different approach that deviates from the trend but still fulfils the desire for that same feeling," Dennis explains. This process of intentional design ensures the ultimate goal is met: to deliver "something special and hopefully new and specific for the situation," guaranteeing their work remains a singular, untamed creation that bypasses the disposable aesthetic cycle.
The Power of Impermanence: Using Decay to Your Advantage
Fawn World’s brand statement is the potent, paradoxical phrase: "EVERYTHING ELECTRIC / NOTHING ETERNAL." This understanding of impermanence doesn't limit their practice—it defines it and fuels their high-voltage energy.
"Nothing lasts forever! Enjoy the moment!!" Dennis states, highlighting the urgency that drives their studio. While the ephemeral nature of botanicals once felt like a limitation, they now actively use time and decay as creative partners.
"We've started to explore and embrace our understanding of decay and the ever-changing nature of natural material and have started to use time and decay to our advantage—proposing materials that are yellowing / semi-dehydrated / in the process of wilting to add specific colours / textures to an installation," he notes.
This bold, unconventional approach requires absolute mastery: they must be "precise and careful with our timing... and how we handle them," turning the natural process of wilting into a controlled artistic technique.
Curation as Creative Ideation
For the Fawn World team, the upcoming class at Journey East is not about rote learning, but rather about sharing their radical approach to curation and selection.
When teaching participants to embrace the "obscure and the overlooked," Fawn World’s methodology starts with narrative, not rules: "It should all stem from a thought, feeling or idea that the participant is trying to communicate + a respect and desire to honour the materials."
To Dennis, creative breakthrough often lies in proximity, not rarity. "Sometimes it might not even be about using an obscure ingredient but rather using a very common ingredient in an unexpected way! We facilitate our lessons with a loose structure—encouraging ideation and exploration."
Fawn World proves that true creative freedom comes from resisting the expectation of perfection and finding awe in the inevitable, powerful cycle of change.
HANDS ON! Journey East X Fawn World workshop takes place on 15 Nov 2025 (Sat) at the Journey East showroom. Learn to embrace the unconventional in botanical design with Dennis Ng, Founder of Fawn World. Two time slots are available: 1-3pm and 4-6pm. Price is $340.
Register here to secure your spot.