Fren Mah Design

A collection of works by Fren Mah, a Canadian designer and artist currently working in Edmonton, AB, Canada...

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Transgressions Fren Mah, 2014 Silkscreen on Somerset 22 x 26 inches

Transgressions is inspired by the socioeconomic issues and inequalities created by modern day pharmaceutical companies, especially those large corporations in North America. These corporations buy patents and create medications that are unaffordable for third world nations and those that are lower income in North America. Because they own patents, they prevent other companies, such as those in India to create more affordable drugs for their own citizens. The large corporations in essence are limiting healthcare to the most vulnerable people in the world.

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Tension in Parallel Fren Mah, 2014 30 x 21.25 inches Silkscreen on Somerset

I was inspired by the environmental issues and throw-away culture of modern society. I began this piece by deconstructing an old printer ink cartilage and combining it with explorations with rapid dry ink. This piece represents the the environmental detriment and tensions created by increasing amount of electronic and digital waste that is filling our ecosystem

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I digitally made this ‪‎illustration‬ in support of ‪HIV Edmonton‬ and their fundraising event ‪Ribbon Rouge‬ on November 28, 2015. This year's theme is ‪Queens‬, to celebrate women who contributed to human rights and HIV causes. 

The queen that I illustrated is Carol Dyantyi, who is a children’s rights activist from Soweto in South Africa. She quit her job to help orphaned children, and eventually adopted over 850 children and started her own charity. Many of these children lost their family to HIV, and call her "Mum Carol". I used her dress to symbolize the holistic care for these children receive and the textile to story tell. I made patterns with African and Western symbols to represent patience, courage, leadership, love and hope. She provides the kids with the essentials such as food and clothing, in addition to education and emotional support. She has helped so many children in Soweto that her dress forms a landscape.

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Paphiopedilum haynaldianum

Photographer: Fren Mah

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Grasp Fren Mah, 2013 Polymer Clay, 400W bulb, screws 11.5x9x6.5in This sculpture is a representation of the human dependence on modern technology and consumerism. This hand is a metaphor of our attachment to electrical resources, reaching at an over sized light bulb. Also the hand has become one with the screws, the basic building blacks of modern machines. It is embodied by our dependence on oil resources.

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Gerbera Fren Mah acrylic, gallery wrapped canvas, handmade paper, peacock feathers 14x18 inches

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Persistence

Materials: Plywood, Cement, Styrofoam, Mirror, Spray foam, tree, various plants. Potting soil, 400 Watt hydroponic light, Dimensions: 56’’x 46”x 32’' Year: 2011 Artists: Fren Mah In collaboration with Matthew Pünyi and Brett Regehr

Persistence is a multi-media sculpture that explores the endurance of nature in an artificial environment. The exterior showcases a tree fossilized into a cement box, symbolizing the man-made world. Yet there are cracks in the cement, which are symbolic of the unstable qualities of artificial structures. These cracks also function as viewing holes to the interior. Within the inside are sculptural elements that are hellish, hot, cave-like, and inhospitable environment. However live plants persevere and grow in an impossible environment, symbolizing the strength and stamina of nature, and the possibility of re-growth despite the man made ruins. The mirrors, inspired by David Altmejd, form crystalline structures, symbolizing growth and hope. In addition they allow the viewer to see the reflection of the interior.

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Pet Conference Visual Identity System

Design: Fren Mah

Tamed is a conference and trade show that focuses on its pets and their owners. It includes a diverse set of animals including birds, reptiles, dogs and cats. It also hosts many different events and educational sessions, such as rabbit races and dog shows.

For the visual identity of the conference system, I chose to keep the tone light, informal, and fun. The logo features the three basic pet animal types, a mammal, a bird and a reptile. The typeface Reliq Std., a decorative typeface, to underscore the entertaining and enjoyable tone.

The conference program is designed for utilitarian purposes. It serves as a program guide for schedule information, keynote speakers and advertising for sponsors. In addition the cover serves as a name tag for the attendants, since the booklet is strung as a lanyard.

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Toivo Chair

Materials: tubular steel, yarn

Design: Fren Mah

18.5 x 19.5 x 26in

Personalization of products has the potential of creating strong emotional attachment of the designed object to the final user. The goal of the Toivo chair is to increase product life span through the ease of personalization through unlimited possibilities on materials wrapped around the chair. The final owner can continue this process of wrapping himself, strengthening his emotional bond to the object as the product ages.

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Drop Shot Glasses

Designer: Fren Mah

1¾×2×2¾ in

These shot glasses are juxtaposition of artificial and natural materials. It is a play between light and shadow, and the cool and warm. The construction is laminated cherry wood, with acrylic. The natural wood is enhanced, through a finish of food grade mineral oil and beeswax. The interior is both water and alcohol-proofed using epoxy resin. The dynamic teardrop shape is designed to conform to the users hand for a comfortable grasp.

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MiON: An International Sustainable Design Project

Designers: Fren Mah, Mikenna Tansley, Russell Davidson, Kapil Vachhar, Jiayi Li

The Mion project received a Gold Award the International Sustainable Electronics Competition on December 5, 2013.

The Mion Project is a concept design focused on the recycling of e-waste in addition to addressing lighting problems in third world countries. In many third world countries, bicycles are a major mode of transportation, and many homes do not have a steady supply of electricity at night for their children. Some homes are lit by petroleum lighting, at night which is both costly and unhealthy. Alternatively, public lighting outdoor lighting, such as street lights are used by  children at night, which is both unsafe and not ideal. Our solution is a bicycle powered dynamo, which charges a LED light during the day time. This versatile lamp can be detached at night for use in the home. The system, Mi-on, is composed of recycled parts which are often dissembled in the recycling process. The re-purposed parts in the light and dynamo include the LED bulbs, wiring, magnets, gears and recycled plastics. Article: Students shine light on dark, impoverished living conditions

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The #MadHatter #hat #costume that I made two years ago. Can’t be a Mad Hatter if you don’t make hats! #halloween #halloweencostume

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#coffee and #3dmodeling that’s my #designer life ATM haha

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I’m in the Edmonton Journal for the street furniture competition. Photo by Greg Southam (I reposted it on Instagram)

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Summer's End

Photographer: Fren Mah

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Yellow Slipper Orchids Oil on Canvas 16 x 20''

Artist: Fren Mah

The original plant was from The Devonian Botanical Gardens, near Edmonton, Alberta.

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Lady Slippers in May

Photographer: Fren Mah

This garden orchid is called Cypripedium Emil