Again in 2021, Shi Han was working full-time as an architectural designer in Singapore. That’s, till she give up her job.

“As a passionate pupil, I envisioned that I may apply my ardour in the true world and make a change. Nonetheless, the precise working expertise didn’t present the chance for me to discover that path.”

It’s a thought that many of us in all probability have upon graduating. The true world, as they are saying, may be fairly disappointing, particularly for dreamers. 

Feeling misplaced, she determined to pursue her Grasp’s in Structure in Shanghai whereas determining life. However then her scholarship utility was rejected, inflicting her to rethink furthering her research. 

That’s how she landed in Langkawi, an island that’s a close to three-hour ferry trip from her hometown of Alor Setar. 

This subsequently led to her kickstarting Human Version—a mission documenting the tales of the folks in Malaysia with unconventional lives.

An unplanned journey opens new doorways

It began when she was working as a artistic supervisor at Bon Ton Resort, Langkawi in August 2022. 

There, she had the chance to satisfy with folks from all walks of life, people that lived a life-style she by no means thought was potential. Folks with various ways of living, the place life-style got here first earlier than monetary concerns.

Simply take William Koong of Ghetto Playground, one of her interviewees, for instance. He left a secure job within the company world to begin a model making artwork sculptures out of undesirable scrap metals. 

It’s not unattainable, nevertheless it’s not the trail that most individuals take. Neither is it one thing that’s actively inspired by societal norms.

“I used to be as soon as blinded by the phantasm that a certain quantity of cash or particular certifications have been mandatory for such a life. But, these folks have been content and pleased,” Shi Han expressed. “I realised that everybody is attention-grabbing if you happen to take the time to hearken to their tales.” 

And so, after her contract with the resort led to November that yr, she determined to formally transfer to Langkawi and kickstart Human Version.

Seizing an unintentional alternative

There’s a common perception that life will finally lead you again to your inherent pursuits. For some, it may very well be to work as a chef or artist, or perhaps even to launch their very own startup.

In Shi Han’s case, it’s her love for video storytelling.

Ever since her college days, she had needed to create high quality content that catered to society. However as a result of monetary constraints and time administration, she didn’t have the prospect to understand that dream.

So when she was in Langkawi, she figured it was now or by no means. What higher time to begin this mission than the current second?

In addition to that, the geographical context of Langkawi helped. Being a small island, it was simpler to speak to individuals who would lead you to others and extra tales. 

Therefore, she took her probability and started working, assembly new folks and studying extra about herself alongside the best way. 

Specializing in human contentment

Explaining the title, Shi Han shared that “Human Version” refers to a broad thought of the story of people. “I wanted a reputation that may match into any context and one thing I’ll by no means get bored of. Therefore, ‘human’.”

It’s been about a number of months because the Studio HUED (quick for human version) launched in Could 2023, and Shi Han has documented deal of tales. 

Many of them are shared on her Instagram web page, together with the tales of:

• Han, a full-time surfer that runs a espresso shack close to Cenang seashore part-time
• Beatrice, who left her profession as a standard illustrator to be a watercolour youngsters’s ebook artist
• Taufiq and Julia, who transformed an deserted Malay home into Langkawi’s first absolutely plant-based cafe

There’s no actual rhyme or cause as to whose tales Human Version covers. The choice has no limits in phrases of profession path, location, and even ethnicity.

“We’re all human, and all of us have one want in life which is contentment,” Shi Han said. However upon additional reflection, she realised that each particular person the mission has featured up to now solutions her personal private questions.

Particularly, on the right way to really feel content in life and the right way to perform alternate ways of living that’s sustainable in the long term.

Making use of her architectural background

In the intervening time, the mission is unable to maintain itself as of but. Which is why she additionally included a money-generating arm beneath the studio.

Alongside along with her accomplice, Jie Xin, the 2 present providers like pictures and videography to shoppers. This consists of portraits, structure pictures, course of documentation, and in addition social media technique. 

“Jie Xin primarily focuses on videography, whereas I deal with pictures, writing, modifying, storytelling, and inventive path,” Shi Han shared.

It’s rather a lot of work to tackle when damaged down like that. However the 27-year-old defined that her architectural background helped her purchase many transferable abilities that can be utilized within the artistic business.

Quickly, the duo shall be restructuring Studio HUED to have a extra sustainable system to develop the mission. As a result of whereas the concept began with overlaying the island’s folks, Shi Han has larger targets. 

“We purpose to uncover extra hidden tales in numerous elements of Southeast Asia, however we received’t restrict ourselves solely in these areas. We’re open to any nation so long as the tales match.”

“There’ll all the time be a narrative to inform”

Subsequent yr, the staff shall be releasing a ebook titled “People of Langkawi”. It options newer tales and elaborated variations of those already posted. 

Giving us a teaser, Shi Han shared that the ebook is segmented into 4 major chapters. Specifically on group, style, structure, and artisans. 

Every chapter will cowl the tales of 5 to seven people (or teams), all of whom Shi Han defined are doing nice issues on the island.

However usually, it should embody photographs, interviews, write-ups, Shi Han’s private ideas of living on the island, how she sustains her life-style on the island, and the method of documenting tales.

Talking candidly, she confided that taking Human Editions to the subsequent stage shall be sluggish, as a result of they need to make sure the model’s core values stay intact all through the enlargement.

So it’s factor that she’s not in a rush to get there. In spite of everything, the objective is to offer a platform for the unheard group. In her personal phrases, “So long as people exist, there’ll all the time be a narrative to inform.”

• Study extra about Human Version right here.
• Learn articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups right here.

Featured Picture Credit score: Human Version