Dr Bic Tieu
Lecturer

Dr Bic Tieu

Arts,Design & Architecture
School of Art & Design

Bic Tieu is a designer/maker, researcher and education creating objects and wearables designated between the hand, body relationship. Her work of contemporary jewellery and object practice utilises a multidisciplinary approach in the designing processes. Often facilitated through the workings of graphic language and animation. Bic’s works draws on traditional crafts methods and contemporary technology, inspired by Asian sensibilities to communicate narratives based on personal cross cultural concepts. Recent projects have used geographical mapping and graphic language to construct explorations of cultural identity, transnationalism interpreted in the form of jewellery and objects.

Bic began her design and jewellery education at the University of NSW Art and Design, where she completed both a Bachelor Design and a Masters of Design(honours) degrees. Her practice further developed through professional training at the world-famous Japanese lacquer studio Kitamura Koubou, more recently Hikoju Maki-e and Japanese contemporary metal master Toru Kaneko. Bic is currently a Phd candidate at the Australian National University (ANU) with the Jewellery and Object, School of Art & Design. Bic’s research at ANU investigates the synthesis of cross cultural identity and object collections as design strategies to traverse and create new perspectives on contemporary object making and meanings.

Bic continues to work on exhibition projects and gives talks and workshops at various local and international conferences, cultural institutions and education. She has conducted studio Masterclass and workshop, completed various local and international residency programs and received awards and grants. The awards and grants are from the National Association of Visual Arts, Asialink, The Ian Potter Cultural Trust, The Australia Council for the Arts, The Australian Design Centre, The University of NSW-COFA (former name) and The Australian National University.

Alongside exploring the realm of the contemporary jewellery and object scene, Bic maintains a parallel practice as a freelance commercial jewellery designer and maker. Bic has over five years’ experience in jewellery designing and manufacturing processes. Working at the production scale, utilising computer-aided design and large-scale production methods to facilitate the commercial jewellery world. Known for her attention to detail, Bic renders meticulous designs in 1:1 scale using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to articulate designs ready for production. In 2013, Bic started the Bic Tieu Studio. Consisting of small run, studio production base of contemporary jewellery design, honing in to reflect her specialty skills.

In 2017 Bic was appointed associate lecturer at UNSW Art & Design where the culmination of her practice and skills are passed onto students. She is also a committee member on the Jewellers and Metalsmith Group of Australia (JMGA-NSW). For more information please visit www.bictieu.com.

Phone
+61-2-89360618
Location
Sydney
  • Journal articles | 2020
    Tieu B, 2020, 'The Politics of Vietnamese Craft: American Diplomacy and Domestication', The Journal of Modern Craft, vol. 13, pp. 215 - 218, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17496772.2020.1790118
  • Conference Presentations | 2022
    Tieu B, 2022, 'Connecting Intercultural Values and Making', presented at Association for Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ) 2022 conference: Beyond Silver, Exeter University, 01 July 2022 - 03 July 2022, https://acj.org.uk/index.php/2-uncategorised/776-acj-2022-conference-beyond-silver
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Tieu B, 2022, 'Designing the In-between: Traversing Biography and Place through Objects', in Saad DQ (ed.), IOTA21 FUTURING CRAFT CONFERENCE - PROCEEDINGS, The Indian Ocean Triennial Australia - IOTA 21, Perth, Western Australia, Curtin University, presented at Indian Ocean Craft Triennal, 'Futuring Craft' IOTA 21 International Conference, Curtin University, 17 February 2022 - 18 September 2021, https://indianoceancrafttriennial.com/conference/conference-day-01/
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Tieu B, 2021, 'Crafting and Conversing: In-betweenness through the Making of Objects', presented at Postgraduate Workshop: Asian Art Research Now in association with 2021 AAANZ Conference Emerging Scholars Program, Online, 07 December 2021 - 07 December 2021, https://www.an4aa.org/rhd-2021
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Tieu B, 2021, 'Designing the In-between: Traversing Biography and Place through Objects', presented at Futuring Craft International Conference, Curtin University, 17 September 2021 - 19 October 2021, https://indianoceancrafttriennial.com/
    Conference Presentations | 2021
    Tieu B, 2021, 'Thresholds: Connecting Intercultural Values and Making', presented at The JMGA Conference Redistributed: Value Chains Reset, online, 17 August 2021 - 09 October 2021, https://garlandmag.com/value-chains/
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2021
    Tieu B, 2021, Bows, Meditating through Jewelry, Artist Living Room, New York City Jewelry Week, 16 November 2021 - 21 November 2021, medium: Ebony, Stainless Steel, Sterling Silver, at: https://nycjewelryweek.com/events/#meditating-through-jewelry?eventType=exhibition
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2021
    Tieu B, 2021, Patterns In-between, Cheongju International Craft Biennale 2021, Culture Factory - Cheongju, South Korea, 08 September 2021 - 17 October 2021, at: https://www.okcj.org/%20and%20https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=765iQwkkab8
    Conference Papers | 2019
    Moline K; Parker A; Tieu B; Vickers C; Watts H, 2019, 'Narratives in the Exhibition of Design: Materials, Processes and Contemporary Challenges', in Narratives in the Exhibition of Design: Materials, Processes and Contemporary Challenges, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, presented at Real/Material/Ethereal: The 2nd Annual Design Research Conference, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, 03 October 2019 - 04 October 2019, https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1986702/adr19-schedule.pdf
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2019
    Tieu B, 2019, Framing Tea Leaves, Shifts in Japanese Materiality, Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre, Canberra, 11 July 2019 - 31 August 2019, medium: Sterling Silver and Shakudo, at: https://craftact.org.au/blogs/exhibition-catalogues/shifts-in-japanese-materiality
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2019
    Tieu B, 2019, Kangaroo Paws Brooches, Contemporary Wearables ’19 Biennial Jewellery Award, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, 07 September 2019 - 03 December 2019, medium: Sterling Silver, Japanese Lacquer, Plywood, Mother of Pearl Powder, Stainless Steel., at: http://user.tr.qld.gov.au/all-time/81659/exhibition-contemporary-wearables-19-biennial-jewellery-award
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2019
    Tieu B, 2019, Mapping Floral Imagery, Ideas Intersecting: Innovation and Design, The Black Box: USW Art & Design, 01 December 2019 - 10 March 2019, medium: Video, at: https://sydneydesign.com.au/2019/event/ideas-intersecting-innovation-and-design/
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2019
    Vickers C, 2019, Performance Annotations, Ideas Intersecting: Innovation and Design, The Black Box, UNSW Art & Design, 01 March 2019 - 10 March 2019, medium: Video, at: https://www.ideasintersecting.com/exhibition-1
    Curatorial Outputs | 2019
    Vickers C; Tieu B, 2019, Ideas Intersecting: Innovation and Design, exhibited at: The Black Box, UNSW Sydney, 01 March 2019 - 10 March 2019, https://www.ideasintersecting.com/exhibition-1
    Creative Written Works | 2019
    Vickers C; Watts H; Parker A; Tieu B, 2019, Placing Process, Ligature Journal Issue 07, Oppen F; Riley K, (ed.), Tiliqua Press, https://www.ligaturejournal.com/issues/ligature-journal-issue-seven-place-mind/
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2018
    Keulemans G, 2018, Archaeologic Vases (series 3 & 4), Guy Keulemans, The Japan Foundation Sydney, 02 February 2018 - 17 March 2018, medium: ceramic, metal, synthetic glues, photoluminescent pigments, paint, at: https://jpf.org.au/events/shifts-in-japanese-materiality/
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2018
    Tieu B, 2018, Mapping Floral Imagery: Moon Sea Light Series and Floral Maps, Shifts In Japanese Materiality, The japan Foundation Gallery, 02 February 2018 - 16 February 2018, at: https://jpf.org.au/events/shifts-in-japanese-materiality/
    Curatorial Outputs | 2018
    Tieu B, 2018, Shifts in Japanese Materiality, exhibited at: The Japan Foundation, Sydney, 02 February 2018 - 16 March 2018, Shifts in Japanese Materiality, https://jpf.org.au/events/shifts-in-japanese-materiality/
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2017
    Tieu B, 2017, Bi-Cultural Florals, How Does Your Garden Grow?, Goulburn Art Regional Gallery, 03 February 2017 - 18 March 2017, at: http://www.grag.com.au/site/exhibition.php?id=128
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2017
    Tieu B, 2017, Out Line Floras, How Does Your Garden Grow?, Goulburn Art Regional Gallery, 03 February 2017 - 18 March 2017, at: http://www.grag.com.au/site/exhibition.php?id=128
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2016
    Tieu B, 2016, Between Auspicious Forms: Contemplative Jewellery and Objects made from Metal and Lacquer, Between Auspicious Forms, Fairfield City Museum and gallery, 20 August 2016 - 21 December 2016
    Creative Works (non-textual) | 2016
    Tieu B, 2016, Traversing The Surface, Secret Seven: Research Adventures in Jewellery and Object, AD SPACE | UNSW Art & Design, 04 October 2016 - 07 October 2016
    Creative Written Works | 2016
    Tieu B; Murray K, 2016, An Orchid in the Desert - The Lacquer Journey of Bic Tieu, Between Auspicious Forms: Contemplative Jewellery and Objects made from Metal and Lacquer, KhaΧ Publishers, http://kevinmurray.com.au/text/an-orchid-in-the-desert-the-lacquer-journey-of-bic-tieu
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Tieu B; Veness Z, 2016, 'Poetic Dimensions: Jewellery Conversations about Design Process', in Wong SW; Kikuchi Y; Lin TS (eds.), Making Trans/National Contemporary Design History, Blucher, Taipei, pp. 238 - 243, presented at ICDHS 2016 TAIPEI | THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DESIGN HISTORY & DESIGN STUDIES, Taipei, 26 October 2016 - 28 March 2016, http://www.proceedings.blucher.com.br/article-list/icdhs2016/list#articles
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Veness ZJ; Tieu B, 2016, 'Poetic Dimensions: Jewellery Conversations about Design Process', in Poetic Dimensions: Jewellery Conversations about Design Process, ICDHS The International Conference on Design History and Design Studies: Making Trans/national Contemporary Design History, Taipei, presented at ICDHS The International Conference on Design History and Design Studies: Making Trans/national Contemporary Design History, Taipei, 26 October 2016 - 28 October 2016, https://www.facebook.com/ICDHS2016Taipei/
    Creative Written Works | 2015
    Tieu B, 2015, A shimmering Practice:Japanese Lacquer Art, TAASA Review: The Journal of Asian Arts Society, The Asian Arts Society Inc, http://taasa.org.au/taasa-review/
    Conference Presentations | 2012
    Tieu B, 2012, 'Makie the Sprinkling of a Magical History: Making in the New World', presented at MAKING an International Conference on Materiality and Knowledge, Notodden, Norway, 24 September 2012 - 27 September 2012, http://making.nordfo.org/
    Theses / Dissertations | 2007
    Tieu B, 2007, Traditional Vietnamese Lacquering Processes and their Applicaitons to Contemporary Jewellery and Small Scale Body related Objects, The University of New South Wales
    Conference Papers | 2005
    Parker WA; Tieu B, 2005, 'The Intersection of Lacquer and Laser Technology in Contemporary Jewellery Design', in 2005 IDC: New Design Paradigms - International Design Congress - IASDR 2005, IDC: New Design Paradigms - International Design Congress - IASDR 2005 2005, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, presented at IDC: New Design Paradigms - International Design Congress - IASDR 2005 2005, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, 01 November 2005 - 04 November 2005