This Sabahan Only Started Making Beadwork 2 Years Ago but Has Now Already Collaborated with Disney

Back in August, we wrote about how Malaysian artists Red Hong Yi and Danielle Soong were selected for Disney’s global Create 100 campaign, joining the world’s most renowned visionaries across fashion, music, art and more to donated artworks, items and experiences inspired by their personal connection to stories and characters across Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and 20th Century to benefit Make-A-Wish.

They had the privilege of representing Malaysia and adding their names to a list of glittering icons such as Beyoncé and Christian Louboutin and joining in a cause with Disney and Make-A-Wish to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses worldwide.

We spoke to the next-generation bead artist Danielle about the piece she produced for Disney and about her transition into making beadwork full-time since embarking on the journey only around two years ago.

Danielle hails from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and she creates flower-themed jewellery for her brand ‘Tzu’. Like many who found their life undergoing a significant change during the pandemic, her journey into beadwork only began during the lockdown in the year 2020. Amidst the uncertainty and isolation, Danielle discovered her passion for creating intricate bead art that would eventually blossom into a tribute to her beloved mother.

It All Started with One Little Bead

A former photographer, Danielle shared that she launched Tzu in 2021 and it took some time for it to become her full-time job. “I don't have formal art training. My background is in photography, and my journey into beadwork and creating my flower-themed jewellery brand, Tzu, was more of a personal exploration and creative endeavour that I pursued during the pandemic when I didn't have photography jobs. It was a way for me to channel my creative energy and express my artistic visions.”

Finding your niche can take time and she related, “I initially explored different artistic endeavours including crocheting, which I found very therapeutic, but it didn’t ignite the passion and excitement within me.”

“It wasn't until I ventured into the world of beadwork, which I discovered through social media, that I discovered my true calling. The tactile nature of beads and the creative possibilities they offered in terms of colour, texture, and design fascinated me. It allowed me to express my creativity, and I was particularly drawn to flowers due to their intricate patterns and their connection to nature,” she said.

Proving that a degree is just a piece of paper that not everyone needs to succeed, Danielle shared, “I was in college after high school doing graphic design but dropped out after a year as I was not into studying.”

Putting Tzu and Two Together

Speaking of how the name of her store came about, the 35-year-old dished, “Tzu is actually my Chinese name and it’s what my family calls me. Among my friends, I’m always known as Danielle or Soong (my surname) and not many know my Chinese given name. I also didn’t appreciate the name ‘Tzu’ as much as I do now so I want to honour my parents for giving me the name.”

Danielle explains that for her pieces, she draws inspiration from nature and delicate patterns. “I am definitely influenced by the natural elements and colour palettes that surround me in my home state of Kota Kinabalu that I incorporate into my pieces. However, my focus is primarily on creating floral-themed jewellery that transcends specific geographic influences. My designs are a reflection of the universal beauty found in nature and flowers.”

“While I draw from my own imagination and creative vision, I'm also inspired by the work of other artists, such as my dear friend Red Hong Yi, who nominated me for the Create 100 campaign. She is renowned for drawing inspiration from her surroundings, cultural heritage, and the materials in her environment to craft stunning art creations, a quality I truly admire and aspire to replicate in my own beadwork.”

Danielle also cites Venice Foo, who’s known for her incredibly intricate crochet and embroidery works as the one who got her into crochet and “her talents never fail to amaze me,” she quips.

Her beads are obtained from various sources and suppliers, but she typically procures high-quality beads, such as Japanese glass beads to use in her beadwork creations.

Danielle & Disney

Danielle shared how the collaboration with Disney came about with the help of celebrated Malaysian visual artist Red Hong Yi, who is known as “the artist who paints without a brush”, and whose artwork has even appeared on the cover of TIME magazine, as well as publications such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

“The Create 100 project was a wonderful opportunity that I jumped at! Red Hong Yi nominated me as a “next-generation artist” representing Malaysia for the Create 100 project, which involved creating art inspired by stories and characters across Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and 20th Century, in support of Make-A-Wish.

“Participating in Create 100 has been an incredible experience that has allowed me to merge my passion for beadwork with the magic of Disney storytelling. My mom was a huge fan of Disney so it’s a dream come true not only for me but for her as well,” Danielle said while speaking of her late mother.

For Create 100, Danielle crafted an intricate art piece inspired by the fantastical world of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, specifically the garden scene as she typically uses wire to create flower-themed jewellery in her art. Created with Japanese glass beads and wire on wet foam, the beaded sculpture is fixed on medium-density fibreboard (MDF) with a wooden frame.

“The process involved meticulously crafting the piece to capture the whimsy and dreaminess of the scene from the movie. I drew inspiration from the "Golden Afternoon" scene and the song associated with it,” Danielle explained. “It’s a beautiful and dreamy scene and, like Alice, I’m a bit of a daydreamer myself!”

“I wanted to bring Alice’s fantastical adventures to life and incorporate my own signature style into this whimsical moment. This beaded sculpture garden has a personal element as well – it’s a tribute to my mother who passed (away) from cancer, and I’ve always wanted to build a garden for her.

“In my creative journey, I’ve learnt to step out of my comfort zone. It may take a while to find what you’re passionate about, but don’t give up! Like Alice who chases the White Rabbit down a rabbit hole, you have to try things that are out of the ordinary and be daring to take a leap of faith,” she advised.

As beadwork requires a great deal of precision and attention to detail,

it was a meticulous and time-consuming process. “It took about 2 months to complete while juggling with online orders on the side as well. It was a lot of trial and error creating the main characters to the vision I have. I mainly use 0.3mm wire and 2mm size beads for my work so they’re quite delicate,” Danielle elaborated.

We’d Bead Money on Her

Danielle shared her future goals saying, “Looking ahead, I'm excited to continue pushing the boundaries of my artistic expression. I plan to evolve my brand, Tzu, by exploring different themes and inspirations while staying true to my signature flower-themed beadwork. I also aspire to create more meaningful pieces that resonate with individuals on a personal level.”

“Additionally, I'm open to exploring collaborations with other artists and brands that align with my artistic vision. My creative journey is ongoing, and I'm eager to see where my beadwork and artistic pursuits take me next. This is just the beginning!” she ended. So, if you want to work with this up-and-coming artist, hit her up!

Visit Tzu’s Instagram page.

Image credit: Isaac Collard, Disney, @tzu.stuff