Introduction: DIY Wearable Black-hearted Food Product
Step 1: Material and Tools
Yakult Robe
1. Black Scarf (1m x 2m)
2. Yakult ( ~300 bottles)
3. Transparent Glue
4. Acrylic Paint (black, ~600ml)
5. Sable Brush
6. Internet Connection
Dunce Cap
1. White Paper (54cm x 78cm)
2. Iron Wire (2m long, 2mm thick)
3. Packaging Tape
4. Hemp Rope (1m)
5. Round Nose Pliers
Wooden Cross
1. Reused Wood (7cm x 4cm, 2m long)
2. Marker Pen (black)
3. Nail
4. Synthetic Enamel (white and red)
5. Regular Paint Brush
6. Hammer
Step 2: Yakult Robe
In Hong Kong Yakult has been a highly sought-after product and popular smuggling item for Mainland Chinese. There were rumours in Southern region of China that Yakult can possibly enlarge breasts, whiten skin and even prevent cancer, but a more reasonable account is that Mainland Chinese worried Yakult produced in China contain tainted milk powder. So items made in Hong Kong are more preferrable.
- Carefully peel off aluminium lidding film of the bottle to make sure it will be reused, and rinse the inside of the bottle. Hairdryer is preferrable for instant drying.
- Apply coating to the inside of the bottle with arcylic paint. Hand painting is the most important step in this instructables as it is the trademark of craftsmanship of DIY black-hearted product. Every stroke is a signature of its maker, in the way that spirit of its maker is eternally embodied into the object.
Also, for the making of Yakult Robe, a Cantonese opera, which is accessible via the Internet, was chosen as background music to render the atmosphere of early Hong Kong household factories. - Seal the bottle with glue.
- Glue bottles to scarf with transparent glue.
Step 3: Dunce Cap
Dunce cap of this kind has its own history; it is the one Chinese Red Guard members used to proclaim 'crimes' of huge anti-revolutionary groups during Chinese cultural revolution in 1960s-70s. The idea of using dunce cap was originated by Chin Wan, the main theorist of theHong Kong localist movement.
A well-prepared template for the paper cone is never needed, as the goal is to make a pointed hat that is at least 70 cm tall. Simply roll and fix its cone shape with packaging tape.
Bend the iron wire to support the hat, make a circle at both extremities with round nose pliers.
Put the wire frame inside the hat and attach it with packaging tape.
Tie both extremities with hemp robe, so when wearing the hat one could secure its position with one hand pulling the hemp robe.
Step 4: Wooden Cross
Rx (Prescriptions) is a logo for health-care programme. Do not confuse it with PX, which is the chemical Paraxylene whose production prompt safety concerns and caused large scale protests in Mainland China. Pharmacies with the logo signboard publicly shown are authorized to prescribe specific categories of poisons. The amount of pharmacies serving smugglers grew rapidly in recent years. At certain district in Hong Kong like Mongkok, the amount of pharmacies targeted for smugglers even out-numbered chain-store convenient stores. Pharmacists are even
not on duty in these drugstores targeted for smugglers, and only items profitable to smugglers are sold.
The making of wooden cross is self explanatory. Just a little reminder - It may take up to a week for enamel to be completely dry, depending on weather condition.
Step 5: Show Time
It took around 50 hours to finish the whole set just before the day of rally. But on final thought I decided not to wear the Yakult robe as the theme of the parody rally would be distracted. Only the dunce cap was used. The wearable item is kept by its maker and its production is archived at the instructables website.
External Links
BBC : Rare Chinese Cultural Revolution photos on display
Hong Kong Yakult is now a highly sought-after product for Mainland Chinese
CNN : Hong Kongers hold parody Communist rally to protest mainland influence
