Imagine Material
Solo exhibition, 2021 Installation view at Sa Sa Art Projects, 2021 Photographs Horn Monineath
Imagine Material is a testament to realizing my imaginative response and making things with all surrounding object for a greater sense of connection and empathy within one place. I work with conventional materials that appear lifeless and artless, transforming them into new images that are capable of conveying meaning and reflection. Living in a developing country, while I am surrounded by the cold and emotionless environment, I aim to bring life back for keeping our sense of place. The juxtaposition of materials can prompt viewers to consider the complex relationship between nature and human civilization, as well as the potential for beauty and resilience in the face of industrialization.
My work takes on different forms through the use of various materials such as bricks, cement, wood, metal, and chalk. etc. I explore the unique properties and characteristics of each material; bond with cement, form with brick, use wood as a ground, shape iron, and add geometry to harness the force of each property. I express meaning through simple enigmatic forms, and my contemplation of the materials' true nature informs my artistic process. To illustrate, 'Monk', I used bricks to form abstract humans that evoked the warm glow of the colour red in Buddhism. Brick appears red after undergoing heat, while also in buddhism; red reference to fire. I added a touch to traditional cultural images to reinforces my belief in the interconnectedness of all things.
'New life' depicted a metaphor of transition as cement becomes soft and hardened and sticks things within it. The artwork's composition, cement and chalk, for the active intervals between things. The cement represents the harsh, unyielding nature of life, while the chalk lines represent the ephemeral and temporary moments. The visual tension is further emphasised by the rows of connecting lives sprouting from the cement. The two opposing forces within the artwork for forming an integration and empathy, and emphasising the law of duality for shed light on many aspects of the world around me.
'Body and head' are three smaller hollow sculptures made of thin concrete inspired by the shape of a reptile body, with a brick at one end imagined as the head. All the artworks take on a light approach of imaginatively over technical to allow more engagement, as they may evoke different emotions or interpretations. Each piece can be interpreted differently and to explore the emotions that they elicit.