The inspiration for the artworks comes from the concept of the commonplace and practicality of objects in everyday life. The artist explores traditional domestic items that have lost their symbolic meanings and significance over time. Specifically, attention is given to the chamber pot, also known as a spittoon, and the wooden pillow, once utilized by the Chinese community in Singapore. These creations delve into the themes of heritage and identity within the context of globalization, offering a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional objects that aligns with the current domestic environment and modernity.
Historically, the chamber pot was a portable vessel stored under the bed and used as a nighttime toilet, it was widely used in Singapore until the advent of indoor plumbing in the fifties. The chamber pot would be included in the bride's family dowry as a customary item in Chinese weddings. Although some still observe this tradition, the chamber pot has largely lost its original identity, becoming an antique object. Xin breathes new life into this forgotten item, drawing from childhood memories and seeking to reintroduce its elegant form and distinctive red hue.
Similarly, the artist explores the musical box as it relates to the traditional wooden pillows prevalent in the artist's grandmother's upbringing. Today, the artist's grandmother uses an improvised stone and bead version of the solid wooden pillow. Originating from earlier times in China, ceramic pillows preceded the introduction of wooden ones, which are considered traditional. In ancestral times, wooden pillows were designed as chests, housing compartments to safeguard valuables and treasures near the owner while asleep. Xin transforms the wooden pillow into a musical box, evoking nostalgia and connecting people to their past and the lives of their forebears.
#sculpture #ceramics #pottery #asian
The Auspicious I
2007
Semi-porcelain, ceramic transfers, flock (internal)
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
The Blue and White
2007
Semi-porcelain, underglaze
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
Imperial Yellow
2007
Semi-porcelain
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
The Butterfly Lovers
2007
Semi-porcelain, ceramic transfers
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
Venus
2007
Semi-porcelain
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
The Mysterious Black
2007
Semi-porcelain, gold lustre
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
The Imperfect Beauty
2007
Semi-porcelain, gold lustre
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
The Vermillion
2007
Semi-porcelain, flocked (internal pattern)
Dia 400mm x H 450mm
The Musical Pillow #2
2007
Semi-porcelain, gold lustre, urethane rubber, nylon, brass
L215mm x L400mm x H145mm
The Musical Pillow #1
2007
Semi-porcelain, gold lustre, urethane rubber, nylon, brass
L215mm x L400mm x H145mm
The Butterfly Lovers
2011
Semi-porcelain, wood, cork panel, textile, cords
L215mm x L400mm x H145mm
The Embroidered Musical Pillow
2011
Semi-porcelain, textile, yarn, urethane rubber, nylon, brass
L215mm x L400mm x H145mm
The Winter Musical Pillow (Detail)
The Winter Musical Pillow
2011
Semi-porcelain, cork panel, textile, beads, brass
L215mm x L400mm x H145mm