佳佳 (Good Good) Mama Shop (2014)
Interactive Installation
cardboard, rice and other mixed media
4.8M x 2.8M x 2.8M
cardboard, rice and other mixed media
4.8M x 2.8M x 2.8M
The “Jia Jia” (Chinese translation: Good) Mama Shop is an installation of a hybridisation of our local mama (provision) shop and luxury goods store, selling things that are recreated from the unwanted, while ringing a pun on the artist’ name. Triggered by our relentless pursuit of happiness and the socio-economic fabric in our society, this installation invites the audience to immense into a juxtaposed space of perplexing duality.
"At first glance, the work appears to be a local provision mama shop that is displaced from a typical shop house. Upon closer observation, the displacement and juxtaposition of objects and surroundings of the shop reveals that it is made from a pure combination of rice, coffee powder and cardboard, that totally defies the tradition of durability and permanence, to critique in areas of fragility and transience. What is displayed appears to be that of branded merchandise, in particular, handbags and the whole room exudes of nostalgic shop house smell due to the media used. What ought to be functional is painstakingly created from scratch, emphasizing craftsmanship and perfection, but at the same time, its palpable failure due to the impossibility of using a bag that uses handles made of moulded rice. This unease makes the viewers rethink about the impact of trends, inevitable societal advancement and constraints within constructs in the contemporary world at large. A critique of our pursuit happiness, its intriguing duality invites viewers to participate in the process of meaning making, rethinking what we value most at the end of the day. "
"Never born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I have been searching the answer to happiness. Till then, I realized I don't need one."
"At first glance, the work appears to be a local provision mama shop that is displaced from a typical shop house. Upon closer observation, the displacement and juxtaposition of objects and surroundings of the shop reveals that it is made from a pure combination of rice, coffee powder and cardboard, that totally defies the tradition of durability and permanence, to critique in areas of fragility and transience. What is displayed appears to be that of branded merchandise, in particular, handbags and the whole room exudes of nostalgic shop house smell due to the media used. What ought to be functional is painstakingly created from scratch, emphasizing craftsmanship and perfection, but at the same time, its palpable failure due to the impossibility of using a bag that uses handles made of moulded rice. This unease makes the viewers rethink about the impact of trends, inevitable societal advancement and constraints within constructs in the contemporary world at large. A critique of our pursuit happiness, its intriguing duality invites viewers to participate in the process of meaning making, rethinking what we value most at the end of the day. "
"Never born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I have been searching the answer to happiness. Till then, I realized I don't need one."