Clara Chu

P-O-U-N-D-L-A-N-D is a surreal take on a nomad’s journey and a reconstruction of her travel essentials. No matter how far she travels, she brings with her a ‘taste of home’ – a variety of accessories put together using a collection of seemingly incompatible household objects, fabricated into colourful new constructions whilst allowing their intrinsic beauty to take form. Her 15 belongings include: a watch, a purse, headphones, earrings, a toothbrush, bikini, sunglasses, a hat, a mask, sandals, a phone, a handbag, an umbrella, a suitcase, a map.
Each one is an experiment, a call to physicality, with the aim to create a familiar yet strange environment. The piece hopes to offer a whimsical experience through the humorous deconstruction of everyday mundanity, making the most recognizable and common objects uncommon.
With a spontaneous and automatic approach in making, the juxtaposition between the work’s artificiality and its low-tech production portrays a critical reflection on our imprint and reliance on society’s consumerism. What power does that produce when ‘stuff’ from the pound shop gets made into unique and one-off pieces? P-O-U-N-D-L-A-N-D celebrates tangibility and embraces craftsmanship, youth and a sense of playfulness through vibrant and eccentric forms.