Closer Together
20 Jun —13 Aug 2023,
RMIT Gallery, Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC, Australia
Creation: Jaffa Lam, photo credit: Shirky Chan
Creation: Jaffa Lam, photo credit: Shirky Chan
Jaffa Lam
Hong Kong Orchid in Blue
Umbrella Fabric
160 x 240cm
2023
Artwork description:
Jaffa Lam's (°Fujian, 1973) “Hybrid Peace_HK Orchid Tree in Blue” (2023) is a soft, sculptural work made of found umbrella fabric. The work serves as a symbolic flag, a mosaic of orchid flowers, the hybrid species of Bauhinia purpurea and variegata blakeana, known as “Hong Kong orchid tree”. It was adopted as the city flower of Hong Kong since 1965, which has been widely used for banknotes, coins and the flag of HKSAR. The notion of “mixedness” of the species shows the fusion of Chinese and British heritage in the past. Through her work, Lam seeks to bring awareness to elements of cultural life that are being lost through time and development of the city. The images of the Hong Kong Orchid trees were taken at her mother school, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The artist purposely alters the hues of the flower’s colour and make into three versions of the flags in primary colours such as blue, red, yellow, and additionally in grey tone as well. Undercurrent of chaos, the city carries uncertainty yet encompassing the hope, the artist aspires that people to coexist in this complex society that we live in.
Lam's works connect with people and the community through art. The recycled umbrella materials for these flag works were sourced in Hong Kong. Vivid patchworks in blue, yellow, red tone are to be sewn together by the artist and female seamstresses - whom she considers to be her artwork's collaborators - during participative workshops hosted by the artist and the Women's Association of Hong Kong in 2023. The physicality and connotation of umbrellas come to the forefront of her practice. Due to the material's toughness, the object symbolises protection, as a sense of resilience, creating collective energy in the city. Lam's site-specific work evokes the audience's sentiments and memories, creating a highly intimate setting that embraces people and their surrounding space.
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