OBJECTS OF MISTFIT

“Whether an object is purposeful or not, is in the eye of the beholder.”

An exhibition created and curated by Mariane Chan

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Date: 9-18 October, 2020

Location: PMQ Central, Hong Kong

Organiser: WAKA Artisan 

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When encountering any design objects for the very first time, people often question the functionality or purpose of the object itself rather than acknowledge the aesthetic aspects of the creative concept behind the work of the creator.

In the world we live in today, globalisation and consumerism are inevitable parts of our lives. As a result of mass production people are exposed to a huge variety of products with varying levels of quality every day. Gradually we place commercial value above everything else, especially in the world of ceramics where pieces are commonly considered ordinary and must serve a function such as tableware, vases, etc.

Whether an object is purposeful or not, is in the eye of the beholder. This is why the artist has created this series of misfit objects purely out of her desire. The artist wishes to create visually amusing objects to look at without the burden of a purpose. She believes that the supposed function or purpose of an object should not be the sole reason people are drawn to them in the first place.

In this series, the artist explores the possibilities of clay by adding layers of texture, underglaze, slip and glaze to create ceramic surfaces with contrasting colours and modernist aesthetics. Her work is largely influenced by abstract art with inspiration from Wassily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich and the Bauhaus movement.