8 July – 6 October 2005
Stella Lai’s artwork explores issues related to memory, identity and globalisation through the creation of alter egos within her work. She explores narrative threads inspired by sexuality, isolation, and revenge using her own childhood experience in Hong Kong as a reference point.
By attempting to isolate specific events from her childhood that left her either bewildered, angry, or confused, she has created a trinity: a single girl that wears three different masks: rabbit, bear, and cat. Each mask is an alter ego exploring a different range of emotions: the rabbit curiosity and confusion, the bear loneliness and depression, the cat anger and uncertainty. The choice of animals was inspired by the Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” famous for its anthropomorphized characters Monkey and Pigsy.
Alongside these characters, Stella incorporates her interest in exploring non-calligraphic Chinese writing, where characters are reduced to collection of geometric forms. These character are interspersed throughout the chaotic urban landscapes of Hong Kong as well as the almost Disney California Chinatowns.
Lai’s changing identity, coupled with her interest in the preservation of culture has led her to this residency. During her residency at Chinese Arts Centre she intends to observe the character of émigré Chinese culture in Manchester. By integrating herself into the Chinese community she hopes to gain a greater cultural understanding.
