An homage to Le’s Vietnamese heritage, Sweet Bitter Melon explores and accentuates her cultural history through mixed-medium formats. An expansion of Le’s jewellery work, wax casting, textile, footage and metal work construct a nostalgic narrative of traditional Vietnamese values, within a contemporary arrangement. Le affectionately explores the intersection of cuisine and superstition, of sensory memories to cultural roots, of love and deference to family and custom.
Antique Vietnamese napkins sourced from Ho Chi Minh, adorned with digital media captured in the city in 2019 unify culture across time. The engagement of wax carved and casted cutlery, sourced vintage zodiac sculptures and fresh Vietnamese produce reflect the enduring influence of culture in Le’s life, and connection to her home country.
Sweet Bitter Melon is Le’s first installation, augmenting her existing metal work and cultivating new modalities to integrate and advance Mass within multi-media projects and collections.
Words by Rebecca Martindale.
Screen Printing by Anti Future.
Flowers by Hattie Mollie.
Production & textiles installation assisted by Georgia Gaillard.
Installation February 24th - 2020 Melbourne. Victoria.
MATERIALS
SOLID BRONZE RABBIT KNIFE
SILVER PLATING
DARK BLUE SAPPHIRES EYES
SOLID BRONZE SNAKE FORK
SILVER PLATING
RED ALMADINE EYES
SOLID BRONZE RAT SPOON
SILVER PLATING
WHITE SAPPHIRE EYES
SOLID BRONZE SNAIL SPOON
SILVER PLATING
SOLID BRONZE SNAIL FORK
SILVER PLATING