Late Bloom
- Sai-Wai Foo

‘Taking inspiration from the Japanese concept of oubaitori (桜梅桃李), Sai-Wai Foo tenderly and joyfully embraces the late bloomers and the misfits in her latest body of work.

Delicately hand-cut and collaged images literally bloom out from the pages of old books and surfaces of salvaged treasures. The occasional book title peeping out – English Spinster or Wild Things – makes ironic reference to our cultural obsession with youth and refinement, and the persistent stereotypes which haunt women and social outliers.

Rich in references to the natural world, Foo’s exquisitely assembled works contain unfurling universes which are poetic, feminine, and just a little bit macabre. Notably, many creatures that metamorphose and become most beautiful in their mature state feature throughout the works: butterflies, orchids, and snakes that embody the potential for reinvention and re-emergence. In her dynamic compositions, Foo has reanimated the butterfly’s flight and the wind of the snake through foliage, releasing them from static and moribund black and white print. In salvaging and filing old prints, books, and ornaments in her vast studio stores, and so carefully reconstructing them into precious objects, Foo gives her materials a magical second life. 

Foo’s bold vision is brought to life in these works which embody chaos, beauty, history, and reinvention. Lovingly plucked from obscurity and painstakingly composed into objects of beauty and value, these intimate and vibrant works are enchanting and inspiring. With Late Bloom, Foo reminds us to forget comparison and bloom in our own time’. 

Meet the Artist
2pm Saturday 12 November 2022