‘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
Image above: Sai-Wai Foo Heartbreaker 2022 hardback book ‘Good Wives’ by Louisa May Alcott, pleated book papers, paper, glue, entomology …
Image above: Inconsequential idol 2022 doll figurine, ceramic bird, pleated book papers, gold leaf, dyed fresh water pearls, glass head …
Image above: installation view of ‘Have You Eaten?’, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, 2021. Image by Greg Piper, courtesy of …
Image above: Orest Keywan That Line 2023 steel 168 x 271 x 190cm Congratulations to Orest Keywan, Michael Snape and …
Image above: Andrew Antoniou Weird & Wonderful 2024 charcoal on paper 82 x 88 cm Congratulations to Andrew Antoniou who …
Image above: Christine Wrest-Smith Portrait of Susan Johnson oil on linen 122 x 92cm Congratulations to Christine Wrest-Smith who has been …
Image above: Deborah Williams The air smells different 2023 aquatint intalgio 53×39.5cm Congratulations to Deborah Williams, Martin King and Phillip …
Above image details: Jenny Rodgerson Mum’s orange cardigan 2024 oil on linen 60 x 40 cm Congratulations to Jenny Rodgerson and …
Image above: Sarah Tomasetti From Balpatta X 2024 145 x 150 cm pigment oil and marble dust on fresco Congratulations to Holly …
Image above (left to right): Graeme Drendel Portrait of Rick 2024 oil on canvas 41 x 31 cm | Michelle Hiscock …
Image above: Janet Luxton Giant Australian Cuttlefish 2021 oil on canvas 120x160cm Congratulations to Janet Luxton who has had two …
Above image: Wayne Eager, Allegory I 2023 oil on linen 95 x 133 cm Wayne Eager was interviewed by Janet …
Image above: Marina Strocchi The vineyards of Madden’s Lane 2023 acrylic on linen 122 x 152 cm Congratulations to Kate …