Cheen Fuen Seow

A motif of layering of geometric forms and lines runs throughout my diverse practice; a series of simple modular structures assembled from common build materials.  This recurring geometric schema could be read as a gesture of self-expression. Combining a logical, systematic approach with imaginative abandon, my work forges a personal sense of order and meaning out of rigidly controlled social and political structures and the turbulent disorder of the contemporary cityscape.

Building structures requires continuity: the necessity of building on former achievements, but using different methods of construction and materials. This vision has led me to explore the materiality of concrete and its surface aesthetic. This series of column-like concrete casts is based on the architectural floor plan. Wanting to bridge traditional mould-making techniques and new digital technologies, I use alternative ways of working with concrete to manipulate and texturise this familiar material. The final marble-like pieces allow one to see this familiar urban build material in a new “hybrid” status.

As an installation in the gallery, the concrete cast pieces lend a surreal effect to both interior and exterior space, evoking feelings of alienation and acting as a spatial barrier. This tactile experience heightens viewers’ awareness of the sensory realm of architecture, beyond the gallery walls.