Karen Tam

Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop (2012-2016)

A large-scale installation styled after Chinatown curio shops circa 1930s and that appears to be real but is a façade of “DIY chinoiserie”. I am questioning and playing off notions of authenticity and the copy by producing my own faux/fake artefacts and antiques based on the East Asian and chinoiserie objects in various museums and local collections, and eBay, using everyday materials and methods (seemingly genuine jade ornaments are sculpted out of soap, porcelain dinnerware are fashioned out of papier-mâché, and silver objects created out of aluminium oven-liner trays, etc.). This hopefully will highlight the encounters that occur between specific locales and East Asian-influenced material culture and refer not only to mass production of pirated consumer goods in China but also to the questions that are always present where artistic production is concerned.

Saint-Jérôme, Canada

Montréal, Canada

Peterborough, Canada

Plymouth, UK

Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop (2016) As installed at Musée d'art contemporain des Laurentides (Saint-Jérôme, QC) 6.7 x 6.7 x 3.96 m / 22 x 22 x 13 ft Mixed media installation: Papier-mâché, ink, peacock feathers, Chinese newspapers, fabric, vintage Chinese checkers game, greeting cards, clay, soap, aluminium, bought trinkets, cork scene display, bronze and wood lanterns, plastic lanterns, fabric lanterns, clock, mechanical toys, Chinese yo-yos, terracotta warriors, water flask, wooden biscuit moulds, bracelets, seashells, cookie cutters, drum, painting brushes, paper-cutouts, paper lanterns, display cases and shelves, fake firecrackers, hanging scrolls, iron-wrought pictures, mah-jong game, Chinese almanacs and calendar, embroidery, embroidered insoles, wooden and metal swords, nanchuks, sequins, tables, plywood, cocktail shakers, abaci, Fu Manchu mask, textiles, pjs, qipao, porcelain (jars, teapots, teacups, dishes, bowls, plates, vases), cricket cage, kites, flutes, jade, wooden fish instruments, fake bonsai, chopsticks, clay figurines and bridges, cardboard, umbrella, bamboo mats, tray, fans, playing cards, wood, bamboo, glass, paper, Chinese slippers, kung-fhu shoes, hip flasks, antique brass keys, beer cans, brocade boxes, ivory box, gourds, foamboard, beads, Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop soundtrack.

Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop (2016) As installed at Articule (Montréal, QC) 12.35 x 7.31 x 3.35 m / 40.52 x 24 x 11 ft Mixed media installation: Papier-mâché, ink, peacock feathers, Chinese newspapers, fabric, vintage Chinese checkers game, greeting cards, clay, soap, aluminium, bought trinkets, cork scene display, bronze and wood lanterns, plastic lanterns, fabric lanterns, clock, mechanical toys, Chinese yo-yos, terracotta warriors, water flask, wooden biscuit moulds, bracelets, seashells, cookie cutters, drum, painting brushes, paper-cutouts, paper lanterns, display cases and shelves, fake firecrackers, hanging scrolls, iron-wrought pictures, mah-jong game, Chinese almanacs and calendar, embroidery, embroidered insoles, wooden and metal swords, nanchuks, sequins, tables, plywood, cocktail shakers, abaci, Fu Manchu mask, textiles, pjs, qipao, porcelain (jars, teapots, teacups, dishes, bowls, plates, vases), cricket cage, kites, flutes, jade, wooden fish instruments, fake bonsai, chopsticks, clay figurines and bridges, cardboard, umbrella, bamboo mats, tray, fans, playing cards, wood, bamboo, glass, paper, Chinese slippers, kung-fhu shoes, hip flasks, antique brass keys, beer cans, brocade boxes, ivory box, gourds, foamboard, beads, Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop soundtrack.

Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop (2015) As installed at Artspace (Peterborough, ON) Approx. 7.87 x 12.14 x 3.66 m / 25.83 x 39.83 x 12 ft Mixed media installation: Papier-mâché, ink, peacock feathers, Chinese newspapers, fabric, vintage Chinese checkers game, greeting cards, clay, soap, aluminium, bought trinkets, cork scene display, bronze and wood lanterns, plastic lanterns, fabric lanterns, clock, mechanical toys, Chinese yo-yos, terracotta warriors, water flask, wooden biscuit moulds, bracelets, seashells, cookie cutters, drum, painting brushes, paper-cutouts, paper lanterns, display cases and shelves, fake firecrackers, hanging scrolls, iron-wrought pictures, mah-jong game, Chinese almanacs and calendar, embroidery, embroidered insoles, wooden and metal swords, nanchuks, sequins, tables, plywood, cocktail shakers, abaci, Fu Manchu mask, textiles, pjs, qipao, porcelain (jars, teapots, teacups, dishes, bowls, plates, vases), cricket cage, kites, flutes, jade, wooden fish instruments, fake bonsai, chopsticks, clay figurines and bridges, cardboard, umbrella, bamboo mats, tray, fans, playing cards, wood, bamboo, glass, paper, Chinese slippers, kung-fhu shoes, hip flasks, antique brass keys, beer cans, brocade boxes, ivory box, gourds, foamboard, beads, Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop soundtrack.

Terra dos Chinês Curio Shop (2012) As installed at the Plymouth Arts Centre (Plymouth, UK) Approx. 7.54 x 2.4 x 3 m / 24.7 x 7.9 x 10 ft Mixed media installation: Papier-mâché, paint, ink, feathers, Chinese newspapers, fabric, vintage Chinese checkers game, card, clay, soap, aluminium, bought trinkets, cork scene display, lanterns, display cabinet, playing cards, wood, bamboo, glass, paper, 3D placemats, Chinese shoes, hip flasks, antique brass matchboxes, antique brass keys, greeting cards, beer cans, ivory box, gourd, foamboard, beads

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