blooming papers!
2025 / greyboard, gold cardstock, grey paper / assorted sizes
This exhibition reimagines paper as a luxurious and fragile material, challenging conventional notions of durability and value. Ching Kai's delicate paper creations transform everyday domestic objects, blending whimsy with artistic sophistication. Collaborating with ceramic artist Shireen Abdullah, and inspired by Willem Kalf’s 17th-century still-life paintings, the collection juxtaposes paper with other perishable mediums to celebrate their distinct qualities.
The exhibition also presents paper as a metaphor for human potential, showing how even the most overlooked or ephemeral materials can transcend their perceived limitations. Through these works, Ching Kai encourages viewers to reflect on their own capacity to redefine themselves and break free from societal expectations, embracing roles beyond what is conventionally assigned.
Set within the context of a home, the exhibition transforms familiar spaces into extraordinary environments adorned with paper art. Blooming Papers! inspires a renewed appreciation for fragility, beauty, and innovation. It challenges the norm and celebrates the endless possibilities of reimagined materials—and reimagined lives.
Blooming Papers! was first held in a 3-room HDB in Serangoon, Singapore. Its uniqueness drew interests from around, including a visit from the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Seah Kian Peng, as well as a media coverage on Straits Times.