Abandoned House series – Bomb Shelter (2003) by TAM Wai-Ping
19th Century wall paper pattern spraied by Floresc
On the walls of the abandoned bomb shelter, I sprayed decorative wall paper patterns in fluorescent colours. The patterns were derived from the traditional Chinese design and were very popular in Britain in the 19th Century. It bred from the exotic idea and evolved to a desire which resulted in invasive behaviour.
History is passed into oblivion. Places, people and stories were forgotten and abandoned, the melancholy of the untraceable “disappearing”. The “re-presentation” through installation work always focuses on the aesthetic of the form which renders the message superficial and decorative. However, the hollow imitation cannot cover up the heaviness of truth.