Faculty of Art

Drawing and Painting

liane chan

bitter and pithy

a still life painting of a Chinese New Year pomelo, wrapped in PVC mesh and tied with red and gold ribbon.Drawing inspiration from queer literature and sexual praxis, this work touches on the notion of masochistic recognition and kink/fetish subcultures, and the tension of cultural hybridity. The sinicized and feminized Object is subjected to the escapist sexual fantasies of Westerners, yet this projected exotic fantasy conflicts with the “Traditional” Chinese virtues of purity and piousness which restrain Women’s sexual agency. Direct expressions of Love or affection within the Cantonese diaspora are uncommon; Instead, an unsolicited plate of cut fruit for another is a common gesture of Love. Pomelo in particular have tough skin and bitter pith with stubborn paper-like membranes, requiring intensive Labour to cut and peel before serving, yet this pomelo remains pure - unpeeled and preserved in its decorative packaging, ready to be peeled away and devoured.