Mid Pennine Arts art+people+places

Interval II explored traces of human presence within two contrasting landscapes. Chan juxtaposes two types of architecture, a Victorian cast iron pier on the northwest coast of England and a rammed earth roundhouse in rural southwest China. Using time-lapse to capture the movement of light and shadows over the structures, Chan engaged the viewer in the cycles and fluctuations of time – metaphors for the recent shifts within the two different types of architecture.

The cast-iron pier is a symbol of industrialisation and a place of social and cultural activity. Today, as piers fall into disrepair, many become a refuge for a new community. Thousands of starlings return each day to roost, marking their arrival with mesmerizing swarming formations in the sky.

The roundhouse is a traditional dwelling, historically inhabited by the migrant community of Hakkas, a subgroup within the Han Chinese people with a long history of migration. The round structure is designed to protect its inhabitants from nature and other threats, and articulates the collective spirit of the community. As China modernises, their way of living is being challenged as many move away in search of new opportunities in the cities.

For more information about Suki Chan visit www.sukichan.co.uk