Detail of Wonderland

Chua captures 500 whimsical “portraits” of discarded bric-a-brac, transforming junk into a visual index of wonderment through the act of photography. Set against a turquoise backdrop, the objects’ features, colour, shape and texture become conspicuous. Yet, as each object is individually framed, its scale eludes us. When organised along a grid of 10 rows by 50 columns, the constellation of objects also invites us to contemplate their once-assigned use value. Through his laborious act of collecting, cleaning and restaging, Chua gives these discarded objects a new lease of life as works of art. In his practice, Chua often stages the mundane in ways that uncover meanings and contexts latent beneath their surfaces.