Hannah Lim’s work is deeply rooted in her mixed Singaporean and British heritage, a fusion that infuses her work with a unique perspective on the dialogue between East and West. Inspired by the ornate and fantastical nature of Chinoiserie, she has embarked on a quest to explore the complexities of Orientalism and reclaim this cultural dialogue in a more respectful and inclusive manner.

Often described as both anthropomorphic and functional, Lim’s sculptures blur the lines between art and utility, exploring the intersections of form and function. Her transition into bronze work adds a new dimension to her practice, offering a glimpse into the evolution of her creative process. Her residency at Pangolin London has enabled her to explore this new material and culminated in the creation of her most significant piece in the exhibition, Orchid Table. She says:

‘I wanted to create this table-like structure, inspired by my previous sculptures in wood, that reimagine the Chinoiserie aesthetic. The table is designed and built around this central hanging orchid. There is an interesting contrast between the very ornate and delicate elements of the work with the heavy metal chains and balls, that hang from the edges of the table and suspend the orchid from the two upper ‘arms’ of the table top. I like this idea of the Orchid Table looking somewhat enchanted and magical, it pulls together motifs and imagery from many different aspects of my research from the past five years and utilises many different sculptural processes within my practice. This includes sculpting the orchid for casting in polymer clay as well as using my laser cutting files to create the table structure in stainless steel.’