Trial Trenching
White cement, glass, stainless steel
A set of 4
2024--2025

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探方
白水泥、玻璃、不鏽鋼
一組4件
2024--2025

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Trial trenching is a methodology used in archaeological excavation to assess the potential of a site. It involves partially and rapidly digging into the ground to investigate the presence of artifacts or geological features.

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This series of artwork was exhibited at Memory Smuggler: A First Quartet at To Art House, Hong Kong, where Chu adopts quasi-archaeological methods to explore the settlements and ruins in the hills of Fo Tan. Through this process, Chu delves into the memories embedded within the urban wilderness. The reliefs and indentations on the cement blocks capture a fusion of snail shells alongside discarded screws, nuts, and flat washers unearthed during her initial visit to the Fo Tan hillside. By mimicking the qualities of fossils, this series serves as an imagined fossil from the future. Enclosed between two layers of glass, it offers a museum-like presentation, evoking the experience of viewing a preserved artefact.

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Image 1: Photo by Wong Pak Hang and commissioned by To Art House. Image 2--4: Photos by Chu Lok Ting, Natalie. Courtesy of Chu Lok Ting, Natalie. Image 5: Photo by Steamy Fan. Courtesy of Panda Chow Studio.

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