Published: 27/03/2025
Every piece of art has a unique story behind it. We are honored to invite WAN Wing Lam to share her creative inspiration and the stories behind her work through a written interview and a face-to-face short talk.
- What inspired you to use IKEA’s curtain “Teresia” as the core theme of this exhibition?
This begins with my reflections on ordinary objects in daily life. I am often drawn to those seemingly mundane items that people overlook, as they often contain rich stories and emotions. Once, while browsing IKEA, I became fascinated by product names—why are these seemingly unrelated names associated with the products? I decided to delve into the meanings of each product name and discovered some interesting patterns: bookshelves and tables are usually named after men; curtains and textiles often bear women’s names; trash bins are named after famous Swedish lakes; and bathroom products are named after Swedish rivers. These names seem to carry symbolic meaning. As a woman, I was particularly curious about IKEA’s practice of linking textiles to female names. Frankly, I initially thought this was a stereotype of gender roles. Thus, during my research, I began searching online for the meaning of each curtain name. When I entered “Teresia,” the first woman that appeared was Teresia Constantia Phillips, a famous mistress in 18th century England. Unlike other names that represent purity, beauty, and gentleness, the name Teresia is associated with a woman who experienced multiple marriages and affairs. This contrast against the pure white curtain was particularly jarring and sparked my curiosity, driving me to seek answers.
To gain a deeper understanding of this name’s meaning, I contacted IKEA headquarters in Hong Kong and Sweden but did not receive a definitive explanation. So, I decided to follow my curiosity and visit the places where Teresia Constantia Phillips lived—in England—seeking the locations mentioned in her autobiography, “An Apology for the Conduct of Mrs. T.C. Phillips.” This was not only a journey to find answers but also an adventure of self-exploration. This was my first journey driven purely by curiosity; although it was filled with uncertainties, the outcome unexpectedly brought me satisfaction. This journey not only answered my questions about the name “Teresia” but also deepened my understanding of love, marriage, and self, ultimately becoming the core inspiration for this exhibition.
- How did the story of Teresia Constantia Phillips influence your artistic journey and the final presentation of the exhibition?
Teresia Constantia Phillips’s story is vastly different from my own life trajectory, and her experiences prompted profound reflections on love and marriage. Growing up in Asia, I always held a sense of fear and detachment regarding marriage. Therefore, when I learned about her multiple marriages and her role as a mistress, I was quite surprised and began to question the nature of love. Although the initial intention of my journey was to trace her footsteps, I did not deliberately seek her historical traces; instead, I used her story as a guide for the exhibition. The core was more like a self-exploration journey I undertook in England after reading about her experiences—searching for answers about love, marriage, and self. During these seven days, I visited places she once lived, from quiet towns in England to the bustling center of London, and then to the coastal cities of Portsmouth and Dover, finally crossing the sea to Calais, France. This journey allowed me to witness different social strata in England, from humble villages to luxurious cities, each giving me new insights into love and marriage. In every place she lived, I mailed a postcard. The postcards not only symbolized my arrival at a new location but also carried my thoughts and yearnings for the distance. These postcards recorded my reflections and emotions at each stage, allowing the audience to see their content in the exhibition, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of my journey and thoughts.
During the journey, I often stumbled upon things that touched my heart, and for the first time, I opened up to strangers, sharing emotional confusions that I found difficult to express to my family. The stories and experiences of these strangers gradually unraveled my questions and expanded my understanding of love and marriage. Ultimately, I brought these collected materials and reflections back to Hong Kong, transforming them into artistic creations. The audience would not only see the items I brought back from England but also feel the answers and reflections on love I encountered during the seven-day journey. To me, Teresia Constantia Phillips is like a North Star, guiding my exploration, but the true rewards belong to the process of searching for the North. Her story inspired me, but my journey and insights are the core of the exhibition and the most precious part of my artistic creation.
- Can you elaborate on the symbolic significance of curtains and windows in your work, and how they relate to intimacy and desire?
Curtains and windows have an inseparable relationship; when a window loses the protection of a curtain, it feels as if it has been stripped of clothing, exposing everything happening inside to the outside world. Curtains serve as symbols of separation, concealment, and protection, hiding what we do not want to be discovered. This is very similar to our lives; we pull up the curtains in our hearts, hiding thoughts and desires we do not wish to reveal, concealing matters we cannot even share with our closest ones. Yet, sometimes we deliberately open part of the curtains to show what we long for others to see. This contradictory feeling resonates precisely with the nature of curtains. For me, issues of relationships are things I have always struggled to discuss with those close to me; I often feel pressured by their words, which sometimes smooth out my true thoughts, leading me to gradually lose my authentic self and self-affirmation. This entire journey through England was an attempt to open my curtains, slowly letting down my guard against the outside world and beginning to accept myself. Therefore, my exhibition will not feature actual windows; what I explore is the windows and curtains in everyone’s hearts, showcasing stories we cannot articulate through my works.
- During your seven-day journey in England and France, what was the most memorable moment you can share with us?
During my seven-day journey in England and France, many unforgettable moments deeply impressed upon me the power of courage and action. This journey taught me to be grateful for every step I took, as it was my first attempt at an adventure without a clear objective. Initially, I felt lost and anxious, worried that I would return to Hong Kong empty-handed. However, as the journey progressed, I unexpectedly found answers about myself, which was a reward I never anticipated.
One of the most memorable moments was when I mustered the courage to share my story with strangers. Since childhood, my family taught me “not to reveal too much personal information to strangers,” which made me accustomed to hiding my emotions and thoughts deep within. However, during this journey, I tried to communicate sincerely with strangers for the first time and unexpectedly received their support and understanding. This was a feeling I had never experienced after living in Hong Kong for many years. I was particularly moved when one lady not only shared her story with me, helping me resolve my inner doubts, but also told me that our conversation encouraged her to find the courage to move on from past emotional traumas and try to connect with others. This helped me break free from the mindset of “feeling small and unable to change anyone,” and I began to believe, “I can help others become better,” marking an important step in affirming myself.
Another unforgettable moment occurred at Green Lane. I walked there for nearly four hours, almost exhausted, and just as I was about to give up, I saw a wedding dress hanging in a laundromat’s window. At first sight, I felt I had to buy it. I gathered my courage to walk into the shop and eventually purchased this forgotten wedding dress for £30. This dress not only gave me new insights into love but also added profound meaning to this exhibition. Although it weighed 7 kilograms and the journey back to Hong Kong was quite arduous, it was all worthwhile. What made this even more memorable was that on my last day in England, I bravely put on the wedding dress in the 2-degree morning at Portsmouth Southsea Beach and took my first wedding photos. A friendly couple drove half an hour specifically to photograph me and then gave me a ride back to my hotel. This experience deeply taught me that sometimes you just need to give yourself a push; taking that brave step can lead to unexpectedly beautiful memories.
- What challenges did you encounter while creating this exhibition, and how did you overcome them?
The greatest difficulty in creating this exhibition was overcoming psychological pressure and the weather in England. Before this exhibition, I was someone who tended to think things through very thoroughly before executing them. Thus, when this journey began without a clear goal and answers, I felt extremely anxious. In the days leading up to my departure and the first two days in England, I was almost in a “searching for a needle in a haystack” mental state, worried that I would return to Hong Kong empty-handed. However, intriguingly, after I purchased that wedding dress, my journey seemed to take on a different significance. As I talked to more people and received their help, I gained a clearer perspective on my creative direction and greater confidence in myself.
Another significant challenge was the weather in England. In February, England is almost always windy and rainy, with bone-chilling cold. My schedule was very tight; I visited four places in seven days and spent most of my time walking the streets, filming videos with fingers nearly frozen. To make matters worse, on the night I was heading to Portsmouth, all trains and subways in England were delayed, making an already exhausting itinerary even more challenging. However, despite the physical discomfort, the spiritual rewards made me feel immensely satisfied, even allowing me to temporarily forget these difficulties.
During this journey, a comment from an elderly gentleman left a deep impression on me. When I complained to him about the weather in England, he said, “Since getting wet in the rain is like taking a hot shower when you get home, why not enjoy the process of getting wet? After all, you’ll have to take a hot shower when you get back.” This statement was a revelation for me. I had never thought about the issue from this perspective; I had been complaining about the weather for days while overlooking the beauty in life. In fact, returning home in the rain is not a hardship; rather, it is an opportunity to slow down and feel the world. When you can’t pull out your phone, you become more focused on your surroundings, discovering the details that are often overlooked. This experience made me realize that I often get trapped in my own mental box, and the old gentleman’s words opened a new window for me, teaching me to view life’s challenges and beauty from different angles.
- What message or feeling do you hope the audience takes away from the exhibition “Teresia”?
I hope that when the audience views the exhibition “Teresia,” they can develop a new understanding and resonance regarding emotions, intimate relationships, and hidden feelings. Through my personal journey and creations, I try to reveal the complexities, vulnerabilities, and realities of love, challenging conventional perceptions of emotions. Each work in the exhibition serves as a dialogue, inviting the audience to reflect on their experiences and feelings in intimate relationships and to re-examine those often overlooked or suppressed emotional details.
I also hope the audience can feel that love is not merely about superficial romance and beauty; it also encompasses materiality, contradictions, struggles, and change. Through the exhibition, I aim to convey a deeper emotional experience, allowing the audience to approach the imperfections and realities of love with a more open and inclusive mindset. Ultimately, I hope they can take away a new perspective—a redefinition of love—and find resonance with it in their personal lives.
The “TERESIA” exhibition is now open. We warmly welcome you to The Gallery of Hong Kong Art School to embark on this journey of self-discovery and emotional connection. WAN Wing Lam’s works will take you into a world filled with stories and emotions. This is not just a visual feast, but a touch of the soul.
TERESIA
Exhibition Period : 28 Feb – 8 Apr 2025
Time : 11am – 8pm (Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays)
Venue : The Gallery of Hong Kong Art School (10/F, Hong Kong Art Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
Artist : WAN Wing Lam