{"id":873339,"date":"2026-10-07T00:06:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T00:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/873339\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T00:06:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T00:06:14","slug":"hannah-lim-draws-on-her-british-singaporean-heritage-in-sculptural-snuff-bottles-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/873339\/","title":{"rendered":"Hannah Lim Draws on Her British-Singaporean Heritage in Sculptural Snuff Bottles \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"

In playful, anthropomorphized sculptures, Hannah Lim<\/a> takes inspiration from historical ceramics, classical Chinese literature, and her British-Singaporean heritage. For several years, the London-based artist has been interested in the 17th- and 18th-century design phenomenon known as Chinoiserie<\/a>, in which European producers mimicked Chinese and other Asian motifs, appropriating a variety of regional aesthetics that catered to a Western market. \u201cIn my own work, I attempt to reclaim and re-imagine this practice in a more conscientious way,\u201d Lim says in a statement. \u201cMy sculptures often draw inspiration from specific cultural styles or processes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snuff bottles<\/a> represent a consumer trend that emerged in China in the 17th century. Its namesake substance, which originated in the Americas, is a kind of powdered, scented tobacco that\u2019s scooped with a tiny spoon and inhaled directly into the nose. As in Europe, its popularity spread especially among the affluent. When Lim observed several examples in museum collections around the U.K., she was fascinated by their ornate designs and variation and began experimenting with sculpting similar motifs. Then, she began to scale up.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cPhoenix Spirit House Snuff Bottle\u201d<\/p>\n

A typical snuff bottle is diminutive and jewel-like, typically just a couple of inches in diameter so that it could be both portable and easily tucked away. Lim\u2019s are several inches tall and usually need to be held with both hands. \u201cInitially, my own snuff bottle works were designed in a way to highlight certain personal aspects of my heritage. Over time, they\u2019ve come to reflect different points in my research,\u201d Lim tells Colossal. \u201cEach of my own snuff bottles also has a hanging charm hidden within its lid. The hanging charm references the tiny spoon attached to the lid of traditional snuff bottles.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the structure, Lim uses a combination of polymer clay and Jesmonite, a casting material made by blending a mineral powder with liquid acrylic polymer. She also applies chalk, acrylic paint, and a layer of gloss to give each piece its finishing touches, including small painted or relief portraits of animals and imaginary creatures.<\/p>\n

Inspiration comes from a wide range of mythological writings, particularly an ancient Chinese tome called The Classic of Mountains and Seas<\/a>, which is a mostly fantastical account of more than 550 mountains and 300 waterways. \u201cI\u2019ve been attempting to interpret the text through my work, using the enchanting alchemic descriptions of these creatures as inspiration for my most recent series of sculptures and paintings,\u201d the artist says.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cSleeping Tiger Snuff Bottle\u201d<\/p>\n

Lim is continuing to experiment with scale and materials, especially through the use of metal, and recent sculptures like \u201cOrchid Table\u201d incorporate laser-cut elements. She\u2019s also frequently making bespoke frames that serve as extensions of her paintings, and she plans to incorporate motifs onto the frames themselves.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in the U.K., see Lim\u2019s solo exhibition Reimaginings through November 14 at the Museum of East Asian Art<\/a> in Bath. She\u2019ll also have some works on view later this month with Cynthia Corbett Gallery<\/a> in Paris, and later this year, she\u2019ll unveil a new public artwork in Paddington, London. See more and follow updates on the artist\u2019s Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cOrchid Table\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cMidnight Crane Snuff Bottle 1\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cPeach and Cranes\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cDouble Fish Snuff Bottle\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cBats and Peaches Snuff Bottle\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cWatchful Crane\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>\u201cFenghuang Snuff Bottle\u201d<\/p>\n

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