Swimming pools and school rules: artist Chan Wai Lap on the unusual themes behind his installations
Briefly

Swimming pools and school rules: artist Chan Wai Lap on the unusual themes behind his installations
"Chan Wai Lap's fascination with swimming pools stems from his experience learning to swim as an adult, which he describes as a form of escape from his previous work. He found the low-pressure environment of the pool allowed him to observe the space and its structure more closely, leading to a deeper appreciation of the subtle rules and routines that govern behavior in these social settings."
"In the pool, your mind loosens up. You don't have your phone with you to distract you. The smallest details start catching your attention, leading to all sorts of associations, from the patterns of movement to the interactions between swimmers. This heightened awareness of the environment has significantly influenced Chan's artistic practice."
Chan Wai Lap, a Hong Kong artist, is captivated by public swimming pools rather than the open sea. His work includes drawings and installations that highlight the visual order of these spaces, such as tiled surfaces and lane markings. Projects like Mimimomo Pool and Jeremy's Bathhouse showcase his exploration of the social dynamics and subtle rules governing behavior in these environments. Chan's interest in swimming pools grew after he learned to swim as an adult, finding them to be low-pressure spaces that fostered observation and creativity.
[
|
]