I have been fascinated by the concept of “home” and its significance in my life, particularly the memories associated with it. One particular memory that continues to influence my art practice is my experience of living in a small cottage-like house in Winnipeg during the 1970s. This house, affectionately known as “The Smallest House Known to Man,” has become a source of inspiration for me.
In my artistic exploration, I aim to reconstruct and reinterpret the idea of a house and the feelings of home by using the memory of “The Smallest House Known to Man.” By layering and floating the walls of this house in space, I create an immersive experience that envelops the viewer. To give these walls a delicate and fluid quality, I employ the use of paper pulp to cast them, replicating the proportions and exterior walls of the original house.
As time passes and memories fade, the house walls in my artwork gradually begin to deconstruct, diminishing in size and vanishing into the atmosphere. Alongside this visual transformation, a continuous video loop plays, depicting a pair of hands engaged in domestic activities such as sandwich-making, toilet cleaning, and dishwashing. This video serves to emphasize the everlasting nature of household tasks, highlighting both their monotony and the dignity inherent in these ongoing endeavors.
Through my artistic exploration of “The Smallest House Known to Man,” I aim to examine the universal concepts of home and homemaking. By blending elements of personal memory and universal experiences, my work invites viewers to reflect on the meaning of home and the significance of the domestic realm in our lives.
