A Pocket Full of Sand (2024)

Exploring colonial histories, geology and ecological deep time, A Pocket Full of Sand unearths both historical and contemporary connections between Mauritius and the Isle of Wight. Gayle Chong Kwan connects her research with political and physical structures of power, labour, leisure, childhood, and play. Layers of deep time and geological strata are revealed through references to the coloured earth and sand in Mauritius and Allum Bay on the Isle of Wight.

The exhibition comprises a multipart installation bringing together moving image, photography, and sculpture. Moving images permeate the exhibition, depicting sand sculptures emulating colonial architecture in Mauritius. A large-scale composite panorama gives micro and macro perspectives on deep time, colonial history, and contemporary treatment of immigrants, whilst sculptural objects made from bagasse, a by-product of sugar production, evokes colonial towers and childhood play.