Bamboo Carnival

Venue: National Science Center, Malaysia.

These unique bamboo sculptural creations by Zack Low are an unusual amalgam of the ancient Japanese art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and contemporary metal sculpture, as his primary materials are organic (dry bamboo and wood) and inorganic (aluminium). The combined effect is to give a distinctly tree-like form. As Zack is primarily a jewelry designer who utilizes aluminium and gems, these large lifesize pieces reflect the same kind of amalgam of two different materials. However, unlike jewelry which is meant to adorn the human body, these sculptures adorn living or working spaces. They are at once very traditional with its use of bamboo inspired by Chinese scroll painting and at the same time very contemporary with the use of high-tech aluminium combined in the same work.