statement

Karen Chu’s mixed media collages reengage the act of looking at everyday images in a humorous lighthearted manner.  Chu extracts images of recognizable objects and animals from their original context and recontextualizes them in new relationships and scenarios that, in turn, encourage new narratives.  This playfulness and amalgamation of imagery and forms translate directly into her sculptural work, as she essentially collages in the third dimension by bringing unlikely combinations together.  Often times, these juxtapositions balance precariously off of each other and challenge gravity.  By providing insight to her obsessions, perspectives and discoveries, Chu redefines “seeing” and shares a glimpse of the world as she views it.