Small details and careful work are some of my favorite things to do. The trance I get locked in when every little piece falls into place is like exploring nature with a magnifying glass. Like trimming a bonsai tree. I made City Stack with that idea in mind, to make it as detailed as I can. I find value in what looks very random but has a sense of balance and structure; that is a core value in this piece, the quality of randomness.

I was inspired by not only highly concentrated informal settlements in developing countries, but also the inevitable fate in which modern city stack-and-pack housing is heading. The disparity between the two is not as vast as we think. With growing population and demand for economic opportunities, dwellings get closer together, as that is where convenience lies. And just as this small city is not contained within the wooden frame it was given, life is hard to contain within such a small space. In 2020 it was reported that 1.1 billion people resided in densely packed, under-resourced communities and these numbers keep climbing. I would like to draw attention to misconceptions that are frequently associated with these places. While potentially enduring unfortunate living circumstances, they are often filled with vibrant informal economies; diverse members of the workforce including office-goers, teachers, factory workers, entrepreneurs, artists, and even government employees; and highly resourceful people often having an embedded sense of community participation. When paralleled to apartment buildings, skyscrapers, and other small homes made with the intention of optimizing space and keeping people close to resources and jobs, we can see that the difference is not far off.

The process of making this piece was instinctual, as I find that when working with mixed media projects, especially 3D, my best ideas come from sudden inspiration and spontaneity. Working this way can sometimes be unsure. In the making of this project, I found myself overwhelmed with where to start. But once my path became more clear, I could figure out where to reach out and stray off, and now I find I’ve learned a lot from it.

I hope every detail, intention, and thought process is discernible, and that City Stack is a stimulating visual journey.