Adopted from China at the age of 8 months old, Honey Birch returned to her hometown on a finding trip in 2018. Whilst there, she saw little chairs scattered around the streets, outside homes, filled with old people sitting, eating, chatting, and watching the world go by. Through building two chairs of her own, taking influence from both Chinese and British design, Little Chairs, Little Conversations is an attempt to connect with her own experience of growing up Chinese-ish. The project stems from a frustration of not being understood, and wanting to talk with others with the same experience. Mirroring a life that could have been, the Little Chairs provides a space for conversation. Through connecting with 3 other adoptees about our experiences, similarities and differences, this project offers a glimpse of the lives of adopted Chinese diaspora.
Little Chairs, Little Conversations is a 20-minute short film (to be released in 2024, with a 6-minute preview at the KSA Degree Show) and series of portraits set on the Chinese archetype of a ‘Little Chair’ to sit down and chat about the ways in which Chinese adoptees navigate life.
