Imagination. Complexity. Enjoyment. Intrigue. A sense of wonder. These all emanate from the creations of Po Shun Leong, an architect and artist who fashions magnificent, detailed, and one-of-a-kind wooden boxes. Inspired during his childhood by a huge wooden model of an ocean liner, Leong has never lost his fresh outlook on the world. For the first time, the entire range of his work appears in a single volume. Leong's architectural roots led him originally to design chairs, many of which appear here, including ones in fiberglass and polyurethane. Then he began forming his often playful boxes, which grew increasingly detailed through the years. Leong claims they're about "magic and drama", and every design here proves that point. Some figures take their inspiration from surrealist art, while others feature totems and towers. "Figurative Box" (1996) has a muted palette created by bleaching and dying. The highly intricate "Modern Times" takes its name from the Chaplin film and began a series of wall-mounted boxes: it has elements recalling cogs, wheels, and other machinery parts. "Mask Boxes" capture aspects of tribal art, and various "Pompeii" vessels widen at the top, providing a powerful image of volcanic explosion. Arks, coffee tables, and more complete the collection. Specific how-to-build instructions, design elements, and construction drawings for several will be treasured plans in any shop. The entire process of creation -- from inspiration, to sketching, sanding, finishing, and bleaching -- unfolds here in all its glory.
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