In a world full of uncertainty and constant change, contemporary social issues such as time, identity, daily life, and architectural environments have become the focus of artists. Gallery HZ recently presented its first group exhibition “PERSONA,” showcasing the works of 13 artists through various art forms such as oil painting, photography, digital prints, digital prints, sculptures, etc., sharing the artists’ perceptions of the world.
The works in this exhibition come from artists in Hong Kong and around the world, including Simon Birch, Peter Chan, Clément Denis, Wu Junyan, Guishan Tian, Chong-Il Woo, MoMo Kim, Desmond Lo, Chow Ciao Chow, Taishima Daisuke, Emmy Wan, Camie Lyons, and Kirsteen Pieterse. Each artist has their own unique style and creative ideas. The materials, composition, colors, and themes of each work are elements through which we understand the artist’s creative ideas, while the viewer’s personality, mindset, and experiences determine how they will interpret the works in front of them.
The works of Guishantian He and Chong-Il Woo all juxtapose the faces of characters and their historical traditions with cultural references in modern life, thereby exploring the concepts of identity construction and recognition. The works of the two can be said to echo each other, with the former considering how people perceive and understand cultural references from different eras in “The Sweet Sweet Life,” thus exploring how mixed cultural identities are formed. Chong-Il Woo, on the other hand, expresses his appreciation for the beauty of traditional Korean women through his photographic work “Women of the Joseon dynasty nude series,” while also criticizing the trend of plastic surgery that is popular in today’s society.
Simon Birch also uses overlapping brushstrokes to showcase the tension, posture, and emotions of the characters in his oil painting “Spellwell Fishscale True,” projecting personality traits. Chow Ciao Chow’s portrait painting “Your Tears Grow Beautiful Yellow Flowers” portrays individuals through different colors and patterns, reflecting various personality traits. The figures in the painting are either crying or have their faces covered, as Chow Ciao Chow believes that tears can wash away people’s sadness, eventually blooming into bright flowers.
Clément Denis presents complex emotions through stacked portraits, using the canvas as a unique space to express personal feelings, combining personal emotions with modern spirit, bringing the oil paintings “Reflet I” and “Cartographic de l’exode”.
Peter Chan captures various patterns and images in life in the style of contemporary still life, especially those related to East Asian heritage. By recombining these images with different backgrounds, he gives new narratives and meanings. He uses the technique of contrasting light and shadow with soft light to bring dramatic and mysterious tension to his works. On the other hand, Hu Junyan depicts the traces of time by recording the imperfections and trivial details of objects, reflecting the appearance of the real world. He captures the subtle changes in light and shadow of everyday objects to reveal the stories behind the ordinary.
Daisuke Tajima intricately depicts the cityscape of Nara, Japan, showcasing the vast urban landscape in his work “Dragon’s Alley.” The creative process helps him dispel inner fears and loneliness, providing him solace and tranquility.
Camie Lyons explores the lines, forms, and dynamics created by the human body in constantly changing time and space through the figurative approach of the bronze sculpture “Clipped Wings”. Her work is both resilient and elegant, with a sharp contrast between the hardness of the material and the fluidity of form, while the abstract lines presented in three-dimensional form intertwine, spiral, and extend with each other.
Both are sculptures, Kirsteen Pieterse’s “Gathering” is created from stainless steel in a geometric structure, presenting the image of clouds. Through the fleeting impermanence of clouds and the strength of stainless steel, it interprets the unstable relationship between humans and the built environment, abstractly conveying the theme of the work.
Desmond Lo’s work “SSP ICC” depicts Hong Kong, deeply influenced by the cyberpunk style of CGI rendering, bringing out his nostalgia for the unique urban landscape of Hong Kong that is rapidly disappearing. Emmy Wan’s pen drawing “Explore” has a style reminiscent of etching, depicting deserted natural landscapes with delicate strokes. The tranquil forest scenes in her work actually contain emotions and thoughts from within, reflecting the healing and energy she derives from nature.
MoMo Kim’s digital print artwork “This is for you” is like her autobiography, expressing her views on the current world and life. Her work uses simple, easily recognizable symbols to provide viewers with space for interpretation, as well as adding positivity and vitality to life.
“PERSONA” Exhibition
Date: From now until October 3rd
Time: Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm, closed on Sundays and public holidays
Location: 222 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan
圖片來源：Gallery HZ
