Contemporary by Angela Li presents the latest group exhibition “Past Future”, introducing a title full of contradictions, with the distinctive creations of 7 local artists depicting the sense of helplessness of this generation, unable to change history or transcend the future.
At this moment, it is both the future of the past and will also become the past of the future world. Creators record life in the form of art, showcasing their thoughts and feelings towards society and history. Participating artists include Au Hoi Lam, Cheung Ho Keung, Leung Lok Hei, Ma King Chu, Wong Chak Hung, Wong Sze Wai, and Wong Ying Sheung. They each have different styles, but all explore various phenomena of the past and present with a fresh and unconventional perspective, presenting audiences with different angles to view life!
Huang Shihui’s “Sandcastle” showcases a ruin, where she sees the abandoned land as a vessel of memory and history, uncovering lesser-known stories. Amidst this chaos, it evokes memories of gradually disappearing cities. The artist used various media such as ink, watercolor, colored pigments, clay, etc., in this work. Through the process of repeated painting and washing, it symbolizes how memories and history are constantly altered, even erased by people.
Renowned artist Emma Jones’ works often engage in dialogue with society and history. The exhibited piece “Lilies, Gaze” draws inspiration from a classic Japanese film directed by Morita Arawaka. The artist captures a scene from the film and reinterprets it through sketching, allowing for a deeper reflection on the film’s meaning and the opportunity to rewrite history through their own artistic interpretation.
As a post-90s artist, Leung Lok Hei’s previous works mainly focused on social issues, local culture, collective memories, and urban development. He enjoys collecting small items from daily life to create art, with his most well-known pieces being Hong Kong landscapes made from coins. The works on display this time simplify complexity, yet carry equally profound meanings. He repeatedly uploads colored photos to social media and downloads them again, causing the image signal to degrade in the process, resulting in this image with black and white noise. This series of works reflects how in the overwhelming network of information, both facts and memories are gradually becoming blurred.
Zhang Haoqiang painted the illusion of Hong Kong’s ruins, approaching from a future perspective, looking back at the history that will happen. The artist constructs history, standing in the future to review the sharp changes in the city, hoping to find liberation from it. The inspiration for the work comes from Benjamin’s “Outline of the Philosophy of History,” specifically Paul Klee’s description of the painting “New Angel.” It mentions how the angel, standing in the present, traces the scars of history, unknowingly finding redemption in the process of reflection. Inspired by Benjamin, Zhang Haoqiang’s work adds a philosophical meaning!
The work “Out of Season” is from Qu Kailin’s “Time Definition” series, in which she uses handkerchiefs and linen as media to express her feelings about the passage of time. The text in the painting comes from a song “Funny Time of Year” from musician Beth Gibbons’ 2002 album “Out of Season.” Lying in the slow flow of time, the artist places her longing for a happy ending in the work.
右：《版面一》油彩布本 57.5 x 35 cm 2019年 黃澤雄
The sculpture “Contemplating the Void” in the exhibition is created by Huang Yingchang. The fingers of the artwork form a cylindrical shape, narrowing the field of view, yet also symbolizing observing details with a more focused perspective. The artwork presents the self-imposed limitations of vision and the subsequent release, standing in the present moment, which is exactly the reflection of our examination of the world.
Huang Zexiong’s work is reminiscent of the abstract geometric pioneer Piet Cornelies Mondrian’s primary color works. Mondrian advocated that pure form should not be constrained by subjective emotions and appearances. Now, Huang Zexiong moves these geometric squares onto local newspapers, replacing the popular words and photos, prompting viewers to consider how to digest information from different media.
Seven artists, like time travelers, lead the audience through past, present, and future spaces with unique perspectives. Ordinary scenes, interpreted by different artists, are transformed into profound reflections. If you have doubts about the present, why not take a look at this exhibition? Perhaps you can find inspiration from their awakening!
“Past Future” Artists Joint Exhibition:
Date: July 2 to August 7, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Location: 248 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Contemporary by Angela Li
Image Source: Contemporary by Angela Li
