People around the world have experienced a major epidemic in the past two years, not only affecting their lifestyles, but also inevitably impacting their mental states. For artists, creation is the best medium to express emotions. San Francisco artist Koak recently held a solo exhibition “The Driver” at the Perrotin Hong Kong space, showcasing various life experiences under the epidemic from 2020 to the present through a series of canvases and sculptures carrying rich and complex emotions.
201.9 x 149.9 cm；右：《My Teeth》 2022 Flashe, acrylic, chalk, and graphite on canvas 149.9 x 115.6 cm.
Photo: Chris Grunder Courtesy of the artist, Perrotin, and Altman Siegel, San Francisco.
In this exhibition, the artist reveals all the core emotions trapped by the epidemic in the past two years, with strong and vivid colors in the paintings expressing various psychological states, showing the audience a short journey of internalized emotions. Unlike past creative habits, Koak’s series of works abandon bright and colorful colors, opting for deeper tones than before, highlighting complex emotions such as lagging, isolation, and anxiety.
149.9 x 115.6 cm；右：《The Cocoon》 2021-2022 Acrylic, Flashe, oil, chalk, pastel, graphite, and casein on canvas 243.8 x 162.6 cm.
Photo: Chris Grunder
Courtesy of the artist, Perrotin, and Altman Siegel, San Francisco.
The characters in the work “My Cage” cross their arms and grab their heads below, showing signs of discomfort and pain. The birdcage hanging behind the characters also symbolizes the protagonist’s confinement in indoor spaces. In the painting “Cocoon,” the intense color contrast in the scene clearly outlines the indoor space, with the artist metaphorically suggesting that under the shroud of viruses and wildfires, people are triggered to feel exhausted and vulnerable.
177.8 x 264.2 cm Photo: Chris Grunder
Courtesy of the artist, Perrotin, and Altman Siegel, San Francisco
In the exhibition piece “Driver” by Koak, the artist uses soft and flowing lines to outline the protagonist lying on the bed, with a thoughtful and longing expression on his face. The clean and distinct lines in the painting may seem spontaneous, but they are actually carefully constructed by the artist. When creating, Koak often scans sketches on the computer, then projects the images onto the canvas using a projector, ensuring that every brushstroke is traceable, achieving perfect lines.
Photo: Ringo Cheung. Courtesy of the artist, Perrotin, and Altman Siegel, San Francisco.
In addition to paintings, the artist also brings sculpture works. The bronze sculpture “Strange Circle” is composed of three slender and curved feline animals, their bodies twisted, with arched and curved feet and tails, reflecting various psychological states through the deformed bodies.
Koak delineates emotional portraits with simple yet exquisite lines, giving them autonomy and inner life. Feel free to visit the exhibition and appreciate how the artist expresses various life experiences and emotional states through creation in recent years.
“Driver”
Date: May 21 to July 9, 2022 (Sundays, Mondays off)
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: Unit 807, K11 ATELIER VICTORIA DOCKSIDE, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Image source and learn more: Pedro (Hong Kong)
