Following Christie’s global debut exhibition of two art masters Francis Bacon and Adrian Ghenie for Hong Kong audiences last month, the trend of dark aesthetics has recently extended to galleries. VILLEPIN proudly presents the new exhibition “Non-Self I,” featuring masterpieces by contemporary artists such as Francis Bacon, Adrian Ghenie, George Condo, Zeng Fanzhi, and Yukimasa Ida, allowing their distorted portrait works to engage in a deep exploration of humanity in space.
The exhibition focuses on portraits, where viewers can appreciate over 20 works themed around people in the gallery’s newly designed interior layout. While different artists have unique creative practices, their commonality lies in the fact that their works do not depict faces in a conventional or clear manner. The exhibition aims to initiate a dialogue between the past and the present, delving into the meaning of “faces” through the eyes of these 5 artists.
Francis Bacon, as one of the most influential portrait painters of the 20th century, reveals the sinister side of his subjects, intentionally distorting their faces to expose their inner darkness and human nature, becoming the centerpiece of this exhibition. Adrian Ghenie’s portraits, similarly through distorted dynamic brushstrokes, reexamine our collective history and memory. Meanwhile, Zeng Fanzhi’s “Mask” series depicts the tension and anxiety he observes in modern Chinese society.
On the other hand, George Condo brings his iconic cartoonish and bizarre characters, with exaggerated and whimsical features that are difficult to distinguish. He describes his artistic style as “psychological cubism,” and his abstract brushstrokes often evoke Picasso’s drawing style. Yukimasa Ide’s works, on the other hand, continue the historical narrative as a carrier with heavy oil colors and a futuristic perspective. This exhibition is also the first time Ide Yukimasa’s works have been shown in Hong Kong.
Every artist has a completely different life experience and emotional journey, but they will reveal those hidden emotions with a unique vision. Feel free to visit the exhibition and interpret the various possibilities behind the faces yourself.
“Non-Phenomena I”
Date: From now until November 2022
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: VILLEPIN, 53-55 Hollywood Road, Central
Image source and learn more: VILLEPIN
