Girls are often said to have a “dessert stomach.” In fact, for people of all ages and genders, the appropriate intake of sugar can indeed lift our spirits. Although sweets are hard to resist, eating too much may have the opposite effect. Taiwanese artist born in the 1990s, CandyMary, once developed a “sugar addiction” due to her love of sweets, but she never expected this experience to become the nourishment for her creations.
Recently, 13a New Street Art Gallery presented the first solo exhibition of this artist in Hong Kong. CandyMary created a series of candy-colored “Mary” paintings and sculptures, exuding a girlish charm. Behind these works, she aims to question the perfectionism of today’s society.
CandyMary’s work style appears childlike, yet with a hint of girlishness. However, upon closer inspection, one will discover that the depiction of female skin details is quite lifelike. Through the artist’s delicate painting skills, the tiny blood vessels beneath the skin of the girls in the painting also come to life, their crystal clear and fair rosy faces resembling elves, captivating viewers.
Candy Mary will launch a limited edition sculpture “Candy Mary – Walking Series” at this exhibition, with pink and blue as the main colors, exuding a youthful and fresh color scheme.
CandyMary, addicted to sweets, used to be obsessed with colorful wrapping paper and various flavors of sugar. However, with the unconscious intake, it has become a pathological hobby. Looking at today’s society, the beauty filters on social media, trendy influencer restaurants, entertainment news, and the influx of information, whether passively or actively absorbing this information, is also overwhelming and difficult to digest, much like a “sugar-coated poison.” Just like eating sweets, it makes people think: when the happiness of sweets fades away, what do we have?
“Sugar Addiction” CandyMary Exhibition
Date: From now until July 17 (Closed on Mondays)
Time: 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: G/F, 13 New Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Image source and learn more: 13a New Street Art Gallery
