Renowned Hong Kong artist Wilson Shieh is known for his delicate gongbi painting technique, which combines contemporary culture with traditional Chinese art, breaking the boundaries and showcasing the different possibilities of gongbi painting. While his works can be seen in many museums and art galleries, personal exhibitions have been rare in recent years. However, fans take note, the JPS Gallery in Hong Kong has announced a solo exhibition by Wilson Shieh titled “Wilson Shieh: Chop Suey 2008 – 2022” at the end of the month, featuring the artist’s works spanning 14 years and showcasing different painting styles. It is highly anticipated!
The exhibition is named “Miscellaneous” because it depicts the different stages and important moments in the artistic career of Shi Jiahao over the past decade. He began learning traditional Chinese gongbi painting in 1992 and gained recognition by combining this delicate technique with contemporary subject matter. Since 2008, he has been exploring various mediums, from pencil and wood color sketches to digital prints, collages, oil paints, and acrylics on canvas, incorporating more themes from popular culture. The new series retains his unique style, using delicate brushstrokes and humorous techniques to depict contemporary figures and scenes, bearing witness to the changing times in Hong Kong.
“The Four Seasons” series is derived from Shi Jiahao’s meticulous painting style, in which he developed the style of ink lines dyed with wood colors on acid-free paper boards. In the two paintings “Four Seasons Women” (2015) and “Four Seasons Men” (2022), the artist matches various costumes, hairstyles, and accessories to the characters with the same appearance and physique based on different seasons, showcasing how both men and women define their gender through their outward appearance.
“The Paper Dolls of Changing Clothes” (Dressed Dolls) series combines nostalgic toys and popular cultural idols. Using the nostalgic paper doll technique, it recreates classic characters such as the boatman from “Autumn Fairy Tale,” Xu Wenqiang from “Shanghai Beach,” and Su Lizhen from “In the Mood for Love,” allowing viewers to relive unforgettable scenes from past films.
In addition to familiar Hong Kong culture, the “Patchwork Cassette” series is a memory of his youth obsessed with pop music. Songs like Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” were popular in the 1980s.
This exhibition allows the audience to review the artistic works of Shi Jiahao from 2008 to 2022, so that we can together relive our Hong Kong culture. Don’t miss out!
“Wilson Shieh: Chop Suey 2008 – 2022”
Date: October 28, 2022 to November 26, 2022
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: JPS Gallery, Shop 218-219, 2/F, Landmark Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.
Image and data source: JPS Gallery
