Karen Weber Gallery is currently hosting a joint exhibition by Dawn Beckles and Lee Hanxiong titled “New Great Britain.” This exhibition is a dialogue between two British artists, despite their hometowns being on opposite sides of the Earth – Hong Kong and the Caribbean island of Barbados. As the UK becomes increasingly aware of the diverse cultures and communities that shape its current society and art scene, the gallery intentionally showcases two artists with diasporic backgrounds who create using diverse themes and mediums.
The art scene in the UK has matured and produced many world-renowned artists. For example, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, who rose to fame in the 1990s, are still familiar names today and receive high attention. In fact, over the past decade in the UK, some artists from diverse backgrounds such as Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, who have historically been underrepresented, have found their own voices and are gradually gaining recognition for their unique contributions to the British art landscape.
The “New Great Britain” exhibition at this gallery introduces two of the artists who have made unique contributions. They have completely different backgrounds and careers, yet they both integrate cultural elements from various “homes” to develop and nurture their own artistic voices.
British-Barbadian artist Dawn Beckles, making her debut at this gallery, is a self-taught mixed media artist. In her contemporary interpretations of classic still life and portrait paintings, she combines painting, collage, and screen printing techniques. Dawn’s color palette is characterized by vibrant and bright colors, often including some intense peachy pinks, celebrating items found in her homeland of Barbados and exotic plants, exploring the relationship between objects and their owners.
British-Hong Kong ink artist Lee Hon-hung explores the concept of “sacred” and seeks meaning in an increasingly secular consumer society. His works draw on elements of Asian and Western religions, art history, and culture as reference points, and are often created using traditional Chinese rice paper ink painting as the chosen medium, serving as a connection to his own cultural heritage.
At first glance, there is a slight visual connection between the works of Dawn Beckles and Lee Hon Hung. They further explore their respective life experiences and the imagery in their works, allowing the audience to discover some emerging voices and inspirations from “New Great Britain.”
DAWN BECKLES and LI Hanxiong: “New Great Britain”
Date: From now until November 26, 2022 (Closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: Karin Weber Gallery, 20 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong
Image source and learn more: Karen Weber Gallery
