When you think of ‘family’, what comes to mind? Perhaps it is the gingerbread house your family built last Christmas or the comforting embrace of your spouse after a long day at work.American artist Paul Hunter Speagle is set to make a triumphant return to Hong Kong with a new solo exhibition titled The Speagle’s. This unique showcase invites you to enter the artist’s home and meet his endearing family. In a refreshing departure from the ‘perfect family’ facade we often see, Speagle presents a realistic and unfiltered portrayal of the daily encounters within his home.These are experiences that many of us can relate to yet purposely keep hidden from the public eye. Whether it is family disputes or the rising pile of kitchen table bills, this exhibition serves as a beacon of truth and clarity in a world of idealised depictions of family life.

The exhibition unfolds in three stages, each a pivotal phase in the artist’s journey to bringing this unique experience to life. Inspired by his wife’s advice to “paint your life and us,” visitors will first step foot in a room adorned with trinkets of love and objects that hold special meaning to the Speagle family. The next room will be the artist’s studio, a space where visitors can witness how Speagle’s creations not only encapsulate the memories he shares with his family but serve as a means for him to navigate life’s complexities in his pursuit of self-growth, a journey that we all can learn from and be inspired by.

The final room will feature the artist’s personal home videos and newly painted large-scale paintings, including one that spans over eight meters wide, a monumental piece that stands as the largest painting the gallery has ever exhibited. These large-scale paintings beautifully capture the multifaceted nature of life, from moments of pure joy to trials and tribulations. They serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between public facade and private authenticity in family life. Through his art, Speagle invites viewers to cherish family bonds and embrace the hope for brighter moments, even in the face of adversity.

Throughout his career, Speagle’s creations have always been a reflection of his unending pursuit of growth, both in his craft and as an individual in society. By examining his relationship with the world around him, be it religion, politics, or family, every inch of every painting in this exhibition serves as an honest window into the Speagle family’s daily life. These relatable moments between family members, from intriguing conversations with their daughter to moments of passion between husband and wife, these paintings are a canvas of introspection, personal catharsis, and a testament to the artist’s effort to become a better parent.While there is no definitive guidebook on how to be the perfect parent, husband, or artist, Speagle hopes this exhibition will shed light on the challenges and provide solutions to fellow travellers on the winding road of parenthood. So, take a seat in the Speagle’s home, and you might learn a few family traditions you will want to introduce to your own home.

Solo Exhibition by Paul Hunter Speagle
The Speagle’s
Opening Reception: Thursday, 2 May, 2024, 5 – 8 pm
Exhibition Dates: 3 May – 1 June, 2024
Venue: JPS Gallery Hong Kong

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A group of twelve Hong Kong artists, including Little Thunder, Afa Annfa, b.wing, Kwong Wing Kwan, Liu Tsz Ting Purple, Dallas Lee, Chan Stacey Lok Heng, Sammi Mak, Belinda HY Chan, Pui Yi Leung, Abby Yan Yee Lee, and Kaiaroonsuth Chonticha, present their works of landscapes, architecture, abstraction, and portraiture in an exhibition that invites viewers to embark on a daily journey from home to the street. Within the spaces depicted in their art, a sense of elegance is conveyed through solitude. This exhibition serves as the final installment of the “Solitude Trilogy” art project curated by Cyrus Lamprecht, which explores the influence of solitude and absurdist philosophy on modern society.

Throughout history, individuals have grappled with the struggle between exerting control and being subjected to control. The essence of life lies in finding a balance between these opposing forces. If humans were confined to self-contained spaces and spent their days moving between rooms with varying scenarios, could they break free from the constraints of solitude? In the absence of others, the potential for internal dialogue emerges.

The existence of humans can be likened to the elegant decorations found in a hallway. Each room holds memories that are occasionally revisited, while the corridor serves as a pathway for forgetting.The reason for remaining within the room is to avoid the prying gazes from the corridor. Individuals find both freedom and constraint within their thoughts. Solitude is often equated with loneliness, a misconception that can only be dispelled by individuals who have personally experienced the sensation of excitement. For those who have lived in solitude, loneliness becomes as commonplace as breathing.

Human beings have always possessed a rebellious spirit, and perhaps the purpose of life is to rebel. In a solitary space, art becomes an elegant form of resistance. On the silent, empty canvas, chaotic strokes that capture the essence of life are left behind. The purest form of hope emerges from despair. People smile and allow pain to become the rhythm of their breath.

Participating Artists

Little Thunder (b.1984, Hong Kong)

B. 1984, Hong Kong. Currently based in Hong Kong. Cheng Sum-ling, also known as Little Thunder, is a self-taught artist who was born and raised in Hong Kong. Heavily influenced by her father, who is an ink painter, she has cultivated her enthusiasm for painting since childhood. At the age of 8, she started drawing manga, and at that time, her sister was her only reader. She fully committed to the world of manga and illustration in 2001, and her works were serialized in a variety of magazines. She was awarded the Best New Artist at the China Japan Comics Exchange in the same year.

In 2006, she published her first manga and art book and began drawing the trilogy KYLOOE the following year. The trilogy was completed and published in 2012. It has been translated into Chinese, French, and Italian. KYLOOE 1 – Downhearted Dragonfly received the Bronze Award in the 4th International Manga Award. Her debut solo exhibition, “CONFESSION,” was held in Hong Kong in 2012, and she began to explore various forms of artistic presentation.

Afa Annfa (b.1983, Hong Kong)

Afa Annfa is one of the emerging stars in the local art scene. Her works probe the complexities of human emotions and our connection with one another, capturing tensions between the human psyche and worldly materials.

Afa approaches painting with her visceral meditation and observation that evoke strong sentiments. Her practice recalls the style of Japanese Ukiyo-e and irregular comics, depicting figures that seem to be fictional in an atmospheric environment yet remain substantial and grounded. Afa creates narratives and a unique language to manifest her inner visions through images adapted from popular culture.

Afa earned her BA from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before becoming a full-time artist, she worked in one of the biggest advertising agencies in Hong Kong. She enjoyed a successful career as an art director collaborating with international as well as local brands and musicians. In 2018, Afa was awarded the CreateSmart Young Design Talent Award from the DFA Hong Kong Design Talent Award. Since 2020 Afa has been participating in various charity events, including The ExtraOrdinary Exhibition with Karen Leung Foundation at Phillips and the HKAGA fundraiser event at Christie’s. Her painting Sugar Cubes was also acquired by the iconic fashion brand Salvatore Ferragamo following their HKAGA x Ferragamo Collaboration in 2020.

b.wing (b.1972, Hong Kong)

Hong Kong artist b.wing’s visceral works are renowned for their intimate and frank portrayal of personal yet universally relevant experiences. Her reinventing approach to art and expansive visual practice encompasses painting, sculpture and hand stitching on canvas. Driven by the profound changes in her life in recent years, she began to further develop immersive installations involving ink calligraphy graffiti presented alongside her wistfully meditative works. Playing with the characters’ scale and composition, her childhood habit of scribbling on the school blackboard as a form of catharsis has now evolved into writing across exhibition walls in bold dripping ink, demonstrating a keen sense of graphical wordplay.

b.wing’s earliest channel of expression was her iconic character A-boy, who she created on a piece of toilet paper in 2006. The forever seven-year-old boy with a pair of rabbit ears and dark circles underneath his eyes was first created as a way for b.wing to escape reality and accompany her in times of loneliness. Since then, b.wing’s personal growth and artistic development are reflected in her portrayal of A-boy as she began to engage in more honest dialogues with herself through her emblematic character. b.wing’s newfound courage to face daunting realities and inner turmoil inspired her to draw more references to trials and tribulations from her own life without the companion of A-boy, like her emotive ink graffiti which speaks directly to the heart of many viewers.

Kwong Wing Kwan (Hong Kong)

KWONG Wing Kwan lives and works in Hong Kong. Kwong received her BA in Fine Arts from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2012. Integrating with Kwong’s feelings of disturbance, fear, and the transience of life, her visceral works compress layers of objects and scenery imbued with narratives. These works can be seen as projections of her psyche. Continuing the series “Good Morning, Sweet Dreams,” in which Kwong portrays contrasting themes of tenderness and violence, familiarity and distance between the interior and exterior, her recent works accentuate sceneries oscillating between day and night, in exploration of the concept of “home” and ones’ infatuation towards it.

Since 2021, some of Kwong’s friends and relatives have been relocating from their “homes” for various reasons. The familiar landscapes that were once intertwined with their surroundings now encompass not only the enchanting glimmers of domestic lighting but also images of decay and captivating glamour that continuously revitalise the city. Despite being at home, the feeling of homesickness persists.

Kwong has participated in multiple exhibitions, including solo exhibitions titled “Good morning, sweet dreams. – Midnight Sun” (cadet capela, Paris, 2023), “Good morning, sweet dreams.” (Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong, 2021), “Suspending World” (Artify Gallery, Hong Kong, 2014), “Clear-air Turbulence” (Grotto Fine Art, Hong Kong, 2013). Group exhibitions include “Art NOW 9th Edition” (Monnaie de Paris, Paris, 2023), “Taxonomies of Imagination” (Make Room, Los Angeles, 2022), “Art Basel Hong Kong” (Hong Kong, 2021-2023), “Grotto 20th Anniversary” (Grotto, Hong Kong, 2021), “In/outward” (Link Gallery, Beijing, 2017), “ART MO International Art Fair” (The Venetian Macao Cotai Expo, Macau, 2014), and “Art Nova 100” (Touring exhibition sites, China, 2014).

Liu Tsz Ting Purple (b.1993, Hong Kong)

Liu Tsz Ting, Purple (b. 1993 in Hong Kong) graduated from Hong Kong Baptist University with a BA (Hons) in Visual Arts in 2016. Using architectural motifs to illustrate the relationship between objects and beings. Her colour- and shape-driven paintings explore the boundaries between virtual space and tangible structure.

Dallas Lee (b.1999, Hong Kong)

LEE Wing Chi, Dallas is fascinated with the power of painting and drawing. She thinks it can interact with people and meanwhile within every part of the work. Her works lie between representation and abstraction. She intends to construct a world connecting reality and imagination at the same time to fulfil dreams. She paints like drawing and draws like painting unconsciously. She seldom defines whether her work is a painting or a drawing, as she believes that the blur brings the work to life.

Chan Stacey Lok Heng (b.1995, Australia)

Stacey Chan Lok Heng (b. 1995, Australia) received her BA from the Academy of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2017. Chan’s practice revolves around conceptual processes and the use of everyday objects as medium. Through her drawing, sculpture, and installation works, she presents the form of emptiness and nothingness, allowing for psychological dialogues between viewers and objects. Her pharmaceutical works, in particular, challenge the physical manifestation and inherent symbolism of Western medicine, deconstructing its meaning and reflecting on the relationship between contemporary art, medical cure, and religious redemption.

Her works have been exhibited in various exhibitions, such as solo exhibitions “Placebo” (Gallery Exit, Hong Kong, 2021) and “In-Itself” (Toni Areal Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland, 2018), as well as group exhibitions “Museum of Half Truths” (1a Space, Hong Kong, 2020), “Chinese Whispers” (Austrian Museum of Contemporary Art, Vienna, 2019), “Yicca 2019” (Prsten Gallery HDLU Museum, Croatia, 2019), and “Weight Watcher” (Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin, Germany, 2018). Chan currently lives and works in Hong Kong.

Wing Sum Sammi Mak (b.1996, Hong Kong)

Wing Sum Sammi Mak was born and raised in Hong Kong in 1996. She is currently based in London. She completed her Master’s Degree in Fine Arts Painting at the University of the Arts London in 2022 and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts from the Academy of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2018. Mak was also featured in the Financial Times, interviewed by VOGUE Hong Kong and China Daily, as well as in other local news articles. She was awarded the HKOP Award in Printmaking for the 2020-2021 year by the Hong Kong Open Printshop (2020) and also participated in an artist residency at the Hong Kong Open Printshop during the same period (2020-2021).

Recent exhibitions include Alter-native (Ugly Duck, London, 2023), Phases of Matter (Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong, 2023), a solo presentation at Hong Kong Art Central 2023 (Odds and Ends Gallery, Hong Kong, 2023), Highlights of 2022 Graduates in London (Liliya Art Gallery, London, 2022), This Art Exhibition (Espacio Gallery, London, 2022), Up Close – Hollywood Road II (Nan Fung Group “In Time Of” and MUSTHAVEKEYS, Hong Kong, 2021), and Dear Universe (HKOP, Hong Kong, 2021). Her works were privately collected in Hong Kong, the UK, Portugal, China, Southeast Asia, and the US.

Belinda HY Chan (b.1993, Hong Kong)

Born in Hong Kong in 1993, Chan currently resides in Vienna. She attended Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London, and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Fine Arts. Her work possesses an abstract, dreamlike sensibility that blurs the distinctions between figuration, abstraction, and tales. It investigates the uncanny nature of the subconscious’s uncharted worlds and is driven by an intense sense of loss and longing.

Chan has exhibited her paintings in various locations, including Hong Kong, London, and Vienna. Notable exhibitions include her solo exhibition titled “The Veil of Solitude” (the Arca Hotel, Hong Kong, 2023), as well as group exhibitions such as “The Labyrinth of Solitude” (Seefood Room and Shout Gallery, Hong Kong, 2023), “Vertical Merger” (Riverside House, London, 2021), “Devils, Gods, and Software Engineers” (Deptford Does Art, London, 2020), “Der Frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm” (Anatolia Schnitzel Gallery, Vienna, 2019), “Postopia” (Ugly Duck Gallery, London, 2019), and “Who Will Provide?” (Crypt Gallery, London, 2018).

Pui Yi Leung (b.1996, Hong Kong)

Born in Hong Kong in 1996, Leung graduated from the Fine Arts Department at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Specialising in Gongbi and painting, the artist seeks the possibilities within contemporary paintings by utilising traditional skillset with contemporary expressions, thus connecting her own feelings and things observed from her daily life. The artist tries to express the relationship between art and the self through her works. Her works often explore conscious and unconscious themes, and she creates by observing the subtle relationship between human potential unconscious states and established cognitive beliefs.

Abby Yan Yee Lee (b.1989, Hong Kong)

Graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a major in Scenic Art. During her time as a student, she had the invaluable opportunity to partake in a scenic internship at the Royal National Theatre in London, further enriching her artistic skills and perspective. She then graduated with a Master of Arts in Fine Art degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Lee likes to depict living and working environments, with favourite issues including collective cooperation and individual destiny. She has been working as a props maker in a theme park for 9 years.

Kaiaroonsuth Chontich (Hong Kong)

Kaiaroonsuth Chonticha graduated from Hong Kong Baptist University with a Bachelor of Visual Arts. Dynamic landscapes and subjects are often depicted in her works. She wants to gain a deeper understanding of personal consciousness, while also being aware of the complexities and ambiguities associated with it. Her mixed cultural background led to a greater sense of distance and transition in her personal development. Absolute traditions seemed to be nonexistent. Her way of seeing has become relatively fluid. Chonticha’s paintings and writings reflect not only her personal stories or observations in daily life, but also literature, her walking routines, and the unexpected connections with strangers.

Location
Shops 218-219, 2/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong.

The Elegance of Solitude
Little Thunder, Afa Annfa, b.wing, Kwong Wing Kwan, Liu Tsz Ting Purple, Dallas Lee, Chan Stacey
Lok Heng, Sammi Mak, Belinda HY Chan, Pui Yi Leung, Abby Yan Yee Lee, and Kaiaroonsuth
Chonticha
22 December, 2023 – 13 January, 2024

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JPS Gallery presents Mellow doubt, British contemporary artist Joe Cheetham’s first solo show in Asia, which will be exhibited at our Hong Kong gallery space. Cheetham is widely known across Europe for his exceptional ability to capture the collective jubilance of club culture through his unique depiction of cartoonish figures raving bodies in vibrant colours and eccentric gestural brushwork. However, his recent works reveal a noteworthy transition in Cheetham’s artistic practice as he adopts a more subdued approach in addressing the physical tension and isolation that is emblematic of contemporary life.

Cheetham’s exaggerated representation of homogenous figures constrained within isolated spaces implicitly captures the deep-seated emotions that reside within every individual. Despite the lack of interaction among the figures, they individually exhibit desperate, suspicious, and confused sentiments which are further intensified by Cheetham’s reddened palette. The figures’ loose and exaggerated limbs evoke a profound sense of fatigue, which stands in stark contrast to his earlier works.

Cheetham’s deliberate play with the ambiguity of gender, time, and physical location emphasises a detachment from reality, inviting viewers into a realm of imagination characterised by confinement and unease. Mellow doubt represents a pivotal moment in Cheetham’s artistic development in addition to being a unique projection of one’s inner world, overflowing with intricate and authentic emotional complexities that we all experience in an era inundated with information.

About Joe Cheetham (B.1992)
Joe Cheetham lives and works in Glasgow, UK. His work focuses on figurative painting and its expanded installation, fluidly adapting style and medium to articulate varied moments of human emotion. Expanding on a long-standing interest in club culture and cartooning, his latest paintings mark a shift in medium and focus as Cheetham adopts the versatility of oil paint to produce works that address the physical tension and isolation of contemporary existence.

Solo exhibitions include: ‘Something for the Weekend’, L21 Gallery, Palma de Mallorca (2021); ‘Can you feel it?’ TACO!, London (2019); ‘Such a good feeling’, Jakob Kroon Galeri, Worthing (2019) and ‘Joe Cheetham’, Trade Gallery, Nottingham. Group exhibitions include: ‘Full English’, Platform Southwark (curated by Dateagle Art, 2019); ‘Sinkhole Project’, London (curated by Ginny Projects, 2018); ‘Wherever you Land’, Slugtown, Newcastle (2018); ‘Welcome to Suede’, Suede Gallery, Edinburgh (2016); ‘No Bad Wednesdays’, Voidoid Archive, Glasgow (in collaboration with Embassy Gallery, Edinburgh, 2016) and ‘Interim’, Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh (2016).

Joe Cheetham
Mellow doubt
4 – 30 November, 2023
Location: Shops 218-219, 2/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

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Calling all car lovers! JPS Gallery presents Royal Jarmon’s highly anticipated solo show Seat’s Taken at Landmark Atrium. Presenting a captivating and daring display, the Brooklyn-based artist delves into the realms of human experience and popular culture by showcasing a series of seemingly flattened, birds-eye view of classic cars from the latter half of the 20th century, such as the timeless machine Porsche 911 and the iconic Ferrari’s Testarossa in 80s.

Fuelled by his keen observations of everyday objects and natural elements, Royal has been working on the vehicles he travelled with since his twenties. Known for his flattened spatial perspective and breathtakingly intricate display of complex subject matters, Royal’s bold brushstrokes and vibrant Testerossa, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 121.5 by 91.5 cm.

Courtesy of the artist and JPS Gallery.colour palette not only draw viewers’ attention but cleverly convey the allure of consumerism
reminiscent of captivating advertisements. Through the distortion of perspective and space, Royal provides viewers with a multi-dimensional experience where they can witness the beauty of these classic cars in their entirety—from all sides at every angle in one painting. The deconstruction of the vehicles mirrors Royal’s ongoing exploration of perspective, distortions and beauty within the present world of art and culture.

In this exhibition, Royal’s refined and meticulous approach takes centre stage. The deliberate distortions and deconstruction of these iconic cars become even more pronounced from a birds-eye view, and Royal’s emphasis on the visual distortions ironically subverts the inherent stability of these vehicles. The infusion of ambiguous humour within Royal’s flattened automobiles will drive viewers to further investigate the interconnectedness of popular culture and human experience through a surrealistic lens.

About Royal Jarmon
Royal Jarmon’s paintings and sculptures are vibrant expressions of reality that explore visual aesthetics, spatial imaginings, and perceptions of our surroundings. His work creates an alternate view of reality by exaggerating perspectives and forms, using saturating colours, and distorting recognisable objects, images, and items.

Royal’s works are concerned with social culture and popular human experiences as we navigate life and the world around us. Playing with our expectations for how landscapes, objects, and scenes are viewed and understood, fire escapes strewn with bottles, food detritus, and cans of soda and beer become playful landscapes and still lives. The spatial perspective is flattened, and the inanimate objects become living characters reflecting themes of consumption, leisure, and the every day, while also transforming this space with hyper colours, airbrushed backgrounds, and exaggerated scales into an illusionistic world. Royal’s works engage with contemporary digital and internet culture,making a direct dialogue with our current, present-day reality.

Royal Jarmon – Seat’s Taken
29 September – 25 October, 2023
JPS Gallery
Shops 218-219, 2/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong.

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Karin Weber Gallery announces ‘Master Chui’s Kitchen’, a solo exhibition by renowned Hong Kong Chinese ink artist Chui Pui Chee. Creating an art exhibition is like planning a menu. A lot of thought goes into each course to provide an unforgettable dining experience. In this exhibition, Chui has carefully considered his ‘recipe’ of gongbi paintings and calligraphy works, many of them related to food.

The highlight of this exhibition is an artist book titled Master Chui’s Kitchen, which distils Chui’s thirty plus years of experience in artistic pursuit and academic research into invaluable knowledge on materials and processes for a future generation of artists.

The crab is a familiar subject in Chinese ink painting, a famous example being Five Crabs by Qi Baishi (1864-1957), and a popular delicacy in Hong Kong food culture. Chui Pui Chee’s Gain Profit Whenever One Pleases pays homage to this essential local menu item, and to a popular Cantonese drama, ‘The Greed of Man’ (TVB, 1992). A crab moves sideways and is often ascribed unreasonable, even tyrannical behaviour, which makes it the perfect metaphor for characters in the TV show.

Chui never stops experimenting and pushing the boundaries of Chinese calligraphy. Another recent work, Slightly Drunk, is unique in the use of red wine as one of the paints in its creation. A wine lover himself, Chui not only enjoys his own ‘slightly drunk’ experiences, but shares his joy visually, with a wonderful ‘long finish’.

When not focusing on culinary highlights, Chui Pui Chee’s gongbi talent extends to exquisite insect, bird and calligraphy subjects. For the month of August, we invite you to visit ‘Master Chui’s Kitchen’ at Karin Weber Gallery.

MASTER CHUI’S KITCHEN
A Solo Exhibition by
Chui Pui Chee
Exhibition Period:
5 August – 16 September 2023

Karin Weber Gallery
20 Aberdeen Street
Central, Hong Kong
11am-7pm
Tuesday-Saturday
+852 2544 5004

About the Artist:
Chui Pui Chee (b. 1980, Hong Kong) received training in Chinese calligraphy and ink painting from an early age, when he was apprenticed to Professor Jat See-yeu and Professor Wang Dong-ling. He obtained his BA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and his MA and PhD from the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China. He was a finalist at the Sovereign Asian Art Prize in 2020 and 2018, and the 2015 winner of the Young Artist (Visual Arts) prize of the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards.

Chui’s works are in the collections of the Hong Kong Museum of Art (his famous Lyrics of Tourbillon by Wyman Wong in Cursive Script and My Tiresome at the Bottom of Valley XII – Dancing with the Shadows are highlights among seven of his works in the HKMOA permanent collection), the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK and private collections worldwide. Recent exhibitions and art fairs include the new Tokyo Gendai fair, Japan (2023), ‘Now Showing 1.0 and 2.0’ at Karin Weber Gallery Hong Kong (2022, 2021), Hong Chui Pui Chee, Slightly Drunk, ink, charcoal, colour and red wine on paper, 128 x 70 cm, 2023.3 Kong Museum of Art (2022), iPreciation Gallery, Singapore (2022), Touch Gallery, Hong Kong (2022) and a|n Gallery, Hong Kong (2022)

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JPS Gallery Hong Kong presents Moon Lands On Man, our first show in celebration of the gallery’s 10th anniversary. The show will kick off with a fully immersive large-scale cardboard installation straight out of every child’s fantasy, but hidden within this fantastical dreamland is an unseen world riddled with moon landing conspiracy theories.

Whether the Apollo 11 mission was an elaborate hoax has been a long-standing debate, with many conspiracy theorists claiming that the U.S. government faked the moon landing for different motives. Although the arguments presented by the conspiracy theorists have been discredited and debunked by scientific facts, many people continue to believe that the moon landing was faked. For this exhibition, Moon Lands On Man, American artist Barminski will put a humorous and pessimistic twist on this highly controversial and polarising topic.

Barminski described his cardboard artworks as simultaneously real and fake as it depends on the viewer’s expectation. If they expect it to be a real Star Wars toy, then it’s fake. If they expect it to be a piece of art, then it’s real. A toy utopia lives within everyone’s heart, but societal issues that warrant their attention and insight continue to exist, so Barminski’s dark yet humorous take on these topics encourages everyone to discover the truth behind authenticity and falsehood.

Barminski (b.1962) is an extraordinarily prolific and influential multimedia artist working across painting, interactive media, and graphic design. He is most known for his paper sculptures of everyday objects, recreating mundane objects such as shoes, spray cans and furniture in three-dimensional drawing-like sculptures.

Opening Reception: Thursday, 27 July 2023, 5 – 8 pm (Artist will be present)
Exhibition Dates: 28 July – 17 September, 2023
Venue: JPS Gallery (Hong Kong)

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Summer Breeze, a solo exhibition of August Vilella, will be on view at JPS Gallery’s Hong Kong location in LANDMARK ATRIUM. After his recent shows in Art Basel Miami, Art Basel Hong Kong, and TEFAF New York, this exhibition is a continuation of August’s solo exhibition Autumn Dreams in 2021. It marks the artist’s evolution of art and showcases his astonishing new works, which depict dreamy summer imagery inspired by the constantly changing seasons. August’s new series features his signature big-eyed characters, leading viewers to be entranced in surreal and intuitive meditation.

August creates whimsical paintings using the Surrealist automatism technique, without any prior sketches or ideas, guided solely by his subconscious mind. His exaggerated-eyed creatures not only portray the artist’s inner voice but also engage in a conversation with the audience. The artist himself has said, “I don’t choose my characters… in some way they choose me.” August’s creative process is like jazz, intentionally unconscious play that visualises the hidden realm of his inner universe.

Unlike August’s consistent melancholy expression, his new series demonstrates an evolving style with vibrancy, along with the characters’ curious gazes and vital summer elements. Through August’s innovative fusion of subconscious approach and elaborate style, infinite inspiration will be delivered into the window to your soul like the sweet caress of a Summer Breeze.

August Vilella is a self-taught painter who creates oil paintings that open dialogue with contemporary and classical art. Working in the Surrealist automatism method, he creates without any previous sketches or ideas. Each painting has a unique psychical opening and meaning that reflect the subconscious mind. August’s characters often feature big stylised eyes, and through their insightful gaze, the audience is invited to engage with their deep emotions and explore them with quiet introspections.

Solo Exhibition of August Vilella
Summer Breeze
Exhibition Dates: 9 June – 7 July, 2023
Venue: JPS Gallery (Hong Kong)
218-219, Landmark Atrium,
15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

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We live in the age of social media where our cultural fascination with self-portraiture, commonly known as “selfies”, has become our main form of self-documentation. And with the increasing use of facial recognition in our everyday lives, the human face has been reduced to lifeless images, tools of convenience and a collection of biometric data. The group exhibition FACE ID will go beyond skin deep and unlock the complexity of the human identity by putting a new spin on portraiture. From the traditional to the avant-garde, the exhibition features works by eight contemporary artists Arashi M, Erina Matsui, Fujikawa Saki, Kazy Chan, Lu Gao, Marius Seidlitz, Shintaro Inoue and Teddy Leung.

Teddy Leung’s series of surrealist portraits immortalises his inner turmoil of longing for a passed loved one and his long distance lover all whilst trying to find a sense of belonging in the fickle city of Hong Kong. His specially curated installation will be a literal presentation of a long distance call featuring the artist’s rich blue self portrait framed by the telephone cord and interactive handset. Paired alongside the installation is a blue light corner where viewers can recreate the artist’s self-portrait by facing their true selves in the mirror and confront their own feelings of longing.

Shintaro Inoue’s compellingly individualistic presentations of female figures, composed of carefully arranged clean lines and bold combinations of luminous pigments, accentuate the individuality of each figure in his portraits. Beyond that, his portraits demonstrate how the Japanese calligraphy skills he cultivated since childhood have transformed into his current artistic style.

Marius Seidlitz challenges the unattainable standards of beauty perpetuated by social media through a series of diverse women’s bodies that are deliberately “imperfect”. His intricate representations of women’s entangled bodies with hints at limbs and nudity that are always dynamic and never too accurate epitomise the phrase, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Lu Gao’s emotionally engaging and thought-provoking portraits capture the essence of each child’s personality through their facial expression, provoking viewers to reflect upon the innocent and carefree nature of children. As they have yet to learn to hide their emotions or put on a facade,
their incredibly revealing and genuine expression injects fresh new energy into the art of portraiture.

Kazy Chan’s whimsical paintings create a dialogue around abstract concepts and emotions through universally recognised visual representations, such as a slot machine that generates endless opportunities. His paintings offer viewers a safe space for quiet introspection regarding the public and private faces they present to the world.

Fujikawa Saki’s striking self-portraits exemplify modern portrait artists’ freedom to express their concerns and interests about human conditions through vivid colours and passionate brushstrokes. The presented works stay true to her artistic oeuvre as her creative process continues to be an
endless response to the happenings around her.

Erina Matsui challenges the traditional meaning of portraits by using fictional characters such as little animals and odd creatures instead of the human face as a means of revealing her true self to the viewer. Although her paintings of surreal scenes also include self-portraits in imaginary and
distorted dimensions, the fictional creatures provide viewers with a more well-rounded understanding of Erina Matsui’s identity.

Arashi M’s paintings of women during the early Shōwa period (1926-1945) in Japan bring viewers back to a time when human relationships had yet to be disrupted by technology. The central themeof his portraits is no longer the identity of the female figures like traditional portraiture but the history they carry with them.

From capturing the physical likeness of their subjects to using abstract and symbolic techniques to convey their message, the group exhibition FACE ID on view in our Hong Kong gallery space features a wide range of faces created by artists from all walks of life, creating a vibrant and dynamic display of human expression aimed to captivate and inspire those around us.

Participating Artists

About Arashi M (b.1983, Japan)
Arashi M is a Japanese artist from Tokyo who utilises a technique named “Air of the Times”. His soft touches of paint on the canvases embody the warmth and ambiguity of the memories he aims to express. Born in the Shōwa period, he hopes to draw viewers back to a simpler era when
electronic entertainment, smartphones and social networks had yet to exist. His depictions of Shōwa girls’ everyday life take audiences on a nostalgic journey where they are reminded of a time when humans were not so distant.

About Erina Matsui (b.1984, Japan)
The central character in the majority of Erina Matsui’s work is the artist herself, often depicted in a dreamy context, accompanied by fantastical creatures. Ranging from little animals to strange creatures, her fictional characters assists her in revealing her inner thoughts and feelings. Matsui’s
vivid self-portraits give viewers a glimpse into her imagination, allowing them to experience the emotions the artist felt while painting, almost as if they were reliving a dream or memory.

About Fujikawa Saki (b.1990, Japan)
Fujikawa Saki’s inspiration comes from her observation of the people around her, such as the questions and conflicts that arose in her life. Using oil paint as the main medium, her creation process is similar to an endless debate where each application of colour, stroke and outline is part of the erratic process of Saki questioning herself. Captured within her expressive brushstrokes and heavy layers of oil paints is the strong flow of emotions, fleeting inspirations and dialogues she has with the world around her.

About Kazy Chan (b.1993, Hong Kong)
Kazy Chan is a Hong Kong artist whose delicate and brightly coloured painting style reflects the influence of the Superflat art movement and his love for Japanese manga since childhood. Paintingin soft and blurred brushstrokes, his work revolves around young children undergoing the
metamorphosis of growth as they explore different sides of their inner story and imagination of the future. His whimsical works featuring unique characters living in brightly coloured imaginaryscenes lure viewers into Kazy’s fantastical world, where they will uncover the absurdity and
sadness hidden within upon deeper examination.

About Lu Gao (b.1982, Australia)
Lu Gao is a multidisciplinary artist with a passion for painting, screen printing and etching. Her current body of works revolves around children’s portraiture that exudes childhood innocence and genuineness through their telling expressions. Her peculiar insight into facial features and appearances comes from her experience as a special effects makeup artist. And her interest towards painting children stems from her belief that children’s emotions can be easily recognised by their expressions as they have not yet learned to conceal them.

About Marius Seidlitz (b.1985, Germany)
Marius Seidlitz’s artistic creations explore the complexity of self-identity and the questions that arise from it. Seidlitz’s works challenge conventional notions of beauty and perfection by embracing the complexities of the human form. His use of acrylic and spray paint allows him to explore the vulnerabilities and imperfections that make us uniquely human. Seidlitz rejects society’s narrow beauty standards by presenting his subjects in a raw and unfiltered manner, capturing the essence of what it means to be human—complex yet simultaneously simple and always in the process of
becoming.

About Shintaro Inoue (Japan)
Shintaro Inoue creates works with line composition based on Japanese calligraphy he had cultivated since childhood. By drawing traditional calligraphy lines in a range of vivid colours, Shintaro presents portraits of woman who always symbolises that moment in time. However, the shape and colour of the lines are based on each person’s individuality. Shintaro’s thoughtful composition of these elements highlights each individual’s uniqueness and allows viewers to understand the complexities of human nature.

About Teddy Leung (b.1996, Hong Kong)
Enthused in the language of portraiture, Teddy Leung’s background in photography trained him to be a mindful observer and fuelled his fondness for capturing inner experiences from his everyday life in minute details. Taking inspiration from his own life and those around him, expressive paintings allow him to visualise the conglomeration of his multi-sensory and psychological experiences. His interpretation and insight on cross-media content are also heavily involved in his creative process and artistic language, resulting in a fusion of various conceptual ideas many have yet to see.

FACE ID
Arashi M, Erina Matsui, Fujikawa Saki, Kazy Chan, Lu Gao, Marius Seidlitz, Shintaro Inoue and Teddy
Leung
4 May – 3 June, 2023
Location: Shops 218-219, 2/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

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10 Chancery Lane Gallery is proud to present “Fire Rainbows” a new series of paintings by Pan Jian. The Pandemic changed the way that Pan Jian viewed painting. He started to study the way Japanese ukiyo- e contrasting colour palettes held a work together and then began to adopt colours from nature and reality and turned them into his own reality. The colours come from the real world, yet the result is unreal. This new series breaks open his obsession with the forest and we feel that he is driven towards abstraction with new vibrant and vivid palettes that explode into “Fire Rainbows,” an actual unique alignment of forces in the atmosphere. Technically called a circumhorizontal arc, fire rainbows are caused by light passing through wispy, high-altitude cirrus clouds.

FIRE RAINBOWS
Pan Jian Solo Exhibition
Public Opening Reception
Thursday, 23rd Feb 6 – 8 pm
10 Chancery Lane, SOHO, Central, Hong Kong

Pan Jian FIRE RAINBOWS 2023
Pan Jian ( b. 1975, China.) is a thoughtful and committed painter. In his exploration of shadow, the artist distils the relationship between light and dark to its purest form, resulting in an arresting body of work that challenges the viewer to wander through his varied forest scenes that have an innate spiritual quest. Pan Jian’s artistic process first draws inspiration from literature and poetry as well as actual landscapes, gradually transforming what he has seen into the imagined scenes that he presents on each canvas. He is constantly exploring and inventing different painting techniques to conjure deep feelings of harmony, melancholy, stillness and movement. The landscapes are therefore both real and imagined, a dichotomy that is reflected in the concept that although a shadow has no tangible content, the image presented is still able to move the viewer, provoking an emotional response. The Pandemic changed the way that Pan Jian viewed painting. He started to study the way Japanese ukiyo- e contrasting colour palettes held a work together and then began to adopt colours from nature and reality and turned them into his own reality with his own colours. The colours come from the real world yet the result is unreal. Pan Jian graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Xi’an Academy of Fine Art where he is now teaching. He recently had a major exhibition at the Himalaya Museum in Shanghai. His works are part of the Hong Kong M+ Museum collection, the Yuz Museum Collection, the Burger Collection, among others. He lives and works in Beijing and Xi’an.

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Parallel Journeys in Space and Time” Exhibition from February 9, 2023 to May 21, 2023. Ms. K.C. Chen, Chairman of Artspace K said, although the two participating artists – Li Wei Han Rosanna and Yeung Yuk Kan are living in two cities, with different time zones and lifestyles, they both focus on doing one thing, that is ceramics. Ceramics has become the common interest that bridged the two of them. On the path of ceramic creation, they demonstrated their distinctive characters and they both admire and cherish each other. Li applies grogged clay to depict people going about their daily lives, while Yeung uses Chinese calligraphy and white porcelain as the medium of her artworks. Although their art creation is different, their works are surprisingly connected and it seems to bring two different worlds together.

The curator of “Parallel Journeys in Space and Time” exhibition, Lee Yu–han noted: Ceramics is a traditional craft art of daily tableware with a long history. As times change, the development of ceramics has become more mature and the artistic presence of ceramics is much stronger than the past. The creativity of art expression is not focused on gorgeous glaze colors on the porcelain, but to use daily life as the theme of creation or combining Chinese and Western cultures to show the characteristics of materials. It makes the works exude the warmth and visual aesthetic. Works from the two ceramic artists carry their own strengths in terms of appearance and subject matter. While they are in different spaces and times, they connect the two worlds with their own creative imaginations. Li’s work “At a Twist of Fate – His Kite Has Gone Astray” and Yeung’s “Wishing Cloud” formed the theme of the exhibition and began a dialogue between time and space. By presenting over 50 pieces of ceramics artworks in this exhibition, the audience can have a new aspect of ceramics appreciation and to feel the connection between Art and Life. Through this exhibition, the audience is aware that even if the artists are in different spaces making their own creations, they can always build a connection.

Li Wei Han Rosanna is a ceramics artist. Li’s ceramic figures are characterized by their rustic charm. Full of cheerfulness and vitality, they demonstrate Li’s acute observations and reflections of everyday life of the common folks in the local communities. Some of her life-size public artworks are displayed at the Hong Kong International Airport, Yau Tong MTR Station, on Lee Tung Avenue in Wanchai. Born in Hong Kong, Li’s works have a simple charm and a sense of life which shows her wisdom and humor, allowing the audience to glimpse her observation of people and society. Rosanna enjoys collecting ready-made daily life items, and often uses them in her art installations. She applies grogged clay to depict people going about their daily lives, for instance, a beach scene. The inspiration comes from the pandemic restrictions when there were very few people on the beach. Among them, the lone walkers attracted her attention. The ceramic figurines of plump women and men are all endowed with a nimble grace and carefree spirit. Their faces are filled with vivid expressions to exude the charm of a relaxed state of mind.

Yeung Yuk Kan is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. She focused on printmaking and Chinese calligraphy, the two disciplines that have exerted a huge influence on her development as a ceramic artist. She later moved to the Netherlands and hassince continued her ceramics practice overseas. While the contact with the West provides her with other sources of stimulation, the paper-thin porcelain sculptures are inspired by Chinese calligraphy and rice paper (xuan zhi). The sheet of porcelain is folded with a nimble touch, as decisive and as natural as possible to capture the delicate and graceful character of the material. The painting or drawing applied on the sculptural form is both intuitive and sensitive, serving as well as a search for balance between the many contrasting elements: light and dark, motion and stillness, void and solid.

The skyscape and seashore in the Netherlands imbue Yeung with a sense of freedom and the possibilities of exploration. The miles and miles of floating clouds in the expanse of the sky form a huge contrast to the cityscape of Hong Kong, and she finds them both fascinating in the most thought-provoking way. Architecture, nature, literature, poetry: they are all sources of inspiration for her.

‘What intrigue me most are the unexpected encounters during the exploration of this infinite realm of imagination. Poets use their words to reveal their feelings; I use paper, brush, ink and porcelain to express my inner soul.’

There are various art forms of ceramics and each artwork contains the artist’s thoughts and emotions. During the exhibition period, Artspace K will hold lectures ( see the attachment for details) to allow the public to learn about ceramics and at the same time to find a peaceful space in the urban life.

Date: 9 February – 21 May 2023
Venue: Artspace K, G105 – 106, The Repulse Bay Arcade, 109
Repulse Bay Road, Hong Kong
Artists: Li Wei Han Rosanna & Yeung Yuk Kan

Exhibition Lectures

Parallel Journeys in Space and Time (Cantonese)
Artists : Li Wei Han Rosanna & Yeung Yuk Kan
Date : 11/2/2023 (Sat)
Time : 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

She Puts on Weight – Public Art of Li Wei Han Rosanna
Artist : Li Wei Han Rosanna
Date : 15/4/2023 (Sat)
Time : 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

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