In response to a carte blanche invitation from Mur Nomade, Hong Kong artists Tsang Chui-mei and Vivian Poon have jointly curated this exhibition. They collaborated to conceive and present new works including drawings, paintings and mixed-media pieces.
The English title is purposely puzzling, as can be the constant swirl of messages, scripts and languages in Hong Kong and other megalopolis. /sic sic/ is simply the phonetic transcription of the
Cantonese 色色. In this season of international art fairs, the artists took the bold decision not to translate to concept behind the Chinese title to invite viewers from other cultures to take the time to immerse in the exhibition and to really engage with the works. As both Cantonese and non-
Cantonese speakers will appreciate it, the artworks themselves are the translation of the several layers of meaning present in the phrase 色色.
Exhibition concept
‘Mere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.’ (Oscar Wilde)
We perceive reality through our senses, often neglecting their deceptiveness – our eyes are easily deceived by appearances; our hearing unmatched even to that of an aged feline; our taste often confused by scent; and seldom do we explore the capacity of our tactile perception. Not only are our senses (mis)guided by external influences, they are also susceptible to emotional undulations. Is the flesh then a mere veil, bouncing signals off of what is entering and exiting our mind? Is our perception of reality determined by things external to us or is it the other way round?
Artists’ statements
‘This exhibition consists of paintings and mixed-media works. Colors and fragmented shapes in the paintings create an inexpressible atmosphere, which reveals a “void”, the state of being nothing or the property of having nothing. In the mixed-media works, the combinations of different objects and the images evoke sensation and desire, which are just the indulgence before disillusionment.’
Tsang Chui-mei
‘Some say the eyes are less receptive when you are depressed, and the world appears desaturated and dull like fading movie scenes of an old filmroll. When you are in a jubilant mood, you see instead a world of vibrant colors and your eyes notice even the slightest variation of hue and temperature. Is the murky sky the sign of an inevitable rainstorm, or is it already raining in my mind? This series of works try to capture the very moment when the portal of senses is opened – that instance when the mind is vulnerably deluded by the crosscurrents of all things external and internal.’
Vivian Poon
I About Vivian Poon I
Born in 1982, Vivian Poon lives and works in Hong Kong. She obtained her BA in Fine Arts from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2005. Her works have been shown in solo and group exhibitions in galleries in Hong Kong including Grotto Fine Art (2014), Osage (2013) and Gallery Exit (2012). In 2010, along with artists AMA, Au Hoi Lam and Tsang Chui-mei, she established the artist studio Qiáng, a significant and engaging platform within the Fotan artistic hub.
Vivian Poon creates drawings and paintings, and presents them in impeccable and clever installations. They are subtle renderings of her thorough exploration of complex concepts. The thoughtful process and meticulous technique behind her works are expressed with understated simplicity.
I About Tsang Chui-mei I
Born in 1972, Tsang Chui-mei lives and works in Hong Kong. She obtained her Bachelor and Master degrees in Fine Arts from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1996 and 2003 respectively. Tsang Chui-mei was the winner of the Philippe Charriol Foundation 20th Anniversary Competition in 2005. Her work is in private collections and in the Hong Kong Museum of Art collection.
Tsang Chui-mei’s work is a space for the mind more than a physical place for holding any real object. It is in a shifting state imbued with the unknown or perhaps merely the nothingness devoid of all things. She has a preference for lyrical themes. Images are systematized and generalized by observation and transformed in the use of visual elements. From the obvious to the metaphor, some sorts of subjective, inexpressible emotions are inspired.
I About Mur Nomade I
Mur Nomade is a curatorial office and gallery. Our name is the French translation of ‘nomadic wall’. We present site-specific projects in selected venues all around Hong Kong, in addition to regular exhibitions at our gallery space in Aberdeen. We work closely with local and international artists to imagine and conceive exhibitions and programmes such as artist residencies, collaborative art projects, travel grants, workshops and outreach initiatives.
Mur Nomade focuses on projects encouraging cultural exchanges and creative encounters. We like bold ideas and we are convinced that cultural exchanges support creativity, stimulate emulation and encourage experimentation.
www.murnomade.com
