Goethe-Gallery, Goethe-Institut Hong Kong Ends Jul 6
When an intensive painting class ended after 11 months in 2002, the enthusiastic artists refused to let their creative passion die. Instead, 10 students from the class formed A-infinity, a painting group that includes an accountant, graphic designer, public relations executive and a secondary school teacher.
In their third exhibition, 5 Senses and the 6th, seven of the group’s artist (Steve Chan Kai-san, Albert Chan King-leung, Chau Shik-hung, Sally Chee Hung, Grace Cheng Sau-mui, Choi Cho-kwong and Dennis Ho) explore the human senses through a variety of works that challenge one’s identity and fate. The fun and ironical works range from traditional paintings and sculpture to mixed-media works.
Chee’s painting, entitled Daydreaming, peers at you with mesmerizing stare. Behind dense bright green foliage of oversized leaves, sunflowers and a ladybug, two large brown eyes have a deep sense of longing. The foliage forms an eye mask around cream-coloured tiles which encase the eyes. “I work in an office all day and I face four walls with little chance of interaction with nature,” Chee says. “I always want to go to nature.”
The largest work – Half, Half – comes from full-time artist Choi, who created a mixed-media floor-to-ceiling image of an emotionless male face. Sections of the face are painted bright orange and blue, while other areas reveal wooden panels of an old door. Choi has written hundreds of thoughts (in Chinese) in between squares of metal chicken wire. Some squares say “There is a cockroach”, or more routine occurrences such as “I need to eat dinner”.
Eight of the 10 works focus on the intricacies of the human face.
Jade Lee-Duffy