Those off-duty gazes《休班黃昏也會望望逃生路線》
          |
29 June - 27 July 2024
Opening Saturday, 29 June 2024 David CHAN Kam Lun Mae CHAN KK Tsz Ki CHEUNG GO Hung Jeremy IP Rico LAU Ching Hei Dallas LEE Chiu Sun Giraffe LEUNG Lok Hei Livy LEUNG Winsome Dumalagan WONG Curated by WURE AREA For this group exhibition ‘Those off-duty gazes’, Gallery EXIT collaborates with WURE AREA, as we review and reveal our mission, and explore possibilities for the future. This exhibition is curated by WURE AREA, showcasing in the exhibition space of Gallery EXIT the new works of ten young artists: CHAN Kam Lun, Mae CHAN, CHEUNG Tsz Ki, GO Hung, Jeremy IP, Rico LAU Ching Hei, LEE Chiu Sun, LEUNG Hoi Nga Livy, Giraffe LEUNG Lok Hei and WONG Winsome Dumalagan, with an original and experimental curatorial strategy that presents a different approach to a gallery/experimental space. The habit of observation that comes with one’s character/identity is absorbed into life, and the thoughts that precede the inspiration of art are embedded in the daily routine. Intelligence, grand and trivial, is always collected in the artist's pocket in their off-duty-time, and at some point it is interpreted as the motivation and rationale for their work. Printed maps that do not update automatically, life buoys that hardly save themselves, encounters privy to two parties, ritualistic behaviours, post-stabilised forms, (in)visible messengers, by-products of desire, bodies waiting for the end, the afterglow that keeps on flying, observers wandering about the community; all these documents that are difficult to be categorised in any way are the prerequisites for triggering a hidden mission. All gazes are susceptible, activated automatically in the Artists’ eyes; they possess their own vision of reality and respond to the art family via self-created characters. This exhibition begins with a fictional scene and character setting. The juxtaposition of the works of ten (five pairs of) artists promotes dialogue between the works, each in their own language, and attempts to open up new pathways between similar perspectives. From these works derived from moulding, painting, shaping, sculpting, drawing, recording and other actions, the audience can investigate into the origins of their creation; at the same time, the artists’ persons, habits, hidden perspectives and preferences become subtle footnotes to the works. Through this fragmented information, the audience gets acquainted with the artists’ lives or characters via an open form of encountering and seeing. Other exchange activities will take place during the course of the exhibition: Participating artists will lead guided tours where they share with the audience their ways of seeing; chit-chat sessions allow everyone to freely discuss art creation and their experiences in the exhibition space. For further details, please contact Gallery EXIT. Founded in 2008, Gallery EXIT is a platform dedicated to the promotion of Hong Kong young artists, where long-term collaborations are forged. Ever seeking out emerging local talents, Gallery EXIT provides them with exhibition and exchange opportunities, nurturing the future generation of Hong Kong artists. Based in Kowloon Bay, WURE AREA is an artist-run space founded in May 2021 which welcomes decentralised encounters through artwork showcases and events by collective contribution, introducing arts-viewing as a medium practice to expand perspectives. WURE AREA embraces the discourse of association and self-sensation, inviting visitors to embark on a personal journey in art. About the artist David CHAN Kam Lun (b. 1999) lives in Hong Kong. Chan often observes the traces of his surroundings, antiques, old wood, stone, and parts, traces of damage or natural erosion. The body intuitively imitates the trace, or involuntarily records the pure state to describe things, or trieus to break free from the structure, to express love and admiration for the object. Mae CHAN (b. 1991) lives and works in Hong Kong. Upon graduating from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Textiles, Chan received the ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ Grant from Arts Council England and was a finalist nominee for the 2021 Ingram Prize. Chan’s practice is a multi-disciplinary fusion of textiles, sculpture and craft. By manipulating medium and materiality, she creates physical manifestations narrating the exact moment of a subtle emotional shift. Her work has been exhibited in London, Hong Kong, Berlin, Noresund, etc. KK Tsz Ki CHEUNG (b. 2001) graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2023, majoring in Fine Arts. Cheung uses sculpture as a medium to explore the symbols and urbanism in the city of Hong Kong. By observing the city and mixing discarded and industrial objects, Cheung reflects on the current status of Hong Kong and explores the relationship between the city and its people. GO Hung (b. 1980) is a Hong Kong based artist who obtained his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Digital Arts at the University of West London and Camberwell College of Arts in London respectively. Go uses found materials from the streets and his finished works are discharged back to the streets for public viewing. Go’s new media and sculptural/installation works have been publicly shown in Brazil, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, including his solo exhibitions ‘[uk1] [lau6] [pin1] [fung4] [lin4] [ye2] [yu5]’ (Karin Weber Gallery, Hong Kong, 2022) and ‘zau1 san1 gwat1 tung3’ (Square Street Gallery, Hong Kong, 2021). Jeremy IP (b. 1989) received his Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts from the Academy of Visual Arts of Hong Kong Baptist University in 2014 and a Master’s Degree in Arts (Painting) from the University of the Arts London, Wimbledon College of Arts in 2019. Through painting, Ip deepens his perception of life, increasing awareness of things beyond their social symbols. Recent exhibitions include ‘Phases of Matter’ (Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong, 2023); ‘Works of Paradise Art Exhibition’ (The Kungers, Hong Kong, 2023); ‘38.4’ (Art Space 1999, Hong Kong, 2022); ‘2 Sights’ (Parallel Space, Hong Kong, 2021); ‘Squeezed’ (The Nunnery, London, 2019); ‘Hollow Chambers’ (The Crypt Gallery, London, 2019) and ‘Artopia’ (Yunus Emre Institute, London, 2019). Rico LAU Ching Hei (b. 1999) graduated from the Fine Arts department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2021. Lau’s creation is sketching-based and focuses on the linear representation of body structures and how signs function in images, to reach a certain reality through his distorted and restless portraits. Lau has exhibited at 1a space, SC Gallery, arthome, WURE AREA, Grotto SKW, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Aco Bookstore, and Hong Kong City Hall. His art writings have been published on various media platforms such as Art and Culture Outreach, Paratext and Stand News. Dallas LEE Chiu Sun (b. 1999) is fascinated with the power of painting and drawing to interact with people and within the work itself. Lee’s works lie between representation and abstraction that construct a world connecting reality and imagination. For her, painting and drawing are modes of thought that defy definition in terms of material. Livy LEUNG (b. 1996) graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University. By altering lines, shapes, colours in real scenery, Leung creates a flattened space on the canvas towards the intersection between the real and imaginary world. Recent exhibitions include ‘Aquarius: The Jar of Pandora’ (Ztoryteller Gallery, Hong Kong, 2024); ‘Once Upon’ (Soluna Fine Art, Hong Kong, 2022); Solo project: Nocturne, Nocturne’ (6/F ACO Art Space, Hong Kong, 2023) and ‘38.4’ (WURE AREA, Hong Kong, 2022). Giraffe LEUNG Lok Hei (b. 1993) obtained his MA in Fine Arts from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2021. Leung experiments with found objects and instantly reacts to the daily nonsense with his works. While rendering his works as a form of documentation, the artist also proactively engages the audience with an experience that probes a powerful reflection on the power dynamics between our daily encounter and biopolitics. Recent solo exhibitions include ‘Solo Exhibition by Giraffe Leung’ (La Galerie Paris 1839, Hong Kong, 2021) and ‘Selected Works of Giraffe, Leung Lok Hei, Part 1 : 2019-2020’ (Parallel Space, Hong Kong, 2020). Winsome Dumalagan WONG (b. 1994) obtained a BA from the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong in 2018 and mainly works on videography and the sculpting of images. Delving into the dynamics of authority in images and art, sometimes acting as an agent or co-creator of the works and people she encounters are the provider of raw materials. Wong is a member of Floating Projects Collective, her solo exhibitions include ‘the fields in the shadow of the lowered eyelids’ (Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong, 2023); ‘the portraits lying aside’ (Hong Kong International Photo Festival, Current Plans, Hong Kong, 2023) and ‘Lorna's Party’ (Floating Projects, Hong Kong, 2022). |