ALEXIS IP, STEFAN IRVINE

RECONSTRUCT is a new duo exhibition that showcases two artists who work with the reassembling of photographs, contrasting each other in how they ultimately manipulate them: one via analogue techniques and the other digital. Alexis Ip is known for his 3D ‘Fotomo’ collage, developed in his classroom where he has been a teacher for many of Hong Kong’s children as well as inspiring local artists through his popular workshops. Stefan Irvine’s now iconic and still expanding photo-series, ‘The Last Tong Lau,’ plays in the digital domain by re-stitching numerous images together, manifesting in a seamless creation that appears hyper-real and simultaneously surreal. Both artists tell stories of Hong Kong’s rich heritage by responding to it’s disappearing architecture and street culture due to the city’s perpetual ‘work-in-progress’ nature. The medium in-which each artist creates effortlessly demonstrates their artistic inquiry, producing works of immense handicraft, discipline and perfected reconstruction. Art imitates life and RECONSTRUCT shows two artists who creatively re-organise reality in order for us to see it more clearly, and in effect better remember, cherish and learn from it.