Tina Keng Gallery is pleased to announce its participation in the 2023 edition of ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair with a curated project Snaky, comprising the works of Su Xiaobai, Sopheap Pich, Peng Wei, and Su Meng-Hung. Snaky alludes to a serpentine form that represent a winding journey where people relish the present, manifested in the diverse works of the four Asian artists. Together the abstract paintings and conceptual sculptures articulate a spirit that transcends convention, delving into materiality, color, and cultural symbolism.
Colour and temporality serve as the starting point from which to explore the work of Su Xiaobai (b. 1949). As Su lays down the canvas, applying colour, contemplating the layers of detail in lacquer, the work gradually materialises, the strata of time instantiated. Also grappling with the idea of time is the new painting series of Peng Wei (b. 1974), which portrays a varied array of multicoloured tiles, rendered in delicate, pastel-hued brushwork. Experiencing time through the act of painting, both artists highlight the nuanced relationship between art-making and temporality.
Materiality and symbolism inform our understanding of the work of Cambodian artist Sopheap Pich (b. 1971), who draws inspiration from his culture and natural surroundings. Repurposing bamboo, rattan, wood, stainless steel, and aluminium, the artist redefines painting and sculpture with a singular three-dimensionality. Taiwanese artist Su Meng-Hung (b. 1976) navigates the terrain between the figurative and the abstract, tangible craftsmanship and digital imagery, traditional symbolism and contemporary experience, popular aesthetics and elite culture. Rather than using painting as an illustrative means, he seeks to expand the age-old genre.
Patterns, motifs, and natural elements coalesce into visual narratives that evoke a sense of time in project Snaky. Texture, form, and meaning intertwine, sharing Eastern and Western underpinnings while encouraging the viewer to immerse themselves in this winding journey of life.
Dates
9–12 November 2023
Location
Shanghai Exhibition Center
No.1000 Middle Yan An Road
Shanghai, China