Heman Chong Reads Between the Lines

Heman Chong b. 1977, Malaysia Follow +

Heman Chong shows a recent series of paintings in his latest exhibition, The Book of Equators (9 October–30 November 2024), at Amanda Wilkinson Gallery in London.

The series, also titled ‘The Book of Equators’ (2024), are constructed in acrylic on polyester cotton, and feature layers upon layers of abstract, broken lines in muted hues of red, blue, teal, and grey.

Beneath the paint, glimpses of patterns emerge—fragments of decorative tropical flora and fauna, remnants of materials crafted in countries once colonised by the British Empire. The lines both obscure and reveal, inviting viewers to explore hidden meanings while bearing history in mind.

Reflecting on these works, Chong told Ocula: ‘I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the invisible lines that are drawn up by authoritarian institutions that exist all around us.’

Chong added: ‘I feel that my work is moving in a direction where I am less and less concerned about clever ideas; I am more driven towards a physical entanglement with form, texture, material, and a need to slip into the realm of underlying secrets that lies behind the images around us.’

Also showing in the exhibition is a site-specific wall installation and a film. The Book of Equators coincides with Chong’s presentation at Lahore Biennale 03 (5 October–8 November 2024) and his solo show at UCCA Dune, Beijing, The Endless Summer (27 October 2024–6 April 2025). Next year, he will open a show at the Singapore Art Museum and participate in Sharjah Biennale 16.

Formerly a graphic designer, Chong carried the visual language of books and libraries into his artistic practice. He garnered attention at the 2003 Venice Biennale with Murmurmurmurmurmur (Venezia/Accademia Remix) (2003), a video installation contrasting personal interpretation with structured learning.

His iterative, interactive project The Library of Unread Books (2024), which explores the politics of distribution, was recently exhibited at the Serpentine Pavilion in London.