Hidden Gems Worth Exploring at Art Central 2022
What Do We Think?
By Martina M E Manalo
26 May 2022
As Art Central returns with a sizeable increase in gallery participations (52 gallery exhibitors, 20 new participants), it has been overwhelming to see different works from different artists in and out of Hong Kong.
Here are some ‘hidden gems’ you shouldn’t miss when you visit.
A story book on the wall at A Gallery is what Tokuhiro Kawai’s work are all about. The artist’s work showcases a delicate, light and airy 18th century aesthetic, hinting on some 21st century elements.
Kawai’s creations are said to be “an illustration without chapters with classical technique portraying a story of modern lives.”
Human beings live their life carrying this kind of contradiction or unanswerable problems. By creating an original hero, I want to pursue the amusing trait of a mankind who exists with the desire to battle, and yet have contradictory behaviors
-Tokuhiro Kawai
In the same booth, I was struck with a slight confusion and weird familiarity of an artwork by Mitsuru Watanabe. As I walked past, I first thought it was Salvador Dalí’s “Autumnal Cannibalism” probably because of the surrealism, and colour palette, but as I walked towards it, it was actually Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Last Judgement” …until it wasn’t. What it really was, was Mitsuru Watanabe’s “Naoko Playing in Bosch’s Last Judgement”. ’Watanabe is known for covering his work with a pastiche of masterpieces in search for truth in expression’.
What intrigues me the most in Watanabe’s work is his satirical but not nonsensical concept and that there is a huge amount of substance in it despite the obvious parody.
I paint in a direction to other’s works in order to question the concept of being original, which may be a mere fantasy .
-Mitsuru Watanabe
CWC Consulting & Art Gallery features Sim Chan’s “Glimmer”, a series of 12 paintings that change hues when the light changes. It was nostalgic to me because it reminded me of home (Manila), and late nights on my commute, exhausted but fulfilled (sometimes frustrated) from rehearsals at the ballet. It is admirable how Chan’s work show his desire to create something that is beyond the usual format of painting as a medium.
From the same gallery is Louis To Wun’s “Language Barrier” . A moving sculpture with a motor sensor that activates the movement of the 36 mouths behind the bamboo grid. From the title itself, the artwork illustrates the experience of people suffering from the absence of the sense of hearing, and the ability to rely on the visual sense of lip reading.
Ticko Liu’s triptych, “A Warm Bother That Across Generations” displayed at one of Square Street Gallery’s booths, connects to its viewer in a melancholic, dreamy, and personal way. The piece projects a clear, fluid movement creating a hypnotic continuum, evoking a deeper understanding of not just the work itself, but also dipping into the artist’s personal life. The artist has successfully created a strong connection between the viewer and the artwork—an essential part of presenting any kind of work.
Another young artist to discover at Art Central is Anton Poon and his work from his “Reinvestigation Series” at the Made in Hong Kong booth. The piece brings a mixture of colourful geometric shapes focusing on the lines and shapes of buildings, and other architectural forms around him. Poon’s displayed work may not be of large scale nor controversial making it easily noticeable, but what makes it stand out is its distinctiveness, therefore, its rarity.
Lastly, finger painter and self-taught artist, Justin Y’s vibrant and alluring “Abundance is Here to Stay” at Jason/Sveinn Contemporary , is one that immediately transports you to a kaleidoscopic world of happiness. Although the work is quite straightforward, the execution of his technique and ‘accurate abstraction’ is impressive, not to mention the amount of labour you’d imagine he’s put into it.
Jason/Sveinn Contemporary also features other must-see works from artists, Hotaru Visual Guerrilla (Spain), Kan-Zan-Loc (Japan), Pang Yongjie (China), Toshio Iezumi (Japan), Yosuke Miyao (Japan).
Art Central is running all weekend through 29 May (Sunday). Make sure to visit your favourite artists and galleries and explore the art fair before it ends.
You may also visit Art Central HK to learn more.
Art Central is presented in partnership with United Overseas Bank (UOB).
For more information about the artists and galleries, view or contact:
A Gallery | @agalleryhk | Booth A13
CWC Consulting & Art Co., LTD. | Booth B21
Jason/Sveinn Contemporary Art | @jasonsveinn | Booth B22
Square Street Gallery | @squarestreetgallery | Booth B23 and B24
in case you missed…