REVIEW: Arlene Shechet's “Moon in the Morning” is our new obsession
What Do We Think?
By Martina M E Manalo
25 May 2022
Arlene Shechet’s 9 recent sculptures at Pace gallery’s Hong Kong space make an absolute stunner of a show—intense and yet very soothing with a tasteful flavour that can linger for days (or probably a lifetime). It’s powerful.
Shechet is currently living and working in New York, as a multidisciplinary sculptor. In the artist’s current show, her works with ceramic, wood, steel, brass, paint and a lot more create a buoyant, flowing and graceful prismatic movement.
The exhibition is meant to bring forth the audience’s opinion afloat by the dynamism of each of her work that creates a connection between the viewer and the artwork. In “Moon in the Morning”, the calming smooth curves joined by the organic rough edges, contradict each other in the most remarkable way, making it almost seem like an object that has already existed in a different time and space on earth, but one that we are only lucky enough to see at present.
Clearly, the artist’s methodology is reflected in her work. An adventure in each creation. No sketches, but purely intuition and skill creates such bold works. Like dance, like movement, it flows continuously and gracefully as the improvisation goes on, and yet, only the ones who are truly skilled and have clear intention and thought in their minds can make it look flawless.
It has been a while since I have seen an exhibition I am so drawn into, so subtly powerful, full of emotion, and pieces that ‘speak’ to you leaving you thinking about it for a long time—and that is where the beauty of art truly is, as the cliche goes, ‘true beauty does not need scream for attention’.
Savour the chance to see the artist’s first exhibition in Hong Kong while restrictions have been eased. The zingy, contagious enthusiasm it brings is definitely a must see at H Queen’s, Hong Kong.
Arlene Shechet: Moon in the Morning runs through 30 June.
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