Unit London
3rd October to 4th November 2023
This October, the lower gallery floor of Unit London will undergo a mesmerizing transformation into the ‘Dreamscape Estuary.’ Curated by Laura Shao, the exhibit, which aligns with the pulsing heart of Frieze London, is an explorative ensemble of 14 Asian artists whose divergent backgrounds span across various geographies and cultures.
Opening on October 3rd, the group show serves not just as a platform for artistic expression but as a dialogue between the multiplicities of the Asian experience. Artists bring forth their works where ideas, memories, and landscapes converge into a distilled, amalgamated, and sometimes entirely imagined state, crafting a personal mythology that vibrates with the complexities and contradictions inherent in Asian identities.
The artists showcased in ‘Dreamscape Estuary’ transcend geographical confines, offering windows into the dreams and aspirations rooted in their cultural origins, yet conversing with the global narratives of the present. Xia Yu and Tan Yongqing from China examine the profound nexus between humanity and the cosmos through their intricate portraits, while Indonesia’s Natisa Jones, with her transcontinental background, uses the body as a conduit for spiritual voyages from the physical to the metaphysical realms.
Wang Ziping’s latest sculptural work is a striking totem that juxtaposes the allure of candy-like sweetness against the enigmatic pull of celestial bodies. Ma Hailun integrates the boldness of high-fashion photography into heartfelt representations of Xinjiang’s people, crafting a language that unapologetically celebrates vernacular beauty.
Hong Kong artists Cheung Sze Hin and Stephen Wong make compelling statements on art’s resilience and restorative essence. Cheung captures divine sparks in the microscopic views of neglect and decay, while Wong’s art takes viewers on a mystical hike through nature, guided by his visual memories and imagination.
As the exhibition coincides with Frieze London, it invites contemplation on cultural identity in an era where the world’s places and cultures are just a click or flight away. It also prompts introspection about the essence of being Asian and an Asian artist. While ‘Dreamscape Estuary’ doesn’t claim to offer a utopian vision of unity among today’s Asian artists, it certainly opens the door to a journey of discovery and connection in a dreamscape where stories and lives intertwine.
今年十月，倫敦聯合畫廊（Unit London）推出名為「夢河入海」的特展。這場展覽與倫敦弗里茲藝術博覽會同期舉行，由策展人邵依洋（Laura Shao）策劃。展覽集結了來自不同地理文化背景的14位亞洲藝術家，透過他們的作品展現了一個跨文化與地域的藝術版圖。
展覽於10月3日開幕，它不只是一個展現亞洲藝術創作的舞台，更是一次亞洲多元文化經驗對話的呈現。每位藝術家的作品都是一場思緒、記憶與景觀的交織，創造出與亞洲身份的複雜性和內在矛盾相呼應的個人神話。夏禹與譚永青透過他們細膩的肖像作品，探索了人類與宇宙之間的深刻聯繫，而印尼藝術家娜蒂莎·瓊斯則通過她豐富的跨文化背景，將身體轉化為通往精神境界的載體，描繪了物質與靈魂之間的旅程。
王子平最新的雕塑作品將糖果的甜蜜魅力與神秘的天體吸引力巧妙地並置在一起，構成一座引人注目的圖騰柱。馬海倫巧妙地將高級時尚攝影的大膽元素融入對新疆人民的深情描繪之中，打造出一種坦然慶祝地方之美的獨特語言。
香港藝術家張子軒與黃進曦都通過他們的作品論述了藝術的堅韌與療癒的力量。張子軒在被遺忘和衰敗的微觀場景中捕捉到神性的火花，而黃進曦則通過他的視覺記憶和想象，帶領觀眾進行了一次超凡的自然之旅。
這次展覽與倫敦弗里茲藝術博覽會同期舉行，它促使人們深思，在一個世界各地和文化觸手可及的時代，文化身份究竟意味著什麼，作為亞洲人和亞洲藝術家的本質是什麼。儘管「夢幻河口」並不試圖展現一個亞洲藝術家完美統一的烏托邦幻景，但它無疑為觀眾開啟了一段在故事與生活交織的夢境中探索的旅程。
Edited by 編輯 x Michelle Yu 余小悅
