Damon Tong: Bon Voyage

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Art Projects Gallery proudly presents Hong Kong artist, Damon Tong’s latest solo exhibition, Bon Voyage.

Tong is known for his use of the unconventional medium of custom-made stickers, inspired by the ubiquitous “Made In Hong Kong” stickers that he came across during his childhood in the 1970-80s when his family was in the garment business.

Tong’s recent works continue in the direction of his “World Peace” series, this time focusing on the theme of “childhood games”. His latest works, composed using his trademark “Made in Hong Kong” and “Made in China” stickers, are inspired by the “Aeroplane Chess”, a popular childhood board-game in Asia, as a metaphor for the recent emigration phenomenon in Hong Kong. For Tong, taking flight may be something that many desired in the current situation. The familiarity and innocence of the aeroplane chess imagery, juxtaposed against the complexity of the current social context, sums up the artist’s concept for the show:

         “A greeting so familiar yet has become oddly unfamiliar. For those who have departed, a return is something of the unknown this time around. Like our beloved childhood games, our steps are often just as random as a throw of dice. Before we embark on our next stop in our journey, let’s revisit our many “journeys” “on board”!

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Born in Hong Kong in 1979, Damon Tong received his Bachelor of Art degree in Fine Art from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (co- presented with the Hong Kong Art School) in 2008 and his Master of Visual Arts from he Hong Kong Baptist University in 2013. He is also a member of Rental United, an artist trio established in 2009, which is known for their participatory practices.