Imagined States Chapter 2: Intrinsicality

EVENT DESCRIPTION

This November, WOAW Gallery is pleased to present a series of exhibitions, along with an academic panel discussion, on the visual exploration of cultural self- identification. At various gallery locations throughout Hong Kong from November 16, 2023 – January 17, 2024, the exhibition series “Imagined States” showcases over 20 recent paintings of 12 acclaimed international artists, offering a thought-provoking journey through two distinct chapters: Chapter 1 – “Extrinsicality” and Chapter 2 – “Intrinsicality”. As a culmination of this exciting event, an engaging academic panel discussion will be held delving into the intricate themes and concepts behind the artwork.

Taking place at the gallery spaces in Wan Chai and Central, the exhibition series “Imagined States” showcases the artistic process of empowering metaphors through which humanity constructs and locates itself within realms, places, and territories of the mind. In the realm of art, artists do not seek to depict accuracy, but to present a version of the truth based on their unique visualization of the world. They change their surroundings through various mediums, palettes, and techniques, as they seek to express their truth by engaging with our senses, our memories, and our emotions. Through their works, each artist illustrates what exists beyond words as they unfold their personal truth before our very eyes, inviting us to reexamine our own truths.

“Imagined States”: Chapter 2 – “Intrinsicality”

The second chapter, “Intrinsicality,” refers to something that is natural and inherent, and takes place at the gallery’s Central location from November 29, 2023 to January 17, 2024. In this chapter, the focus shifts inward as artists invite viewers to perceive their personal truths. Through the weaving together of intimate memories and unique stories, each artist presents their personal landscape, mediating their emotions and identity in the world. This immersive experience allows both the artists and the audience to reflect on their sense of self and engage in a shared contemplation of identity.

Propelling the “Intrinsicality” chapter is Korean artist Miyeon Yi, who negotiates ideas of freedom, death, and ennui based on her own experience with her great-grandmother. Her atmospheric works illustrate a continuous push and pull between the anxiety of living empty lives and the hopeful desire to transform the world that we live in. Presenting alongside Yi is American artist Blake Daniels. His evocative paintings are a collision of personal, historical, social, and political memories, as Daniels draws inspiration from traditions of cultural practices and storytelling. He intertwines his experiences with vivid colors, art histories, and religious iconography in a celebration of his understanding of the world through memory.