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N-O-C-I

18 April 2024 - 18 May 2024

EVENT DESCRIPTION

In April, SC Gallery is presenting a duo exhibition by two emerging local artists with completely different artistic practices, they are Jay Lau, a print-making artist who recently graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Benny To, who graduated from Hong Kong Art School with a major in ceramics, with a special interest in archaeological artifacts. The two artists have come together in “N-O-C-I” to explore the ideas of destruction and rebirth throughout the society historically.

When Lau traveled across Europe, he was enthralled by the Renaissance marble sculptures after witnessing them with his own eyes. In particular, Michelangelo’s sculptures deeply moved him, as they are appropriated and replicated by artists across different generations out of context, and even reproduced as merchandise for commercial use. The original meaning and significance behind these marble sculptures are now lost, and Lau became curious and intrigued by the actual social and historical context behind them. Walter Benjamin, a German Jewish philosopher, had proposed that each work of art has an aura, a unique presence that only exists in a certain time and space (Jetzt und Hier). Therefore, no matter how many times a sculpture is being reproduced, its copy is still lacking the aura, and the feeling one may get from looking at the original piece, as it cannot be replicated. In this exhibition, Lau employs a new technique, by combining acrylic transfer and woodcut printing to replicate images of various sculptures, including the statue of Queen Victoria and the wax figure of Queen Elizabeth II etc., then situating them in ruins, construction sites, and even fictional settings that he fabricated through photo editing software, it is giving it a new life, adapted in a contemporary context.

In Lau’s woodcut prints, he positions famous sculptures into indescribable scenarios and in response, Benny To uses a wide range of materials, such as ceramic, gold, silver and copper to imitate different magic weapons and relics.

To is an avid anime watcher, and he realized in anime, many of the magic weapons and relics used by the fictional characters are based off of actual ancient artifacts as a reference, then redesigned. Similarly, it goes through the process of deconstruction and rebirth like in Lau’s works. Through recreating ancient artifacts through his imaginative fictional archaeology, To reinterprets the relationship between history, religion and pop culture through his own lens. In this exhibition, he references the items passed on for generations of the Royal Family, and imitates the appearance of ancient relics and artifacts. His works are made from ceramic, silver and copper, and some parts even with actual gold. When visiting the exhibition, the viewers may feel as though they are visiting the ruins of the artist’s fantasy, looking for treasure.