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EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Spectacle Group is thrilled to present the latest solo exhibition by celebrated American collage artist Robert Crooks. Titled ‘Magic in the Making’, this captivating exhibition offers a profound look into the artist’s journey of spiritual exploration and artistic innovation.
Robert Crooks, known for his mesmerizing seascape collage art, returns to Hong Kong with his second solo exhibition at The Spectacle Group, after a prominent reception at Kiaf Seoul 2023. This exhibition serves as a chronicle of his 2023 residency with the gallery. Prior to his residency, Crooks spent two years as the Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at a world-leading institute for expanded consciousness and spirituality.
Robert’s spiritual quest has taken him to diverse locations, including residencies at Serenity Ridge, Virginia, and the Menri Monastery, a Tibetan Bon monastery in Himachal Pradesh, India. His time at these spiritual centers profoundly influenced his art, resulting in captivating pieces created at both locations.
‘Magic in the Making’ features two moving scrolls with embedded app controllers and motorization, a collection of wearable art presented on fallen tree branches, and nine captivating collage paintings. The majority of these pieces were created during his residency in Hong Kong this year.
Throughout Robert Crooks’ life, miraculous occurrences have been a constant theme, inspiring his latest series of works. His remarkable ability to manifest his desires and turn them into astonishing reality is a recurring motif in his artistic journey. From discovering a grandfather’s archive of vintage fashion magazines on Craigslist to his serendipitous finding of vibrant fabrics from the Menri Monastery’s surroundings, his art is steeped in enchantment.
The moving scrolls, which employ custom apps and electric motors, are a showcase of the magic that led to its creation, from chance encounters with app developers to the fortuitous collaboration with a carpentry wood shop. ‘Magic in the Making’ is more than just a title. It’s a representation of wonder and magic infused into every creation in the show.
Sustainability is another central theme in Robert’s work, emphasizing the reuse of materials like historical magazines and found fabrics in creating his fashion collages. These materials were discovered and repurposed from items that others have overlooked or discarded.
Robert Crooks’ iconic features, including the ‘portals’ in the core of his works that invite viewers to imagine unknown places and times, remain at the forefront. With its smoothness in gradients, his seas and skies are a demonstration of his meticulous attention to detail. All papers and fabrics are ripped by hand or torn by nature, with each fashion collage work, in particular, requiring two years to complete.
