Tobe KAN: Liminal Interval

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Tobe Kan’s solo exhibition ‘Liminal Interval’ explores the concept of liminality: The state of in-betweenness and of transitioning from one state to another, while also emphasising the displacement of time. Inspired by the liminal moments of dawn and dusk, the exhibition features paintings and installations that capture the elusive and intangible qualities of transition and transformation. By blurring the boundaries between different times of day in her works, Kan creates a sense of liminality, where the viewer is suspended in a space that is neither fully day nor fully night.

In relation to the idea of boundaries, the works in the exhibition investigate the interdependence of living things and the impermanence of all states of being, emphasising the interconnectedness of all things. Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences and observations of the world, the artist scrutinises the present moment through the depiction of living plants. Intricate and delicate lines reflect her intuitive response to the world around her and create a sense of movement and fluidity that is both dynamic and thought-provoking.

The recurring motif of certain plant species throughout the exhibition evokes a sense of deja vu, a feeling familiar to our everyday experience in Hong Kong. These plant species are common to the city, and their repeated presence serves as a reflection of the significance of personal associations and memories that these experiences create, as well as the interdependence of living organisms.

A large painting titled How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? depicts Agavaceae plants such as Ti plants, known for their relatively short lifespan. The ideas of impermanence and the transient nature of life are closely related to the theme of liminality. The painting serves as a powerful statement on the transience of life and the importance of cherishing the present moment.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Tobe Kan is a Hong Kong based visual artist who specializes in painting, while she also experiments with mixed-media drawing, installation and poetry. Received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from RMIT University and Hong Kong Art School in 2017, Kan based her artistic practice on psychoanalysis and personal experiences of her own mental state, and of those around her, exploring human conditions such as personal loss, insecurity, depression, sense of isolation and fear of being forgotten. Her works often take an expressionist approach, with the use of dark colours and bold lines.

Kan was the recipient of the Fresh Trend Art Award of the Fresh Trend Art Graduations Joint Exhibition in 2017. Her solo shows organised by Gallery EXIT in Hong Kong include Liminal Interval (2023), Panacea (2021) and duo exhibition This Bitter Earth (2019); other selected solos include of war, of love, of time (Peter Augustus Gallery, USA, 2022) and Peck-eyes Ravens (CL3 Architects Limited, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2018. Group exhibition participations include Gravity (Soluna Fine Art, Hong Kong, 2022); Intersect Aspen (Peter Augustus Gallery, USA, 2022); The Sunshine Is Still There (SC Gallery, Hong Kong, 2022); The Unsung (Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong, 2021); In the course of Dancing, from Nightfall to Darkness (Hong Kong Art Centre, Hong Kong, 2020); By the Window (1a space, Hong Kong, 2019); and An on-going balance of insecurity (Gallery EXIT, Hong Kong, 2018). Kan’s works have been acquired into numerous private collections.