As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating virtual worlds, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of familiarity when I gaze upon Hou Jianan’s works at DE SARTHE in Hong Kong. The illusion of reality, the amplified desires, and the fleeting satisfaction – it all seems eerily reminiscent of my late-night quests for virtual loot or digital achievements.
At DE SARTHE gallery in Hong Kong, an exhibit titled “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” is on display, featuring works by artist Hou Jianan from Chongqing. This collection of fresh paintings explores the deceptive aspect of satisfaction in a world shaped by digital rewards, using his sharp eye for design and graphics.
In a new perspective, Hou explores how hedonistic urges get intensified by our modern technological era, where physical possessions and digital stimulation merge as one. Based on this concept, the artist deliberately emphasizes and simplifies elements within his acrylic artwork, creating an illusion of artificiality in his visual style.
At the heart of this exhibition are frequent domestic scenes – houses, candles, drapes, and chairs – contrasted with lush vegetation and blooms. Cozy and alluring in their familiarity, a closer look uncovers an intentional insincerity, much like the transient and empty fulfillment one finds in quick gratifications.
The gallery described the artwork as subtly echoing the 1998 film “The Truman Show”. They feature backdrops of artificial skies, serving not only to highlight the confines of this seemingly idyllic prison, but also to underscore the idea that what we perceive is merely an illusion – something temporary that will vanish with time.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow is now on view until January 25, 2025.
DE SARTHE
26/F, M Place,
54 Wong Chuk Hang Rd,
Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
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2024-12-21 01:26