Jonathan Thomson
Australia
Second Skin
17th April to 5th June 2021
Karin Weber Gallery
Phase 1: Saturday, 17th April 3-6pm | Phase 2: Saturday, 15th May 3-6pm
Karin Weber Gallery is excited to announce ‘Second Skin,’ a group show by six Hong Kong-based artists which examines the complexities inherent in our own wardrobe choices and the wider context of today’s fashion world. Historically rooted in the profoundly female practice of dressmaking, fashion has always been a vehicle for individual self-expression and personal statements. In recent decades, the highly evolved fashion industry has attracted more controversy, with sustainability and human rights equally top of mind.
The participating artists engage with individual themes around the subject of fashion, such as conspicuous consumption, identity and body objectification, whilst also highlighting the broader societal issues arising from the machine of mass consumption much of today’s fashion appears to have become. In recognition of the ever faster turnaround of seasonal collections, ‘Second Skin’ will introduce new works into the show at its half way point.
Overconsumption is a topic of interest shared by several artists in this exhibition. Rosanna Li’s ceramic figures Shopping Spree and All At $50 – The Myth Of the Garment Industry, highlight the controversy of excessive shopping encouraged by the fashion industry coupled with the harsh labour conditions faced by garment workers.
Street artist Go Hung’s Stuff, an object cast from shopping bags, features the statement “Dress To Impress.” Go will also create a fitting room in the gallery space, adopting a second hand full length mirror and used magazines for his process.
Mandy Ma explores themes of self identity and cultural roots by transforming woollen hand gloves she wore as a child into an adult version.
Jonathan Thomson’s Lost Seduced Abandoned transforms women’s underwear into colourful latex in a powerful statement on female bodies and womens’ lives. Ceiling hung, flexible sculptures by IV Chan are made of lycra and expanding foam, confronting viewers with their organic, anthropomorphic formations free from societal clothing norms. June Ho’s delicate prints draw inspiration from the traditional process of tailoring clothes from paper patterns, bringing viewers full circle to the origins of fashion through the craftsmanship of clothes making. As the fashion industry continues to evolve, increasingly looking to address some of its current challenges, ’Second Skin’ provides a creative snapshot of a world in transformation, captured in materials as diverse as its participants.
About the Artists:
IV Chan (HK, b.1978) received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (US), a Post Graduate Diploma in Visual Art from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), and a MFA from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK). She is currently a part-time lecturer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong teaching Fundamental Sculpture and one of the artists in residence at Tai Kwun Contemporary this year.
Go Hung (HK, b.1980) received his BA in Digital Arts and Creative Advertising at Thames Valley University, UK and MA in Visual Arts from University of the Arts London, UK. He has also participated in artist residency programmes in Denmark and Iceland. Recent exhibitions include ‘disCONNECT HK’ in HK (2020), ‘Classic Craft, Modern Meaning’, Hong Kong Tramways (2020).
June Ho (China, b.1990) received her BA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Recent exhibitions include ‘Passing Time’ at Aco Art Space, HK (2020), ‘Reflections On Paper,’ Karin Weber Gallery, HK (2020).
Rosanna Li (HK) – studied studio ceramics at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and art education at the University of London and University of Liverpool, UK. Her works are in the collection of Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Guangdong Museum of Art, Shiwan Ceramic Museum in China, Zhejiang Museum of Art in China and New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan. Li was awarded Artist of the Year 2019 (Visual Arts) by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.
Mandy Ma (HK, b. 1996) obtained her BA in Visual Arts from Hong Kong Baptist University. Ma was a finalist in the Sovereign Art Foundation Student Prize in 2018. Recent exhibitions include ‘Letting Go’ at Koo Ming Kown Exhibition Gallery at Hong Kong Baptist University (2021) and ‘The 3rd Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Educational Institution Art and Design Exhibition’ in China (2020).
Jonathan Thomson (Australia, b.1957) is an Artist, Art Historian, Critic and Curator. He has held senior management positions with the Australia Council for the Arts, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Global University Alliance. In 2013, Thomson was appointed adjunct Professor of Art History at The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Hong Kong. Recent exhibitions include ‘Out Of Darkness,’ Karin Weber Gallery (2020) and ‘Studies For Sculpture,’ Hill Smith Gallery in Australia (2017).
ExhibitionSecond Skin Date + Time17th April to 5th June 2021 LocationKarin Weber Gallery Opening ReceptionPhase 1: Saturday, 17th April 3-6pm | Phase 2: Saturday, 15th May 3-6pm |
InfoKarin Weber Gallery is excited to announce ‘Second Skin,’ a group show by six Hong Kong-based artists which examines the complexities inherent in our own wardrobe choices and the wider context of today’s fashion world. Historically rooted in the profoundly female practice of dressmaking, fashion has always been a vehicle for individual self-expression and personal statements. In recent decades, the highly evolved fashion industry has attracted more controversy, with sustainability and human rights equally top of mind. The participating artists engage with individual themes around the subject of fashion, such as conspicuous consumption, identity and body objectification, whilst also highlighting the broader societal issues arising from the machine of mass consumption much of today’s fashion appears to have become. In recognition of the ever faster turnaround of seasonal collections, ‘Second Skin’ will introduce new works into the show at its half way point. Overconsumption is a topic of interest shared by several artists in this exhibition. Rosanna Li’s ceramic figures Shopping Spree and All At $50 – The Myth Of the Garment Industry, highlight the controversy of excessive shopping encouraged by the fashion industry coupled with the harsh labour conditions faced by garment workers. Street artist Go Hung’s Stuff, an object cast from shopping bags, features the statement “Dress To Impress.” Go will also create a fitting room in the gallery space, adopting a second hand full length mirror and used magazines for his process. Mandy Ma explores themes of self identity and cultural roots by transforming woollen hand gloves she wore as a child into an adult version. Jonathan Thomson’s Lost Seduced Abandoned transforms women’s underwear into colourful latex in a powerful statement on female bodies and womens’ lives. Ceiling hung, flexible sculptures by IV Chan are made of lycra and expanding foam, confronting viewers with their organic, anthropomorphic formations free from societal clothing norms. June Ho’s delicate prints draw inspiration from the traditional process of tailoring clothes from paper patterns, bringing viewers full circle to the origins of fashion through the craftsmanship of clothes making. As the fashion industry continues to evolve, increasingly looking to address some of its current challenges, ’Second Skin’ provides a creative snapshot of a world in transformation, captured in materials as diverse as its participants.
About the Artists: IV Chan (HK, b.1978) received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art (US), a Post Graduate Diploma in Visual Art from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), and a MFA from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK). She is currently a part-time lecturer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong teaching Fundamental Sculpture and one of the artists in residence at Tai Kwun Contemporary this year. Go Hung (HK, b.1980) received his BA in Digital Arts and Creative Advertising at Thames Valley University, UK and MA in Visual Arts from University of the Arts London, UK. He has also participated in artist residency programmes in Denmark and Iceland. Recent exhibitions include ‘disCONNECT HK’ in HK (2020), ‘Classic Craft, Modern Meaning’, Hong Kong Tramways (2020). June Ho (China, b.1990) received her BA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Recent exhibitions include ‘Passing Time’ at Aco Art Space, HK (2020), ‘Reflections On Paper,’ Karin Weber Gallery, HK (2020). Rosanna Li (HK) – studied studio ceramics at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and art education at the University of London and University of Liverpool, UK. Her works are in the collection of Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Guangdong Museum of Art, Shiwan Ceramic Museum in China, Zhejiang Museum of Art in China and New Taipei City Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan. Li was awarded Artist of the Year 2019 (Visual Arts) by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Mandy Ma (HK, b. 1996) obtained her BA in Visual Arts from Hong Kong Baptist University. Ma was a finalist in the Sovereign Art Foundation Student Prize in 2018. Recent exhibitions include ‘Letting Go’ at Koo Ming Kown Exhibition Gallery at Hong Kong Baptist University (2021) and ‘The 3rd Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Educational Institution Art and Design Exhibition’ in China (2020). Jonathan Thomson (Australia, b.1957) is an Artist, Art Historian, Critic and Curator. He has held senior management positions with the Australia Council for the Arts, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Global University Alliance. In 2013, Thomson was appointed adjunct Professor of Art History at The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Hong Kong. Recent exhibitions include ‘Out Of Darkness,’ Karin Weber Gallery (2020) and ‘Studies For Sculpture,’ Hill Smith Gallery in Australia (2017). |