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Artists: Rose Barberat, Shiqing Deng, Celia Lees, Nianxin Li, Okokume, Gabriel Rico, Alexander Skats

Tales of Women

Hong Kong Wong Chuk Hang Space

September 14 – October 14, 2024

Curated by Aishan Zhang, Sam Yang

Press

Tales of Women showcases diverse artists, each delving into the complex nature of femininity across different cultures and mediums. This

exhibition honors women as complete beings, not merely as male counterparts.

Rose Barberat (b. 1994, Saint-Claude) utilizes color to create an immersive and experiential impact. Her work delves into contemporary issues

of representation, drawing inspiration from French painters like Jacques Monory of the narrative figuration movement. Barberat's art invites

viewers to see painting as a bridge to cinema, fiction, and storytelling. Her paintings portray contemporary dystopias, offering multiple readings

and interpretations.

Nianxin Li (b. 1999, Chongqing)’s paintings explore the body as sensual architecture, where soft organisms transform into otherness,

beautifully capturing feminine intimacy and fragility. These precariously balanced creatures evoke a sense of delicate vulnerability, underscored

by the tension present in their compositions. The saturated shades of color that permeate Li’s canvases heighten this emotional intensity,

reflecting the nuanced and fragile nature of intimate feminine experiences.

Alexander Skats (b. 1986, Gothenburg) delves into the concept of feminine bodies, capturing movie-like moments that evoke solitude and

nostalgia. Skats portrays daily scenes that transform into intricate narratives, reflecting the complexity and ambiguity of feminine experiences.

His work suggests a blend of reality and fiction, leading to a confusion of information that invites viewers to explore more profound layers of

meaning and emotion.

Okokume (b. 1985, Barcelona)'s celestial alter-ego, Cosmic Girl, gazes back at the viewer with a hopeful expression, inviting reflection on the

environment around her. Influenced by Japanese manga, American street culture, and cartoons, the dreamy Cosmic Girl features sparkling eyes,

turquoise skin, and pink hair. Created by Okokume in 2015 to raise awareness of environmental issues, Cosmic Girl and her world embody the

artist's deep aspirations for a bright and hopeful future.

With a deep appreciation for the Old Master paintings, Shiqing Deng (b. 1992, Shaanxi) infuses her classical training with a contemporary

aesthetic, challenging the historic male gaze in art history. In a post-feminist society, Deng's work empowers women to gaze back, redefining

their presence in art. She uses clothing as a starting point to explore the relationship between virtually-manipulated realities and the tangible

world. The human body is the carrier of clothing, and clothing becomes a medium for bodily expression. In her paintings, cloth, and figure

intertwine, representing a second skin that transcends gender, race, and origin, thereby celebrating the fluidity and diversity of human identity.

 

On the other hand, Celia Lees (b. 1996, Ontario) ‘s abstract paintings pulsate with a vibrant, feminine energy, embodying the fluidity and depth

of emotional experience. Her dynamic use of color and expressive brushstrokes evoke a sense of constant movement, capturing the essence of

femininity in its most primal form—sensual, intuitive, and powerful. Lees draws upon memories and emotions, weaving them into her work to

reflect the female experience, where past and present intertwine with the forms and figures that inhabit her world. Her creative process, which

blends rhythmic, musical gestures with uninhibited physical expression, mirrors the inherent strength and grace of feminine energy. As an

Abstract artist, Lees uses her gestural language to communicate the complexities of emotion, inviting a broader audience to connect with the

universal power of femininity.

With its blend of diverse objects and materials, Gabriel Rico (b. 1980, Lagos de Moreno)'s work powerfully reflects the connection between

humans and nature, aligning closely with the themes of "Tales of Women." Combining organic and synthetic elements with personal artifacts,

Rico's art mirrors the exploration of women's varied experiences and identities in contemporary art. His ability to bring together seemingly

unrelated elements into unified pieces enhances the exhibition's focus on the complex and sometimes contradictory nature of femininity.

Through his use of natural materials, Rico highlights the strength and resilience inherent in feminine power, much like the artists in "Tales of

Women" who explore the many facets of womanhood.

Tales of Women invites viewers to explore diverse portrayals of women in the modern world plagued by eternal struggles: some embody a

serene stillness, while others carry restless burdens. The exhibition's title, "Tales of Women," also hints at an open interpretation – each

painting is a clue to a narrative that each artist has the key to but that we can witness by subtly peering through. They’re left ajar, and we peek

at scenes that often strike an impression of our own. Through their work, these artists navigate the boundaries of female identity, adeptly

conveying women's deep-seated desires and hopes.

Works

EXHIBITING WORKS

Rose Barberat A Brand-New Day Oil on canvas 180 x 220 cm 2023

Rose Barberat Sleeping Beauty Oil on canvas 180 x 220 cm 2023

Shiqing Deng Art Enthusiast Oil on linen 152 x 101 cm 2024

Shiqing Deng Narcissus Oil on linen 152 x 101 cm 2024

Shiqing Deng Venus Oil on linen 152 x 101 cm 2024

Celia Lees Sitting in Silence Acrylic, oil stick, graphite and ink on canvas 127 x 177.5 cm 2024

Celia Lees With or Without You Acrylic, oil stick, graphite and ink on canvas 152 x 152 cm 2024

Celia Lees Like No Other Acrylic, oil stick, graphite and ink on canvas 152 x 152 cm 2024

Celia Lees Mirror, Mirror Acrylic, oil stick, graphite and ink on canvas 203 x 203 cm 2024

Okokume Florece Acrylic on canvas 30 x 30 cm (left); 130 x 97 (middle); 75 x 35 cm (right) 2024

Okokume Limite Acrylic on canvas 61 x 38 cm (left); 130 x 97 (middle); 33 x 41 cm (right) 2024

Okokume Única Acrylic on canvas 61 x 38 cm (left); 130 x 97 (middle); 27 x 35 cm (right) 2024

Gabriel Rico I have anticipated you VI (The object, constructor of the social, expelled from the social world, attributes to a transcendent world what is, however, not divine) Wood, steel, oil, gold-plated ceramics and sand 90 x 210 x 90 cm 2021

Gabriel Rico To compound the small differences V Beads on wooden board coated with epoxic resin 85 x 150 x 6 cm 2022

Gabriel Rico To compound the small differences VIII Beads on wooden board coated with epoxic resin 100 x 100 x 6 cm 2022

Nianxin Li In-depth Communication Acrylic on canvas 122 x 61 cm 2024

Nianxin Li It's raining outside but we left the window open Acrylic on canvas 101.5 x 76 cm 2024

Nianxin Li Infinite Acrylic on canvas 122 x 76 cm 2024

Nianxin Li It doesn't ask you to reflect on it Acrylic on canvas 122 x 152 cm 2024

Alexander Skats Perseverance Oil on linen 130 x 200 cm 2022

Alexander Skats Daydreamer Oil on linen 70 x 90 cm 2024

Alexander Skats The Lobster Oil on linen 70 x 60 cm 2024

Alexander Skats The Coin Oil on linen 40 x 32 cm 2024

Artist
Artists
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Rose Barberat

b. 1994, Saint-Claude, France

Lives and works in Aubervilliers, France

Franco-Swiss artist Rose Barberat graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris with a master's degree in 2021 and holds a master's degree in modern literature and creative writing from the University of Cergy-Pontoise, obtained in 2017.

Barberat's paintings challenge contemporary representation, blending narrative techniques with autofiction to create a figurative vocabulary that blurs reality and fiction. Her work, conceived as "objects of contemplation," explores artificial staging based on real events, discussing what is probable and real.

 

Following French narrative figuration artists like Jacques Monory, Barberat's contemporary dystopias offer multiple interpretations, with color altering viewers' initial perceptions. Characterized as feminist, pop, and delirious, her art emphasizes immersion through color, tending towards figurative minimalism while maintaining rich narratives.

 

Barberat's work has gained international interests, with exhibitions at venues including MO.CO. Montpellier Contemporain Panacée, Givon Art Forum in Tel Aviv, JO-HS in Mexico City, and galleries in Venice and Paris.

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Shiqing Deng

b. 1992, Shaanxi, China

Lives and works in New York, United States

Shiqing Deng is a Chinese painter based in Brooklyn. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China, and a Master of Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art in New York City. While at the New York Academy of Art, she was awarded the Terra Foundation Artist Residency in Giverny, France in 2017 and the 2018-2019 Chubb Fellowship. In 2023, she was the winner of The Bennett Prize.

 

Her works have been exhibited worldwide, with solo exhibitions in Switzerland, Milan, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as participation in art fairs in New York, Miami and Rome.

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Celia Lees

b. 1996, Port Stanley, Canada

Lives and works in Toronto, Canada

Celia Lees is an abstract artist, beginning her artistic journey as a search for self-expression and a deeper connection with life and herself.

 

Known for her love of large-scale works, Celia utilizes the physical motions of her body to guide the

composition and apply her distinctive mark-making. Often incorporating found objects as unconventional painting tools, she draws inspiration from her immediate surroundings and the objects within her reach.

While the composition of Celia's work is influenced by her tools and environment, her primary inspiration comes from internal emotions and human connections. Her art reflects a continuous exploration of the intangible and the ineffable — a pursuit to capture what cannot be articulated.

Celia has work in private collections in Canada, United States, Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, Oman and Malaysia.

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Nianxin Li

b. 1999, Chongqing, China

Lives and works in New York, United States

Born in 1999 in Chongqing, Li is an emerging young star in the contemporary scene. From 2017 to 2020, she studied painting at the renowned Florence Academy of Fine Arts. Due to her interest in diverse cultural aesthetics, she moved to New York in 2021, and went to the School of Visual Arts in New York City, graduating with an MFA in 2023.

Inspired by still life, Li enriches the traditional genre by depicting compositions with atypical elements.

The contending of toxic and neutral colors, the textural juxtaposition of sheen smoothness, and the feathery delicacy all drive a push-and-pull tension, allowing one to draw dynamic parallels when thinking about familial relationships. 

Li’s recent solo exhibition “Entering The House,” was held successfully at K11 Museum Shanghai (2023). Selected group exhibitions include “Dimly at First,” Loft 121, New York (2023), “A Happy Beginning,”Latitude Gallery, New York (2023), “Genesis,” Chambers Gallery, New York (2023), “The hand of the artist,”SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York (2023), “Color Me In,” 550 Gallery, New York (2023), “Material Mixtape,”New collectors Gallery, New York (2022), and “Double Trouble,” Village one gallery, New York (2022). She has also attended artist interviews from Canvas Rebel Magazine and Jimon Magazine in 2023.

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Okokume

b. 1985, Barcelona, Spain

Lives and work in Barcelona, Spain

Okokume (Laura Mas Hernandez) graduated from the distinguished Llotja Advanced School of Art and Design. Her works constantly revealed a raw and bold conceptual representation of her unique universe, capturing a sense of unease and anguish. Okokume’s oeuvres seek to create meaningful dialogue and connection with audiences on a soulful level.

 

Cosmic Girl, Okokume’s iconic character is shaped by concepts like childhood, uncertainty, heartache and fear taking centre stage. Okokume’s brushstroke subtly creates social and emotional debates, carrying a soft and peaceful aesthetic into the frame. The artworks reveal a magic power above the sharp undertone, unveiling and healing the artist’s wounded spirit. Cosmic Girl serves as a device that allows audiences to take a glimpse

into the powerful and enigmatic inner spirit of Okokume.

Okokume’s work has gained international interest with works exhibited in galleries worldwide, including Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris and Berlin. With her immense talent and success in the art field, her works continuously appear in worldwide art fairs, also private art collections of art collectors, celebrities and industrialists.

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Gabriel Rico

b. 1980, Lagos de Moreno,Mexico

Lives and works in Guadalajara, Mexico

Describing himself as an “ontologist with a heuristic methodology,” Gabriel Rico interrelates found objects and materials, reworking them to create sculptures that invite the viewer to reflect on the relation between human beings and their natural environment. He sometimes uses neon, ceramics, taxidermy mounts, branches of trees, and even more personal objects from his own past to create an equation or formulation, achieving a precise geometry in spite of the unwieldy organic nature of his materials. His installations combine natural and anti-natural forms, handled poetically and ironically, with an insistence on the necessary contemplation of their asymmetry, as well as of our own cultural and political defects.

Gabriel Rico studied architecture at the ITESO in Guadalajara, 2004. He has been the recipient of an award from the Prince Claus Fund (2011), of a binational grant from the FONCA and the Colombian Ministry of Culture (2013), and of international support from the Ténot Fondation Bursary program (2014) and the ASU Art Museum & CALA Alliance (2017).

 

Rico has held international residencies that include Seoul Art Space Geumcheon (2012); the DMZ

International Peace Residency, Dongguk University, in Cheorwon-gun, South Korea (2012); the WARP

contemporary art platform in Sint-Niklaas, and Frans Masereel Centrum, Belgium, (2013); and the Gyeonggi Creation Center (2015).

 

He has recently exhibited his work at museums and galleries around the world, including the BeiQiu

Museum of Contemporary Art in Nanjing, China, and Black Cube in Denver in 2022; the Institute of

Contemporary Art in San Diego, Perrotin in New York, and the Galería OMR in Mexico City in 2021; Perrotin in Paris in 2020; the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado in 2019; The Power Station in Dallas in 2017; the Gyeonggi Creation Center in Ansan, South Korea, and the Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Denmark in 2016. His work was included in the 58th Venice Biennale and is part of the Korean Ceramic Foundation (KOCEF), among others.

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Alexander Skats

b. 1986, Gothenburg, Sweden

Lives and works in Malmö, Sweden

Alexander Skats graduated with a Master of Fine Arts from Umeå Academy of Fine Arts in 2018, following his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Valand Academy of Art in 2016. Skats explores the complexities of digital imagery through his distinctive, vibrant color palette.

 

Skats' contemporary works serve as an active medium in evoking a rethinking of our daily modes of

consumption and production. His iconic painting style and motifs hint at his perception of the implicit beauty in the world. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, including vintage photographs, films, and online images, Skats' fusion of symbols encourages viewers to question the meaning behind the depicted figures or objects.

Creating an intriguing fusion of digital art and oil painting, Skats' artistic practice evokes a dialogue between past and present. The artist constantly plays with scale and the expression of light, emphasizing the idea of cropping under the influence of the cinematic artist Luc Tuymans.

Alexander Skats' works have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, including Sweden, the United States, and Hong Kong. His oeuvre is receiving growing popularity in diverse gallery spaces.

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