Internationally acclaimed sculptor and painter Wu Qiong is back in town to present his exhibition, Here and Now. This exhibition is his open invitation into a state of consciousness replete with luscious dreamscapes, whimsical characters and compositions. His newer masterpieces are more subtle, allowing more open-ended interpretations and portraying more powerful emotions and feelings. These visceral feelings are communicated through postures, facial expressions and depiction of characters. This allows for more emphasis on individual characters and development of their emotions. Wu’s distinctive cartoon style is obvious, and it resonates with the aesthetic of a generation absorbed with graphic novels, comics, digital worlds, animation and gaming. The characters have their eyes closed and mouths agape. Their upturned faces and shut eyes suggest that havoc is unfolding in their dreams. Wu hopes to tap upon this notion through the recurring use of this facial expression, allowing viewers to draw their own associations with the different scenarios presented in his works. “Here and Now represents an entry point into a state of mind or being, with no single definition or explanation as to where ‘here’ is. I want to engage in a dialogue with viewers, introducing scenarios that would provoke thought or trigger memories and experiences. I want to highlight the wealth of emotions contained within my characters. They are a manifestation of common emotions and considerations of society; hopefully these feelings will resonate with viewers even if the situations and contexts, which I present them in, do not,” says Wu.

Featuring works of Wu Qiong