‘The Mystics’ by Marc Standing
Exploring the themes of identity, displacement and morality within a heightened age of globalisation and multiculturalism, Marc Standing debuts ‘The Mystics’ - his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong.
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Standing currently divides his time between Hong Kong and Sydney. The British-colonial pasts of these three cities have largely influenced his career and his artwork. In The Mystics, Standing’s paintings and sculptures are inspired by a personal search for identity and embodied by complexities felt by a mass consciousness - one which has been left with toxic traces of colonialism.
Although Standing chiefly produces oil paintings on canvas, the 21 showpieces in this exhibition also consists of some rare collage works and sculptures. The exhibit features skulls and masks alongside nature and birds, the contrast between the eerie and the peaceful are evident. He explores the tensions between light and dark; comfort and discomfort; a sense of belonging and a sense of void.
Regardless of where you are from, his unique pieces will undoubtedly strike a chord with most people. From identity to a sense of belonging, his artwork will relate to most, especially those who find them in this post-colonial, multinational city that is Hong Kong. If you look close enough, you might even find hints of Hong Kong’s famous cityscape in the shards of geometric structures amongst the organic subject matters.
Gallery: The Cat Street Gallery
Venue: 222 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Date: 13 February - 8 March, 2014
Time: Monday - Friday : 11 am - 7 pm, Saturday : 11am - 5pm
For more information on the exhibit, visit the gallery’s website:
http://www.thecatstreetgallery.com/home/current/eng/
The Fractured Colony, Oil on canvas
