Category: Art

Thangkas Very Much! Tibetan thangkas revealing a hidden culture surfaces at auction

The Richard R. & Magdalena Ernst Collection of Himalayan Art – one of the most comprehensive collections of Tibetan thangkas – was recently unveiled at Sotheby’s New York, much to the delight of the art world.

Thangkas, or traditional Tibetan paintings on silk or cotton, are intricate pieces of ancient art, awe-inspiring in their vivid colours and detailed miniature iconography. Painted mostly by monks and their disciples, they have more than just aesthetic value and are an integral meditative tool in Tibetan Buddhist religion.

This particular collection, acquired by Nobel Laureate Richard Ernst and his wife over five decades, features 88 paintings spanning the 12th to the 19th century. Speaking about what drew them to this niche art practiced by spiritual gurus tucked away on mountains with harsh climes, Richard says, “From the moment we laid eyes on the thangka of four Arhats in Kathmandu, we knew that Tibetan art would form the heart of our collection. The region’s rich culture, spontaneous nature of creativity, and philosophical strength drew us in, and has kept us firmly engaged over the last fifty years.”

Of varying sizes and depicting different periods, this widely-published collection includes everything from hypnotic mandalas and rare portraits of early Buddhist masters to prevalent hierarchies in monasteries. According to Sotheby’s experts, quite a few of them are deeply influenced by Lhasa high-court influences, and provide a rare window to a hidden – and almost lost – culture.

Hong Kong Arts Centre’s Late-Night Programme

The Easter holiday is approaching fast and those choosing to stay in the 852 are in for a treat! The Hong Kong Arts Centre’s annual Open House is back for its 7th year on 30 March. Visitors will be taken on a one-day art journey of exploration, amusement and wonder through a range of events including exhibitions, talks, movies, music, workshops, guided tours and more.

HKAC

Celebrating its first Open House since the Centre’s refurbishment, the Centre are for the first time, offering a late-night programme. During this one-off celebration, the Centre will be open from 2pm to 2am, where art enthusiasts can enjoy offerings from different cultural organisations.

This year’s theme is Taste Art which explores the similarities between our appetite and lust for both food and art.  Through the taste of food and expression in art, we allow ourselves to see the silver linings in our daily lives. Stimulating our senses, satisfying our body and minds and igniting our passions, both food and art make life a little bit sweeter.

Check out the full details below: 

Just Moment Salon

Situated along the Victoria Harbour, the salon offers you a space to slow down and appreciate every moment of your life. Surrounded by sparkling skyscrapers at nightfall and with the help of some light music, guests can enjoy Story Console, where playwrights Chester Wong and Santanya Li will be sharing their unique life stories, or Soundscape Diffusion where you can listen to other’s stories. Music performers KaMing & NgaYi, Hakgwai and Bou Kwan Ying will sing out their Just Moment through a series of live performances.

For tickets, please click here 

Movie Night

During this year’s special movie night session, guests will have the chance to watch Naoko Ogigami’s “Kamome Diner” (2005) and Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” (1985). Despite their distinct styles and a 30-year time gap, both films use Japanese cuisine as a cultural backdrop to explore the dynamic relationships between chefs and diners with food and life, alluding to greater discussions on life’s simplicity, human nature for desires and devotion to one’s craft. In the age of rapid acceleration, we often need to slow down to contemplate what it means to truly live, and to delineate the difference between having an expensive meal, and savouring a simple, well-brewed tea.

For tickets, please click here 

HKAC late-night programme

Food, Life, Tasting Corner

11pm @HKAC G/F Lobby

Guests with a Just Moment Salon or Movie Night ticket can enjoy delicacies (English Style Pale Ale, American Style Pale Ale, English Style Stout, coffee, rice ball & cinnamon roll) at the Food, Life, Tasting Corner and will receive a set of souvenirs. 

So if you are wondering what to do this Easter, stop right there. Take the time to slow down and appreciate the simple yet beautiful things with this late-night programme, rounding off a month of all things Art. 

What to expect at next week’s Hong Kong Art Basel 2018

As the perfect conclusion to Art Month, Art Basel Hong Kong 2018 will be taking over our city for the last three days of March. Almost 250 well-respected galleries from over 30 countries worldwide will be descending on the Fragrant Harbour, including 28 first-timers. So what exactly can we expect from this year’s edition of Art Basel Hong Kong?

Ai Weiwei, The Song of White Yu
Ai Weiwei, The Song of White Yu

Art, art and more art

Hong Kong’s art lovers will be treated to an almost infinite range of artworks of every imaginable medium: paintings, sculptures, installation, photographs, digital pieces and more.

Liu Bolin courtesy of Ruinart, Lost in Blanc de Blanc Bottles
Liu Bolin, Lost in Blanc de Blanc Bottles (image credit: Ruinart and Liu Bolin)

Events to check out:

  1. Legendary artist Ai Weiwei’s second solo exhibition ‘Ai Weiwei: Refutation’ displaying at Tang Contemporary Art in the new H Queen’s.
  2. A never-before-seen photography series, Invisible Hands, from famed ‘camouflage’ artist Liu Bolin will be on show at PMQ. The series was shot at Maison Ruinart, the champagne brand’s historic cellar which doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  3. Up-and-coming local mixed-media talent Natalie Wong’s Neon Rap Portraits at The Hive Spring
Neon Rap Portraits by local mixed-media talent Natalie Wong
Neon Rap Portraits by local mixed-media talent Natalie Wong

Museums

Beyond the traditional art gallery fair, Hong Kong’s museums are also getting in on the action at Art Basel Hong Kong next week. From exposes on traditional Chinese mediums to cultural pieces from farther afield, here are some standout events.

Chao Shao-an, The Scent of Peony
Chao Shao-an, The Scent of Peony
  1. Porcelain and Painting at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, which highlight the works of two masters of the Lingnan School of Painting: Yang Shanshen and Chao Shao-an.
  2. The Blue Road: Mastercrafts from Persia, a delightful collection of cultural treasures from the other end of the Silk Road, showing at Liang Yi Museum.
  3. From Two Arises Three: Collaborative Works of Arnold Chang and Michael Cherney at HKU’s University Museum and Art Gallery, which showcases an interesting hybrid of traditional ink painting techniques and modern mixed-media skills.
Manuscript art from Persia
Manuscript art from Persia

With so many unique exhibitions to explore, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Our suggestion? Lace up your walking shoes, plot your gallery course and dive into Art Basel Hong Kong, one show at a time!

 

Curator Conversations: Inside Hong Kong’s Opera Gallery

Originally founded by Gilles Dyan in 1994, Opera Gallery has established 12 locations around the world including London, Geneva and New York. With museums as well as private clients worldwide, Opera Gallery is one of the leading dealers in modern and contemporary art. 

In celebration of Art Month, we talked to Sharlane Foo, Director of Opera Gallery Hong Kong to learn more about life as a curator.

Inside Hong Kong’s Opera Gallery

Having started your career at the Museum of Contemporary Art Loewen in Singapore and then relocating to the UK for further studies at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, it is clear that you have always had a passion for art. What are your earliest memories and experiences with art and what were your main inspirations behind these pieces? 

My father travelled a lot for work and he always brought a book home. For me, I treasured the art books the most and I would read them until I wore them out. During one of our family trips to London for the summer, while in my early teens, a poignant moment for me occurred on a visit to the Tate Modern. Entering the Mark Rothko room was such an incredible experience and that was when I decided that I wanted to be in an industry that allowed me access to such beauty.

What inspires you to drive awareness for collectors and emerging artists?

My role in the gallery is to bridge the gap between artists and collectors. I find that collectors gain the most satisfaction when they have the utmost understanding and a true connection to the artist. I feel extreme happiness when I can bring both sides together. You have a wealth of experience in contemporary and modern art.

Opera Gallery

How do you use this to strengthen collaborations with artists?

I am blessed to have had great experiences with artists, and feel doubly fortunate to be part of the Opera Gallery group led by Founder and Chairman Gilles Dyan. As a global organisation with 12 galleries worldwide, we (collectively) have a wealth of experience and knowledge of the industry that we all call upon. I also work very closely with the group’s Art Director David Rosenberg to bring on new artists to our Hong Kong gallery roster.

Have you observed any recent trends among Hong Kong art collectors and more specifically, at Opera Gallery?

Opera Gallery Hong Kong has gone through a number of changes over the past year. We are progressing and moving with the times and our collectors. One trend that has become apparent is a slight shift in the demographic of the clientele. We are now seeing more of a younger crowd walking through our doors, which is exciting. We are always keen to meet new collectors and to learn more about their interest in the works on our walls.

Inside Hong Kong’s Opera Gallery

Will Opera Gallery feature any art exhibitions at Art Central in March?

We are thrilled to be a part of Art Central 2018 and will showcase a number of magnificent artists, one of which includes Manolo Valdes. Following the great success of Valdes’s monumental sculptures shown in Singapore and Paris, we are bringing the same energy to Hong Kong. During Art Month in March we will also have a group exhibition at Opera Gallery for three amazing Korean Artists: Yoo Bong Sang, Lee Gil Rae and Seo Young Deok. We consistently strive to bring unique talent to Hong Kong to engage local art enthusiasts.

Following the success of Mike Dargas’ exhibition, what’s in store for Opera Gallery this year?

The successful opening of Mike Dargas’ exhibition empowered us to take on more avant-garde works by young global emerging artists. We have a great 2018 ahead of us with a superb line-up for the coming year. With four floors of gallery space, we can bring Hong Kong a diversity of artists that work closely with us and we are always thrilled to see new faces through our door!

Sotheby’s hosts ‘Women in Art: Hong Kong’ exhibition to celebrate the city’s female artists

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Sotheby’s Hong Kong is hosting a special exhibition, Women in Art: Hong Kong, in collaboration with New Hall Art Collection, displayed at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge University.

At a time when there’s global attention on women empowerment, Sotheby’s hopes to create a dialogue around women’s visibility in art through exploring the rich heritage of female artists in Hong Kong.

The exhibition showcases diverse works by female artists from Hong Kong spanning the last 50 years. The works displayed cover a wide range of mediums, including traditional ink paintings by Fang Zhaoling and Irene Chou, video art by Ellen Pau and Angela Su, film posters by Ho Sin Tung and installation art by contemporary artists Ko Sin Tung and Jaffa Lam.   

The artworks displayed are steeped in Hong Kong’s culture and politics, from Ko Sin Tung’s ‘Closed 24hrs’ neon sign that comments on Hong Kong’s consumerist excesses to Jaffa Lam’s ‘Starry Day’ installation, that is made using white umbrella scraps gathered during the iconic Umbrella Movement of 2014.

According to a research conducted by Eliza Gluckman, curator of New Hall Art Collection, and independent researcher Phoebe Wong, a very high percentage of women (around 70%) graduate from art programmes in Hong Kong, but only a mere fraction of them survive in the male-dominated market. Phoebe pointed out many female artists take up teaching as a more viable option, due to a lack of proper infrastructure and funds to support emerging female artists in Hong Kong.

Through the Women in Art: Hong Kong exhibition, Sotheby’s has started a discussion which we hope will not only bring awareness to the work of leading female artists but will also inspire future generations.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Photos: Sotheby’s

Picasso’s Muse: Rare Picasso portrait makes auction debut

Picasso

Pablo Picasso’s Femme au béret et à la robe quadrillée (Marie-Thérèse Walter) surfaced on the market for the first time ever. The painting debuted as a star attraction at Sotheby’s London’s Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale in February.

While the painting definitely celebrates Picasso’s signature Cubist style and portrait skills, it also hides a rather scandalous back story. The oil-on-canvas artwork features Picasso’s ‘golden muse’ and mistress of over 15 years, Marie-Thérèse Walter. However, it clearly lacks the soft brightness so prominent in other Walter-inspired works such as Le Rêve. Instead, there are angular lines and an ominous darkness lurking in the background. It is a perfect example of art imitating life. When Picasso painted this piece in 1937, he was on the cusp of leaving Walter for his new lover, Dora Maar. 

While Picasso may have had trouble juggling his women, he has had no trouble selling their portraits. Sotheby’s London set the asking price for this particular artwork at a staggering HK$390 million.

Thomas Bompard, Head of Sotheby’s London’s Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale, said, “Of all of the artist’s styles and decades, this is the one that most epitomizes the legacy of Picasso as a portraitist of women.”

Photo credit: Sotheby’s

Leisure & Pleasure: Events in Hong Kong this March

Chinese New Year may be behind us, but there’s still plenty to see and do in our fair city this March. Check out our list of must-see events in Hong Kong this month:

HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show

Hong Kong International Jewellery Show

Buyers from around the world will find only the finest of gems at the 35th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, known for its showcase of fine and fashionable pieces. For the ultimate joaillerie devotee, the concurrent Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show is sure to get you spending. To see what’s coming, click this link.

Hong Kong International Jewellery Show
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai
1-5 March. HK$100
http://hktdc.com/

Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show
AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau
Until 3 March. HK$100
http://hktdc.com/

Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival

Lantern Carnival

Held in various districts and featuring a spectacular display of colours and lights amongst folk songs and dances, the Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival is a much-awaited event this time of year. Try your hand at traditional crafts such as lantern-making or Chinese painting, witness auspicious dragon parades and play some lantern riddle games at this fun-filled cultural event, free of charge.

2-4 March, 7:30pm-10pm
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Tung Chung North Park, 20 Tat Tung Road,Tung Chung
Hong Kong Velodrome Park, 105-107 Po Hong Road, Tseung Kwan O
lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/

IRIS: Your Escape

IRIS

Hong Kong’s largest outdoor health and wellness festival is making its final call for enrolment to over 70 yoga and fitness classes this weekend at the scenic West Kowloon waterfront. The 2-day event will feature DIY beauty workshops and interactive game booths, plus a Marketplace hauling 60 health and wellness exhibitors to cater to 6,000 health-conscious attendees. Activities range from Zumba and Hypno-Meditation to DJ Performances (MISSKT!) and family yoga. So what will it be, energy crew? HIIT, Mat Core Pilates or Bollywood Dance? The choice is yours!

3-4 March
12pm-8:30pm on Saturday and 9am-6pm on Sunday
Nursery Park, West Kowloon Cultural District. HK$200-$250
www.irisyourescape.com

Tai Kok Tsui Temple Fair

Tai Kok Tsui Temple

For the 14th year, the Tai Kok Tsui Temple Fair returns with its colourful celebrations dedicated to Hung Shing, the God of the Sea. Immerse yourself in a day of traditional Chinese arts and culture, starting in the morning with a grand parade packed with glittery costumes, skillful acrobats and plenty of drumming. Later, attendees will be treated to the well-anticipated “18 dancing lions” performance, and those who stick around until evening will have the chance to watch a 500- foot-long luminous dragon dancing through the streets.

4 March, 10am
Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon
tkttemplefair.org.hk/index_en.htm

John Legend

John Legend

Multi-platinum-selling singer/songwriter John Legend returns to Hong Kong this month as part of his Darkness and Light world tour. The 10-time Grammy Award winner will perform chart-topping singles from his latest album – which was streamed over 12 million times in the first week of its release – such as Love Me Now and Penthouse Floor. Loyal fans can also expect to hear Legend perform his popular classics, All of Me and Ordinary People. Accompanied by his full live band, this superstar is sure to put on a show-stopping performance. Grab your tickets while they last!

10 March, 8pm
Hall 10, AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau
HK$480-$1,280
hkticketing.com

Hong Kong Flower Show

Hong Kong Flower Show

Promoting cultivation and gardening, the annual Hong Kong Flower Show is a unique opportunity for locals and horticulture enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty of nature while sharing tips and tricks for growing flowers. The dahlia – a striking blossom that comes in a range of bold colours and forms – was the flower chosen to represent this year’s theme of Joy in Bloom. Adults can browse through beautiful flower arrangements and plants, while children enjoy the music and cultural performances, floral art demonstrations and much more.

16-25 March, 9am-9pm
Victoria Park
lcsd.gov.hk/en/eo/

SÓNAR

Sonar Hong Kong

Considered to be one of the world’s most respected electronic music and arts festivals, Sónar returns to Hong Kong for a second edition. With its unique blend of electronic beats, creativity and technology, this legendary transplant from Barcelona is not your average music festival. It features established artists alongside emerging talents, as well as technology-centred activities such as workshops, talks, virtual reality and new media, made available through the Sónar D+ programme. If you are looking for something a little off the beaten track or an opportunity to meet new people in a fun and inspiring environment, Sónar is the place to be.

17-18 March, 11am-3am
Hong Kong Science Park, 2 Science Park West Avenue, Sha Tin, New Territories
sonarhongkong.com

Taste of Hong Kong

Taste of Hong Kong

Let your inner gourmand run wild at Taste of Hong Kong’s four-day culinary playground, offering a peek into Asia’s finest food and beverage suppliers. Choose from over 60 delicious dishes from a line-up of 20 restaurants including popular eateries such as Caprice, Little Bao and Pici, plus a number of newcomers such as Black Salt and New Punjab Club. Watch world-class chefs cook up a storm during live demonstrations, or join a number of interactive master classes and tastings. Still sticking to your 2018 diet resolution? Fret not – live music performances set against the stunning harbourfront backdrop are sure to suit everyone’s tastes.

22-25 March
Central Harbourfront Event Space. 9 Lung Wo Road, Central
HK$96-$678
tasteofhongkong.com

Asia Contemporary Art Show

Asia Contemporary Art Show

March is the ultimate month for art lovers. For one, the 12th edition of the Asia Contemporary Art Show will be returning to Hong Kong. The Spring 2018 iteration will take place at the Conrad Hong Kong, where displays of more than 2,500 exclusive pieces of art – including original paintings, limited editions, sculptures and photography – will span four floors. Don’t forget to check out the fun HK Liquor Store Art Night on 24 March.

23-26 March
Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. HK$250.
asiacontemporaryart.com

Art Basel

Art Basel

Asia’s premier art fair is back and will showcase an array of cutting-edge works by both established and up-and- coming artists. Gallery owners, collectors, artists and curators from all over the world flock to this prestigious three-day event. Fancy yourself as an art enthusiast? Whether you are drawn to paintings or film, digital art or sculptures, this is definitely one for the diary.

29-31 March
Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai
artbasel.com/hong-kong

Multimedia artist Natalie Wong collaborates with The Hive for first solo exhibition

Just in time for Hong Kong Arts Month, British Chinese mixed media artist Natalie Wong is set to open her first solo exhibition in partnership with arts venue The Hive Spring. Entitled “Neon Rap Portraits”, the series features glowing depictions of today’s biggest hip-hop stars the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z and Drake.

The Hong Kong twist to Wong’s artworks is her use of electroluminescent wire: a nod to the city’s iconic neon imagery. Wong also neatly links the ‘freestyle’ concept of her continuous line method to the essence of rap, saying “my lines are improvised in the moment, and it mirrors what a rapper does when he freestyles.” 

 

Wong when viral when pop culture giants Hypebeast and Missbich covered Neon Rap Portraits. Her pieces have since received enquiries from several international buyers. “There have also been multiple collectors interested in the same pieces which have resulted in a price increase in some of the work,” said Wong during the first week of release.

Wong’s traction among art buyers marks a departure from the traditional gallery route that many of the last generation’s artists had to struggle with in the early days of their careers. “Through the production of high quality digital content I have been able to reach buyers directly,” says Wong. “Galleries rarely take on new artists, so I have online channels to thank for the opportunity to showcase my work and reach a far wider audience.”

Wong says online exposure has allowed early-career artists like her to break into the market and build their own client lists.

Catch this up-and-coming artist in the flesh on February 22, 2018 at The Hive Spring in Aberdeen. 

Event Details

Date: 22 Feb 2018

Time: 7-10pm

Address: The Hive Spring, 3/F Remex Centre, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen

Tickets: Free – register here

If you can’t make it on the soft opening, you can still pop in to see the exhibited art, which will be on display up until the 22nd of March in the same location. (And while in you’re the area, why not drop by newly-opened restaurant Komune for deliciously playful cuisine?) 

About the artist

‘Street Pop Cubism’ pioneer Natalie Wong first made waves in the art world with her project 100 Paper Sneakers, a showcase of Nike Air Jordan 1 sculptures made from thickly textured paper and card. Since then her work has been featured in several international publications including GQ, Esquire, HYPEBEAST, IT Fashion, LifestyleAsia and Popbee. www.natmozzie.com

About The Hive Spring

The Hive Spring is the newest addition to the network of the Hive Co-working spaces; it also functions as an arts and culture centre, providing a platform for a wide discipline of emerging artists. 

Alisan Fine Arts hosts HK’s no.1 nature photographer Stephen King’s first solo exhibition

 

Alisan Fine Arts is currently hosting Stephen King’s first solo photography exhibition, Rhythms in Nature, from 24 January to 2 March 2018. Stephen, a landscape photographer based in Hong Kong, explores the hidden patterns in nature through his photographs. With several published works and awards under his belt, he has been recently ranked # 3 in the world (and #1 in HK) in the World’s Top Ten Landscape Photographers 2017 competition held by One Eyeland. We caught up with the ace photographer at the opening of his exhibition at Alisan Fine Arts.

Your exhibition is named Rhythms in Nature. What is the significance of this name?

Patterns or rhythms in landscapes fascinate me. Sometimes, these patterns are obvious, at other times, hidden. As human beings, we respond emotionally to these patterns and rhythms. We can see these patterns in grand vista-type shots or in intimate shots like grouping of leaves or designs on a rock. These natural rhythms really resonate with me and I hope to convey the same feelings to my viewers.

Alisan Fine Arts

Some of your photographs look like paintings. Are you influenced by Chinese painters and their art?

I do get this a lot. I think it’s because as a painter you can put elements on your canvas exactly as you wish. You don’t have any extraneous elements. Everything fits together harmoniously because you can control it. On the other hand, a photo can be chaotic or random.

For me, as a photographer, composition is very, very important. I take a lot of care to compose my photos. I brutally exclude things that don’t add to a picture. So when people see my photos, they compare them to paintings, because, like paintings, my photos don’t have extraneous elements.

To get to your question, I have been surrounded by Chinese paintings all my life because my mother owns an art gallery. My use of negative space and vertical composition is borrowed from Chinese paintings. But it’s not just Chinese paintings that influence me. I am also influenced by the works of Western painters like Georgia O’Keefe, Mark Rothko, etc. It’s not a conscious decision on my part, but unconsciously I feel drawn to the aesthetics of their paintings.

You have been honoured with several rewards and recognition. Is there any that is particularly close to your heart?

One of my photos was recently selected to be on the October cover of Landscape Photography Magazine.  I have also won the Best Single Image award in the Earth & Climate category in Travel Photographer of the Year 2017, and have been ranked #3 in the World’s Top Ten Landscape Photographers 2017 competition held by One Eyeland. Last year I had a photo published in the Outdoor Photography Magazine in their top 150 photos. I have just been informed that they have selected two photos for the Top 150 list this year among 18,000 submissions. In fact, the two photos selected are displayed here at Alisan Fine Arts exhibition.

Alisan Fine Arts

What are the challenges of taking landscape photos?

The thing about taking landscape photos is that it is very unpredictable. You can plan where you want to shoot, you can go to the best spot for taking photos, but the weather’s going to be different from what you planned. The light will be different from what you planned. So you need to be a bit spontaneous and work with what the landscape has on offer. This can be challenging, but this makes it so much fun as well. The same landscape looks completely different in different conditions. If there’s a storm coming, it could look dramatic, if you are shooting in direct sun, you can play with the patterns in the shadow. It’s all about your emotional response to the nature in front of you.

Opera Gallery hosts hyperrealist artist Mike Dargas’ first solo exhibition in Asia

Hong Kong’s art scene is already gearing up for March, most art-centric month of the year. Ahead of the two biggest art events in March – Art Basel and Art Central – the art galleries are hosting an array of art exhibitions by both local and overseas artists.

The most recent one to have caught our attention was Mike Dargas’ solo exhibition at Opera Gallery running from 19 January to 9 February. A German artist based in Los Angeles, he specialises in the perfect fusion of classic technique with the aesthetics of the digital age. Simply put, his paintings look so real that unless you look closely, they look like photographs.

Through this hyper-realistic technique, he explores the various nuances of human skin. A recurrent theme of his paintings is a frozen moment in time that arrests the path of a liquid dripping from a model’s face. This stillness – poignant in its spontaneity – captures the painting’s inner soul in a perfect moment. His current exhibition at the Opera Gallery, titled ‘Healing Beauty’, is all about this perfection of the soul and the feminine, fragile nature of identity. Dargas says, “My paintings catch an emotional snapshot and try to evoke a certain feeling to the viewer”.