80 /20?

The Dark side of Aesthetic

A Solo exhibition 80/20 at PMQ, Art Projects Gallery
By Michelle Kuen Suet Fung
Date: November 6th-23rd 2014

Written by Elaine Chau

How to stand out among from those eye-candy liked art pieces in the current art
world? Is it enough for artist to constantly staying in monotonous and linear
style? Michelle Kuen Suet Fung recent solo exhibition- 80/20 clearly pointed out
her vision. With slightly colorful and fantasy, childish painting style fusion the
use of Chinese rice paper brought an entirely fresh visual presentation to life.
Every piece of the show are linked to the appearance of animals. It is an obvious
highlight of this exhibition.

Animals relationship with humans is the unbreakable muse in local artist,
Michelle Kuen Suet Fungs eyes. The shows name, 80/20, is also playing around
with this concept: 80% of all marine waste is from the land. Only 20% is from the
ocean. The data game still continued further more in questioning humans about
marine lives in her artist statement. Michelles works mostly included animal
element, which is nearly becoming her personal signature.

The gallery space turned into a shelter for those hurting marine lives. Viewers
even had the illusion of visiting an aquarium. An enormous shark surrounded
with lot of colorful flotsams displayed in a rectangular frame. These flotsams are
in different shapes, some like balloon while some reminded me of jellyfish.


Details of painting

Disregarding our universal impression to ocean world, the tone of this painting is
unusually dark even with those varieties of hued objects. Comparing to fine art
painting, Michelles work is not only about how realistic the characters are
painted, further more, it is about merging her unique painting style.

Another series of painting that continue with the hidden dark theme spot my
eyes. They are all together four separating done Chinese painting which generate
the same theme. If you are expecting any traditional Chinese painting from
Michelle, this may disappoint you. However, counting on the innovation of
blazing Chinese painting technique and her personal style, this work surely
deserves a credit for her. Not only credit for her skills, but also for her idea on
experimenting the possibility of shadow.

This particular work can be read critically in two parts- the entity and shadow.
The entities of marine lives have beautiful and lovely finish touch. This just like
represents the wonderful side of lively marine lives used to be. While for the
shadow part, Michelle is daring to expose the cruel dying scene. No bleeding
blood, no horror facial expression, rather, they died in a fading motion with
highly aesthetic value. This juxtaposition clearly is a special intention of the
artist-perfect the dying process. Putting an atrocious happening in a good-
looking frame seems more valuable in artists eyes than straightforward
composition. As a viewer, contrast is no doubt playing a higher level of
presentation role than any too candid content. thus create a stronger tension to
the viewers.

80/20 show had a significant role to Michelle; in fact, this is her first show in
Hong Kong after staying in Vancouver for past two decades. Despite of the
working environment encountered from a big switch, her works still revealed
and continued with her exclusive style. On the other hand, this show is also
bridging the academic institution and commercial gallery. (Michelle is currently
studying for a Master of Visual Arts.)

Merging two different natures of art exhibition- academic and commercial is
challenging to deal with. The risky point is artists may lose their own color so as
to satisfy expectations. Handling struggle between avant-garde and commercial
art can be an overloading task. Being a young artist domain in Pop-Surrealism
genre, experiencing experimental arts is a must. However, this requires mature
art practice and sense, more, defining oneself in position is also another
business.

Reviewing Michelles previous exhibition; comics style with slightly childish
touch is her marking. They projected more on graphic aspect, which is likely to
be her talent and strength. Going back to 80/20 show, twists on style and
technique are easily found, the content of 80/20 is more realistic than her
previous works, which almost remind viewers those fairytale we used to listen in
childhood.

More pieces from 80/20

This overall breakthrough is certainly worth for applauding. Effort in solidifying

skills and visualizing her idea can be observed from this well-prepared
exhibition. Discussion on way she accounted on marine lives issue, that
particular painting consisted contrasting effect is no doubtfully standing out
from others. This individual piece captured viewers attention, thus effectively
brought out the addressing messages. It moved us to think deeply on what
nature beauty are now facing. Using fading shadow effect can also raise mystery
and, again, visually attracted focus point.

Reading through artists blog entry, she mentioned popularity of decorative
function in commercial art world, which hints the perspective of aesthetic and
beauty value. In this 80/20 show, Michelle showed her standpoint -insisting
oneself style while keeping an open mind for potential development which
probably is the way for artists to deliver their ideas, or to survive in art field.