Third Programme of the Spanish Ar t exhibition: Life through inner-self contemplation
(Lola Abellan, Michelle Conception)

After appreciation on modern landscape and personal landmark, our third programme brings audiences to inner-self reflections by presenting Lola Abella and Michelle Concepcion.

With the theme of organic curves and composition, Lola leads us to a journey of color and spatial harmony. Her depiction of flower-like subjects is a balance between the western floral arrangement where colour richness dominates, and the Japanese ikebana mood where emptiness and deliberate spatial void symbolizes beauty. Audiences’ contemplation is encouraged and also guided through her use of light outlines in the semi-abstract paintings.

Michelle has even stepped further to open up her canvas and artistic space for audiences’ interpretation and participation. She has intentionally evoked extensive understandings through enhancing visual meditation elements: soft, dreamy shapes which floats in deep space, extraordinary illusion of textures, intricate interplay of luminescence and darkness, volume and transparency. While what she emphasizes is contemplation rather than arousing emotions, Michelle has also controlled on a balance of visual elements – the colour, the patterning, and the spatial arrangements.

Appreciation of life involves our discovery of different perspectives and elements throughout our life journey. We sincerely hope that this summer exhibition series from an enjoyment of modern landscapes, through memories of personal stories, to our inner-self contemplation brings to you tastes of inspiration and pleasure.

Second Programme: Life through personal stories (Cristina Blanch, Noemi Martin)

The importance of living in our contemporary present is emphasized through the work of Christina Blanch and Noemi Martin.

Christina has focused on the moments in which we are currently living, as seen from her works such as “Armani”. Our existence is what gives meaning to our moments. Her work not only reproduces reality, but also confirms our moments through the use of distinctive and consistent brushstrokes.

Noemi even affirms the importance of ‘moment’ by infusing a strong feeling of intimacy and nostalgia touch into her works. She has successfully created a serene atmosphere in her works to enrich the sense of personal stories in the scenes. The heavy earth tone colours and her chosen subject matter such as “Librarie” exemplify the emphasis on our stories and footprints on the modern landscapes.

You are cordially invited to a group painting exhibition titled “Appreciation of life – An endless journey” organized by States-of-the-Arts Gallery. Six Spanish artists – Joan Longas, Marti Bofarull, Cristina Blanch, Noemi Martin, Lola Abellan and Michelle Conception - are going to present the different appreciations of life to you:
from an enjoyment of modern landscapes, through memories of personal stories, to our inner-self contemplation.

05~26 Jun: modern landscape
27 Jun ~ 17 Jul –Aug: personal stories
17 Jul ~ 14 Aug: inner-self contemplation

First Programme: Life through modern landscapes and buildings
(Joan Longas, Marti Bofarull)

Joan’s and Marti’s still landscapes recognize our treasurable footprints in different places, to hold lasting memories.

City landscapes are recreated on Joan’s and Marti’s canvas infusing the artists’ sensations and experiences during their travels.
Through a splendid treatment of light and a very careful selection of composition and views, where monumental buildings instead of fleeting human activities are depicted, Joan evokes a nostalgic feeling towards the ephemerality of life. His canvases are surrounded by magic atmosphere.

Marti renovates his urban landscapes by fixing his gaze on the architecture, the streets and the commercial trappings of the modern city as well. Urban patterns have become has grabbed his attention. While the big American cities are portrayed vibrant and restless, Marti discloses other perspectives for our appreciation – its hypnotic textures, its somberness, its beautiful structures full of geometric forms. His portrayal of the somber buildings, his emphasis on a city’s composition and forms, together with his distinct palette-knife style, has given the audiences an extraordinary taste on the modern landscapes.

The exhibition will be held at Gallery by the Harbour, level 2, Ocean center, Harbour City, Canton Road, T.S.T. Kowlook, Hong Kong

26 Jun to 12 Jul at Gallery the Harbour


State-of-the-arts Gallery is proud to present a cross-over exhibition featuring Didier Lourenco and Giles Dawe on the theme of beautiful melancholy of city life.

Acclaimed by the prestigious critic, Josep M.Cadena, Didier’s work “have deservedly proved popular with the public.” One of the attractiveness comes from his delicate depiction of the desolated yet beautiful human souls in the hustle and bustle city life. Didier’s Jazz and City Scene series disclosed the brooding mood of his subjects. Regardless how noisy and busy night clubs or city streets should be, Didier’s subjects in the scenes are of limited communications, are faceless, are of similar geometrical shapes and curves. Instead of depicting a subject activity in each work, Didier chose to convey the mood of isolated individuals in city where neither the jazz players or music listeners are of more dominance – all the subjects are of similar weight and importance – the sameness, stillness and melancholy of city life; yet; there retains a strong sense of subtle beauty from within.

While audiences feel for the subjects in Didier’s works, Giles makes us the subjects to initiate the melancholy mood by leading us through his depiction of frozen city scenes. His skillful manipulation of the cut-away parts leaves room for our imagination, as if we are walking through his work as well as our own creation. His ideas on ‘beautiful contemplation’ is embodies through an overall aesthetic emphasis with his use of harmonious colour palettes and balancing geometrical composition.

Different positioning of audiences on the same urban landscape, you are cordially invited to interpret and create your own version of melancholy by enriching Didier’s and Giles’s city scenes.

Exhibition Duration: 1 - 31 May, 2010
Video exhibition created by Steve Dix, click the link here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3dlkzH9HBA

State-of-the-Arts Gallery proudly presents the group exhibition of 4 Australian artists. Portraying the peculiar features of the country, the artists express their artistic view with distinctive style. Blair McNamara colours the canvases with his signature shapes and patterns, while recording the history and development of Australia with vivid colours and brushwork. Abstruse as it may seem, the artwork of Ghasan Saaid composites images inspired by usual daily life as well as the surrounding environment, forming colourful symbols and room for imagination. Depicting the natural and man-made landscape, Steven Dix makes use of his bold brushstroke and rustic palette to present the contemporary facet of the country. The exhibition not only unfolds the magnificent landscape of Australia, but also the unique creative minds of the oceanic country. Jasmin Zara Copley captures the beauty of the Australian beaches and shores with intense composition and splashy colours, which resemble the natural patterns of the seascapes.

State-of-the-Arts 畫廊呈獻來自澳洲的藝術展覽。4位澳洲藝術家以各具特色的風格描繪出這國家的獨特面貌和創作理念。Blair McNamara的畫作以獨特圖案和形狀見稱，以鮮明活潑的顏色和筆觸記錄澳洲的歷史和發展。Ghasan Saaid的作品看似抽象難明，拼湊的圖像卻是來自日常生活和身邊所見，形成色彩班爛的符號和無限想像空間。Steven Dix繪畫澳洲的自然和城市景觀，以豪邁筆觸和富質感的色調展示當代景像。是此展覽不獨呈現大洋洲的瑰麗風光，更展示了自成一格的藝術力量。Jasmin Zara Copley以懾人的構圖捕捉澳洲海岸和沙灘的美景，潑染式的色彩讓人想到海邊的自然風貌。

Gleb’s inspiration comes primarily from the aged architecture and geography of Europe; he has a special association with the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean and more recently with the Far East. He travels extensively looking for images to paint. When he finds a view that inspires him, Gleb will sit and absorb it for some time, paying particular attention to how the natural light conditions of the day influence his perspective and moreover his emotional response.

Selected artists work will be on sale from 17th (ArtWalk night) till end of March. 15% discount would be given for all Artwalk ticket owners within the above period. 5% of sold revenue will be donated to ArtWalk charity program.

To celebrate Lunar Chinese New Year, special sale on Chinese Ink Painting will be offer during Jan and Feb 2010
featuring Chinese Ink Master Chu Tse Hung, Lam Tian Xing and Ann Yen'work with more than 20 pieces in the State-of-the-Arts Gallery.

Giles Dawe’s sculptural paintings show us a surrealistic world that arouses flows of thoughts. Inspired by the masters of Surrealism, he records the places he has stayed over the years as well as his artistic mind on medium other than canvas. Apart from the artist’s daily life and the cities he has stayed, his work somehow reflects his British background and his peculiar view on themes like stereotyping, cultural shocks and so on. Making use of his training in sculpture and defying the constraint of a rectangular canvas, he creates one-of-a-kind artwork combining painting and sculpture.

“I am a part of you. You are a part of me.” This is the essence of Sanae Takahata’s portraiture, in which she not only depicts the painted subject, but also captures the artist’s inner self. She paints portraits for the simple reason that she likes people. The Japanese artist interviews and observes her models before wielding her paint brush. Her portraits exhibit her personal perception of her subjects, as well as her passion towards them. “Intimate Reflections” best describes the close relationship between the painter and the painted. With her vivid palette, surreal backgrounds, and female subjects, Takahata is making her own statement of womanhood and femininity.