Two artists question mass media and human relationships in shared Hong Kong art show
- At Blindspot Gallery in Wong Chuk Hang, Trevor Yeung uses live plants as conduits for an examination of human relationships
- He shares the space with fellow Hong Kong artist Sarah Lai, whose paintings depict apparent ordinariness. Both invite viewers to rethink initial impressions
On one side of the gallery, house plants turned into artworks are on display with gently bubbling fish tanks. On the other, giant models of cassette tapes and large, pastel-colour paintings and installations recreate the style and mood of 1990s Japan.
For his exhibition “Not Everything is About You”, Yeung continues his practice of using symbols from nature as conduits through which to examine human relationships. In particular, his insistence on travelling throughout the coronavirus pandemic seems to have led to a running theme of isolation, alienation and resilience.
Live plants are displayed in various conditions. For example, two flourishing money trees with their distinct, braided stems are hanging from the ceiling by way of neon safety straps; a stump of cactus that will slowly, but surely, grow over the duration of the exhibition in a sexually suggestive curve.
These are accompanied by empty fish tanks with air pumps running, a reference to how the artist spent time tending to his plants and pet fish when he wanted to escape from reality, he says.