西班牙藝術家Joan Cornellà的作品一直深受港人歡迎，特別在這艱難時期，眼見荒謬事每天上演，其尖銳的批判性視角和極富黑色幽默的內容觸動到我們最脆弱的神經，總能讓人從懸掛空洞笑容的角色得到共鳴，慨嘆荒誕日常，以及墮落醜惡的人性。闊別香港3年，蘇富比與AllRightsReserved 將聯合舉辦作品展售會「Contemporary Showcase: My Life Is Pointless by Joan Cornellà」，帶來Cornellà 48 幅標誌性諷刺時弊的作品，是本港歷來最大型的Joan Cornellà 展覽。
The works of Spanish artist Joan Cornellà have been so many people’s favorite, perhaps because his biting social commentary and satirical humour always manage to touch a nerve in us. We resonate with the characters exuding menacing smiles, lamenting over the absurdity of quotidian life and the dark side of human nature. Cornellà’s biggest solo exhibition ever in Hong Kong, Contemporary Showcase: My Life Is Pointless by Joan Cornellà, is held at the Sotheby’s, featuring 48 works by the acclaimed artist.
Joan Cornellà 三年後再度回歸香港舉行作品展，而「My Life Is Pointless」是其第三場香港個人展覽。是次活動將首度公開展出按真人大小比例製作的木板畫及銅像，以及一系列已停製的限量版版畫作品。
My Life Is Pointless is Cornellà’s third solo exhibition in Hong Kong and marks his return to the city after three years, showcasing for the first time the artist’s latest life-sized panels, shaped panel paintings and bronze sculptures, as well as a selection of limited print works which will not be released again.
Bootyboop, Bronze, 2020 , 60 x 26 x 30 cm
This work is from an edition of 2, plus 1 artist’s proof.
Selfie Gun, Bronze, 2020 , 84.6 x 27.8 x 41.6 cm
This work is from an edition of 2, plus 1 artist’s proof.
擁有800 萬社交媒體粉絲的Joan Cornellà 是圈內最受關注的藝術家之一，其作品曾在國際多個地方展出，當中包括香港、東京、首爾、北京、倫敦、巴黎及紐約等。Joan Cornellà 愛以鮮明生動的用色、簡單直接的視覺語言，探討及諷刺人性的黑暗面，帶來直白、充滿娛樂性卻同時令人反思的作品。在2020年，藝術家的創作風格有了新的演變，融合更多文字及圖像的元素，繼續以幽默引起普世共鳴。
With nearly 8 million followers on social media, Cornellà is highly regarded on the international stage and his works have been exhibited globally, from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing to London, Paris and New York. With a simplistic visual language and cheerful palette, Cornellà uses satire to comment on the bleak side of human nature, creating works that are honest, entertaining and stimulating. In 2020, the artist’s well-established style has evolved to combine text and imagery as he continues to explore the possibilities and universal resonance of his signature brand of humour.
Krabssseq, acrylic on wood panel, 2020, 100 x 72 cm 
Vakaam, acrylic on wood panel, 2020, 90 x 184 cm
藝術家Joan Cornellà 表示：「相隔三年，我很興奮再次為香港觀眾帶來具代表性的作品，以及介紹一系列結合文字及圖像元素的新作。有趣的是，這些超現實的黑色幽默卻似乎與現今時代互相呼應著。過往我曾多次表示希望我的作品能有自己的聲音，故此我對作品的解讀一直抱有最開放的態度，提供更多空間啟發不同的批判性思考。」
Joan Cornellà, comments: “Three years since my last show in the city, the Hong Kong audience can once again witness my representative works as well as some of my latest works, which often explore the combination of text and pictures. It seems this surreal black humour resonates well with the times we live in. Although, as I always say, I’d like my work to speak for itself, and I hope to keep interpretations as open as possible to allow for some sort of critical thinking.”
Yogawerk, acrylic on wood panel, 2020, 127 x 110 cm 
preetch, acrylic on paper, 2018, 30 x 42.5 cm
AllRightsReserved 創辦人SK Lam 表示：「Joan Cornellà 無疑是黑色幽默的代表人物，相信觀眾定必試過在欣賞其作品時不期然放聲大笑，又或感到一陣毛骨悚然。但亦正正是Joan 這種獨一無二、引人深思的幽默感，引發大眾共鳴。他過去在香港的展覽大受歡迎，反映本地觀眾對其世界觀深同感受。2020 年對很多人而言都相對沉重，這次展覽正好能適時地舉行，以歡笑和淚水為本年寫下句號。」
SK Lam, Founder of AllRightsReserved, comments: “Joan Cornellà is undoubtedly an icon of dark humour – there must have been times when his works cracked you up or got on your nerves. Yet, it is this unique, sensational sense of humour of Joan’s that connects with everyone emotionally. The overwhelming response of his previous exhibitions in Hong Kong proves how much the people in this city relate to his worldviews. To many of us, 2020 has been incredibly challenging and it still is. I hope this exhibition, weaved together with laughter and tears, is coming at the right time as we round up the year.”
Après Hawk, acrylic on wood panel, 2020, 180 cm
蘇富比亞洲區當代藝術部專家金相辰表示：「Joan Cornellà 的作品同時集趣味、黑暗及啟發性於一身。我們欣然與AllRightsReserved 合作呈獻這極具玩味的展售會，以既富娛樂性又讓人反思的展覽活動作為年度總結，並於這充滿挑戰的一年再度印證亞洲及全球當代藝術市場的韌性及創新。」
Heather Kim, Specialist of Contemporary Art, Asia of Sotheby’s, comments: “Joan’s works are humorous, sinister and inspiring all at the same time. We are gratified to present this playful yet provocative exhibition in collaboration with AllRightsReserved. The entertaining yet thought-provoking show wraps up this unprecedented year, which truly demonstrated the tenacity and innovative opportunities of the contemporary art market in Asia and around the world.”
Joan Cornellà Vázquez（生於1981 年巴塞隆拿）是一名西班牙卡通漫畫家及插畫家，以充滿黑色幽默的作品著稱。他的創作表面上輕鬆有趣，用色鮮艷，畫中人物亦常顯露笑容；但在仔細剖析後，會發現作品在人性的討論上往往帶有銳利、細微但非常有力的嘲諷。以流暢簡結的筆觸穿梭於各種敏感及禁忌議題之間，Joan Cornellà 以別樹一幟的創作揭露這不安世代中的真相。
Joan Cornellà Vázquez (born 1981, Barcelona) is a Spanish cartoonist and illustrator known for the powerful black humour in his iconic artwork and comics. Cornellà’s creations are light-hearted and playful on the surface, featuring a cheerful palette and figures with generic grins. Upon deeper contemplation, his works communicate a potent, astute and nuanced satire on human nature and existence. Poking fun at sensitive and taboo topics with a fluid hand and minimal visual clues, Cornellà cuts to the core of the unnerving essence of our times.
《Contemporary Showcase: My Life Is Pointless By Joan Cornellà》
Date: 2020.12.15 – 2021.1.29 (By Appointment Only)
RSVP Online: Sothebys.com/JoanCornella
Time: Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 18:00; Saturday: 11:00 – 17:00
Closed from 24 December 2020 to 3 January 2021, as well as Sundays & Public Holidays
Venue: 香港蘇富比藝術空間 金鐘太古廣場1期5樓
Sotheby’s Gallery, 5/F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
圖片由藝術家及蘇富比提供
Photo courtesy of Joan Cornellà and Sotheby’s Gallery
