消費主義在全球各地日益盛行，疫情下網上購物更搶佔優勢，透過不同媒介渠道挑起人們的物慾，進一步鼓勵消費。The Stallery 和 L’Epicerie Fine HK 在 The Stallery WCH 展出駐香港藝術家張子言的新作「閃閃皇朝」，透過東西方文化和藝術矛盾又奇妙的混和， 反思現代中國消費主義的崛起，探討現代大眾傳媒如何在大眾的潛意識植下消費渴望，並透過作品提醒我們只有保持適當距離才能看到真相。
Consumerism is becoming more and more prevalent around the world. Under the epidemic, online shopping is even more dominant, stimulating people’s material desires through different media channels and further encouraging irrational consumption. The Stallery & L’Epicerie Fine HK are pleased to present Bling Dynasty, an exhibition featuring a series of new works by the Hong Kong based artist Ernest Chang. Through the contradictory and wonderful combination of Eastern and Western culture and art, it reflects on the rise of consumerism in modern China and explores how modern mass media invisibly plant the seed of consumerism and desires in the public and reminds us that truth only reveals under proper distance.
是次展出作品橫跨使用不同媒介創作的中西藝術和工藝品 ，涵蓋有機玻璃上的絲印、樹脂和青銅雕塑、傳統刺繡和書法。
The exhibition features a series of new works created using techniques drawn from Western and Chinese art and handicraft traditions, including silkscreen prints on plexiglass, resin and bronze sculptures, as well as traditional embroidery and calligraphy.
Ernest Chang, Age Of Abundance, 2020, Silkscreen Print On Acrylic Glass, 50x50cm, Courtesy Of The Stallery
Ernest Chang, Tired Of Being Outraged, 2020, Hand-Embroidered Silk, 42x60cm, Courtesy Of The Stallery
在子言的新作中，全球化時尚及消費文化中一望而知的著名動畫電玩角色及奢侈品商標和經典商品被用作構圖的主體，並融合傳統中國畫使用的媒介，技巧及構圖 。這個視覺的並列，一開始便同時互相矛盾和奇妙地配合，玩味地評價世界市場上影響力日益增加的中國市場。在分明是中國式的構圖中置入露骨的全球流行文化的紋飾，這些作品也突出了國際消費品牌那份瞄準高購買力市場的狠勁。
In Chang’s new works, instantly recognizable images from global pop and consumer culture—such as characters from well-known animated sitcoms and video game, and iconic logos from luxury fashion houses—are figured as central motifs with traditional Chinese artistic mediums, techniques and compositions. The resulting visual juxtaposition offers a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the dominating influence of Chinese consumer power on the global marketplace. By situating icons from Western pop culture into unmistakably Chinese compositions, these works also reflect on the aggressiveness of international brands to target high-purchasing power markets.
Ernest Chang, Let Me Have A Bite, Gilded Scarlett, 2020, Silkscreen On Paper, 28x38cm, Courtesy Of The Stallery
Ernest Chang, Let Me Have A Bite, Sterling Beryl, 2020, Silkscreen On Paper, 28x38cm, Courtesy Of The Stallery
「Don’t Say Anything Mean」（2020）這件作品的靈感來自元朝的一幅著名的忽必烈大帝畫像，呈現了一個從 頭到腳都穿着名牌服飾的流行卡通角色。通過並列看似無關的一幅中國歷史藝術品和一個卡通角色，反思消費主義如何透過廣告以及日漸多元化的娛樂節目和社交平台影響我們。
Don’t Say Anything Mean (2020), which reimagines a character from the satirical animated sitcom South Park wearing luxury designer clothing in a portrait inspired by the famous painting of Kublai Khan from the Yuan Dynasty. With this irreverent juxtaposition of an important work from Chinese art history and a contemporary cartoon, Chang reflects on today’s society is heavily influenced by mass consumerism, corporate advertising and the ever increasing array of entertainment and streaming platforms.
Ernest Chang, Don’t Say Anything Mean, 2020, Acrylic On Plexiglass And Canvas, 45x65cm, Courtesy of The Stallery
通過看似矛盾的中西方文化在藝術、傳統美學和構圖上的碰撞，子言希望在無可逃脫的混亂和不穩中創造出一種和諧。對子言而言,「在這危急的混沌和孤獨的時候，我們可以做的就是諒解和暸解世界上正在發生的事。」「全球的地貌正在加速切換，融合流行和傳統文化容許我把我眼中的和諧投射其中。」
Bringing together elements drawn from Western and Chinese culture, art, and traditions that appear to clash or contradict on first glance, Chang hopes to create a sense of harmony amidst chaos and uncertainty. “In these desperately confusing and lonely times, it has become more important than ever to gain a greater awareness of the world and reflect on our relationship to time and history,” comments Chang. “As our global landscape continues to shift along geo-political lines, I’ve been drawn to images and techniques from vastly different cultural lineages to make sense of the world and these works have allowed me to inject my vision of harmony into them.”
是次展覽將以為人愛戴的動漫和電玩角色為主體，並將流行文化融合到唐和漢朝的在絲印畫中。新與舊，東與西等矛盾組合產生奇妙的美學成象 ，為各種年齡層的觀眾提供了觀賞的切入點。
The exhibition features visual references from beloved animation and gaming titles, which Chang fuses in his characteristic pop art style into recognisable iconography from Tang and Han Dynasty paintings. The seemingly contradictory combination of new and old, east and west produces wonderful aesthetic iconography, which provides a starting angle for visitors of all ages.
Ernest Chang, Wake Me Up When Its Over, 2020, Hand painted Resin, 10x10x15cm, Courtesy Of The Stallery
Ernest Chang, Turbulent Times, 2020, Dyed Rice Paper cutting, 40x40cm, Courtesy Of The Stallery
閃閃皇朝 | Bling Dynasty
Date: 2021.2.20 – 2021.4.4
Time: Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00 – 19:00; Monday – Tuesday (By appointment only)
Venue: The Stallery WCH
灣仔石水渠街 82 號 A 地下
G/F 82A Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai, Hong Kong