The Wonderful World – The Interweaving of Reality and Surreality
The bi-weekly rotating view room series showcases the oil paintings of artist Lan Chong in an exhibition titled "The Wonderful World – Nature's Fantasy: The Interweaving of Reality and Surreality." In this exhibition, viewers are invited into a world that is both familiar and strange: the juxtaposed artworks in the gallery form a captivating dialogue, presenting the artist's two distinct yet equally fascinating interpretations of the natural world.
This exhibition is not just an ode to nature but also a tribute to human imagination. It demonstrates the power of art: to break conventions, cross boundaries, and allow us to experience the world in new ways.
Lan Chong's works delve deeply into the intersection of abstraction and nature, displaying a unique artistic perspective through vibrant techniques. The pieces skillfully blend abstract expressionism with organic representation, simultaneously presenting the free-spirited gestures of action painting while maintaining connections to natural forms, particularly flowers, trees, and animal imagery. This fusion challenges the traditional dichotomy between abstraction and figuration, as well as the divide between reality and surreality, suggesting a more fluid integration, gestation, continuity, and extension between opposites.
The Garden Beyond
In the series, the artist presents dreamlike abstract landscapes; natural forms are deconstructed and reassembled, creating a flowing, almost musical visual rhythm. Every brushstroke on the canvas seems to pulsate, with tones of green, blue, red, and brown interweaving into a serene yet vibrant symphony. These works invite viewers to immerse themselves, finding familiar natural imagery within the abstract strokes, akin to wandering through a garden shrouded in morning mist.
The Dense Scenery No.27
The Garden Beyond No.13
Nirvana
In stark contrast are the series titled "Nirvana" and "The Wonderful World," where surrealist techniques reinterpret the creatures of nature, transforming ordinarily mundane subjects into wondrous and majestic beings. In the rooster paintings, each feather is imbued with cosmic depth, and the red comb burns like a flame, igniting the entire scene. This obsession with detail and bold use of color create a breathtaking tension, challenging viewers' preconceived notions of reality.
Nirvana: Splendor No.2
Gaze from Above
