JPS Gallery is honoured to present Wilson Shieh “Chop Suey 2008-2022”, the artist’s rst solo exhibition with our gallery in Hong Kong. Wilson Shieh’s unparalleled artisanal skills and ability to modernise the quintessence of traditional Chinese art makes him one of the most prominent artists in Hong Kong. Bringing together works from 2008 to 2022, this exhibition will provide an overview of Shieh’s evolution as an artist while he expands his practice by working with different mediums and integrating contemporary imagery inspired by Hong Kong’s local pop culture into his works.
“Chop Suey” refers to a dish in American Chinese cuisine consisting of meat, egg and vegetables stir-fried in corn-starch-thickened sauce. The diversity of ingredients in this dish manifests this exhibition’s central theme, a visual testimony of all the phases and salient moments of Shieh’s artistic evolution over the past fourteen years. He began practising gongbi in 1992 and has since become widely recognised for using this traditional ne-brush technique to paint contemporary gurative imageries. And in 2008, Shieh started to expand his practice by utilising various mediums. Ranging from pencil drawings, digital print collages, oil and acrylic on canvas, the presented works continue to illustrate contemporary scenes in his signature style, allowing viewers to witness Hong Kong’s cultural background morph over time through the artist’s practice.
The Four Seasons series began as gongbi ink paintings, which Shieh developed into colour pencils on archival cardboard works where he renders his signature brushwork with colour pencils. Breaking down a human gure into a limited number of visual elements—costume, hairstyle and accessory— Four Seasons Women 四季女⼈ (2015) and Four Seasons Men 四季男⼈ (2022) demonstrate how conscious dressing and simple details can construct an identity. Whilst his nostalgic Paper Doll series portrays Hong Kong’s pop and cultural icons, such as Samuel Pang in An Autumn’s Tale, Hui Man Keung in The Bund and Su Li Zhen in In the Mood for Love, allowing viewers to relive these unforgettable scenes from these classic movies. In addition, the Mix Tape series re ects Shieh’s addiction to pop music during his teenage years. Some of the greatest 1980’s hit songs include Uptown Girl by Billy Joel, and Girls Just Want To Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper.
This retrospective exhibition is an amalgamation of Shieh’s artistic oeuvre from 2008 to 2022 and a unique chance for viewers to investigate Hong Kong’s cultural background to learn what goes into the making of today’s Hong Kong identity.
Artist Talk
Speaker: Mr. Wilson Shieh
Date: 5 November 2022, 3 – 4 pm
Venue: JPS Gallery Hong Kong
Host: Columnist Mr. Cyrus Lamprecht
Language: Cantonese
Renowned artist Wilson Shieh has become a key gure in Hong Kong’s art community for using traditional brushwork techniques to illustrate scenes inspired by the lifestyle of Hong Kong. From China’s traditional gongbi technique to Hong Kong’s cultural heritage, Shieh will share exclusive details about his artistic career and his plans for the future.
Shieh documents contemporary culture and society’s accomplishments through his re ned and unique painting style. His works not only attest to Hong Kong’s constant transformation but also carry the memories shared by the community. The distinct style of his paintings has won the acclaim of Hong Kong’s art community and made a permanent mark on its evolution. Shieh’s artworks have been collected by prestigious art museums in Hong Kong and internationally.
This event will be RSVP only. Please email the gallery to make a reservation.
About Wilson Shieh
Wilson Shieh transfers his intricate Chinese ne-brush, gongbi, painting technique to his various media of choice, ranging from ink on silk, acrylic on canvas to paper cutout collage, ltering the traditional Chinese ink painting through a contemporary lens.
Best known for his gurative paintings, Shieh uses traditional brushwork techniques to depict themes and narratives derived from the popular culture of East Asia and his immediate environment in Hong Kong. In his acclaimed Architectural Series, Shieh transforms the Hong Kong skyscrapers into gures donning tailor-made costumes. Through his narrative of human bodies, Shieh inquiries the issues of modern identity in an often humorous light.
Born in Hong Kong, Shieh earned a Fine Arts BA and MFA degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1994 and 2001, respectively. He participated in numerous local and overseas exhibitions, including the Third Asia-Paci c Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane in 1999. His works are featured in institutional collections worldwide, including Hong Kong Museum of Art; M+, Hong Kong; Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University; and Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. The artist lives and works in Hong Kong.
About JPS Gallery
Established in Hong Kong (2014) and in Tokyo (2018), JPS Gallery is an independent contemporary art gallery presenting works of emerging and established artists from around the world. In the autumn of 2022 JPS will establish a new gallery space in Paris and one in Barcelona during the rest quarter of 2023.
The gallery was founded with a passionate spirit that dedicates to the new digital age and the exploration of ne art and pop culture. We aim to create an innovative environment for a new generation of artists and collectors, fostering a creative space for all. We focus on contemporary works of the era that span across different medium and disciplines, showcasing a discerning selection of works that embody the aesthetics of today.
We are committed to supporting the culture and art scene both in Hong Kong and Japan, creating a vibrant local art community. The gallery regularly presents works of emerging artists in our gallery spaces in Hong Kong and Tokyo as well as international art fairs, giving them a platform to gain global exposure and supporting young artists to launch their careers. JPS has also been an active contributor to society and the local art scene by sponsoring various charity events and auctions.
JPS Gallery (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong, Central, Queen’s Road Central, 15號Shops 218-219, 2/F, Landmark Atrium
JPS Gallery is honoured to present Wilson Shieh “Chop Suey 2008-2022”, the artist’s rst solo exhibition with our gallery in Hong Kong. Wilson Shieh’s unparalleled artisanal skills and ability to modernise the quintessence of traditional Chinese art makes him one of the most prominent artists in Hong Kong. Bringing together works from 2008 to 2022, this exhibition will provide an overview of Shieh’s evolution as an artist while he expands his practice by working with different mediums and integrating contemporary imagery inspired by Hong Kong’s local pop culture into his works.