Two new exhibitions of Oil Street Art Space bring new imaginations to century-old warehouses with paintings and bamboo art installations (with photos)
The Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) will launch two new exhibitions of the "Oi! OnSite" series from tomorrow (November 7). Two local artists, Chan Sai-lok and Inkgo Lam, will showcase the results of their observations in Oi! and its vicinity and their creative outcomes through modern literati painting and bamboo art installations at the century-old warehouses, respectively.
Artist and writer Chan Sai-lok has long been navigating the crossings between visual arts and literary creation and contemplating the deep connections between painting and text. In the "Oi! Onsite: The Stillness Between" exhibition, he uses a Chinese aesthetic perspective and composition, ink art techniques and video to narrate the community stories and urban landscape he discovered around Oi!, drawing visitors' attention to the beauty of everyday life through visual art and text. In addition to the exhibition, Chan will also go beyond the gallery and organise a series of guided tours and workshops from November to February, leading participants to explore Oi! and its surrounding community. Participants are invited to explore his world of paintings, images, videos and words, and discover the ideas behind his artistic creation.
Bamboo artist Inkgo Lam will present her first solo exhibition, "Oi! Onsite: ORGANs". Inkgo is an apprentice to Hong Kong bamboo steamer master Lui Ming. With a vision to preserve and perpetuate this legacy, she aspires to transform bamboo into a vivid artistic language that integrates the aesthetics and artistry of ancient Chinese craftsmanship into contemporary arts. Drawing inspiration from Oi! Warehouse's architectural duality, Inkgo creates five contemporary bamboo sculptures and interactive installations, which represent the five major organs of human body – heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys. She made use of the black bamboo cultivated at Oi! in some of her creations, inviting visitors to explore the century-old Oi! Warehouse, and to find out the delicate intersections between architectural space, the human body and paths of existence. Inkgo will also hold a "Bamboo Steamer Making Masterclass" workshop on November 10, where participants will learn the six important traditional steps of steamer craftsmanship and craft a steamer lid themselves. Each participant will receive a steamer base to complete an authentic Guangdong steamer set.
The exhibitions, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and organised by Oi!, will be on display from November 7 to February 9 next year at Oi! Warehouse. For details, please visit the website www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/oi_projects_and_programmes.html or call 2512 3000 for enquiries.
