Wilson Shieh: Sharing of Shieh's work

Theme:
Architecture Series – Depicting women in costumes of modern architecture.

Form:
Ink and water on silk
2007
34'' x 17''

Medium:
Gongpi Painting

Background of the artist:

Shieh studied architecture in the University of Hong Kong for a year(1989-90) before he decided to pursue a degree in fine art. Despite his change of path, he remained interested in architecture and had an appreciation for it. The architecture series is intended to transform the translucent glass curtain into dresses representing the surrealistic skyscrapers in Central of Hong Kong.

He studied traditional Chinese brush painting, called gongbi, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong from which he received a B.A. in 1994 and an M.F.A. in 2001. Shieh has been practicing the gongbi painting technique used in this art work for nearly twenty years.

Shieh pays attention to details. He used to paint figures. He had studied all kinds of costumes and hairstyle in order to put these details on his figures. He is also particularly interested in Victorian fashion style in 19th century. As shown in the Architecture Series, though taking the buildings as reference, the details of the dresses show the vintage style.

Cultural background of the art work:
Hong Kong is always a materialistic city which put packaging rather than content at a higher priority, either from the perspective of the richest land developers or ordinary women. Every developer would love to have their architecture stand out, as every woman loves to have their clothes stand out. Mixing two together would create a funny but sarcastic and inspirational effect.

Surrealistic skyscrapers in Central is the signature and iconic view of Hong Kong, revealing the prosperity of the financial center. But some foundation political problems are hidden behind this scene. Developers are fond of having top architects to design the buildings and proud of the uniqueness of each design. At the same time, women search for the designers' clothes or limited editions so that the chance of dressing the same outfit as others do would be lessened. The most important is that they would gain appreciation from fellows. Ironically, it would not be surprising that some women may take this piece of art work as the latest fashion item.

Social background of the art work:
"The concept of this exhibition stems from my homage to antiquity. Using ancient works of art and their symbolic potential, I attempt to bring together the past and the present, thus finding a dialogue and new visual language between them."
~ Wilson Shieh

Any reference to art history?
The style of painting Shieh uses was at its height of popularity in the year 800, but Shieh is a thoroughly modern man. His careful mastery of the delicacy and precision of gongbi painting mixes with a slightly surrealist sensibility, a sense of humor, and a poignant humanity. He was inspired by Chen Hung-shou(陳洪綬), a fine-brush painter from the late Ming Dynasty. He was an expert in weirdly shaped characters, with huge heads and distorted bodies.

How I interpret?
Transparency
- Emphasis on women's body shape and curve lines
- Eagerness for transparency of the government over the policy.
Contrast of shapes between buildings and women

-The buildings are all hard-edged and regularly shaped. The contrast between them and the women’s bodies made me think of how outfits can cover the body shape of a woman. To put it on architecture, the design of a building can also alter people's views on a particular company or authority.

Like? and reason?
I am amazed that the glassy walls of Central skyscrapers exude a kind of transparent texture that can be very sensuous if dressed up on human bodies.

I also appreciate Shieh used gongbi painting for this figurative work. Chinese traditional painting used to be mostly scenery while western art focuses on figurative painting. Therefore, I used to misunderstood Chinese style of painting usually has no linkage with the presents days and found myself hard to understand the message behind the work. Shieh successfully managed to modernize the Chinese painting tradition without it being westernized.

The art work is meticulous and fine. Christopher Knight, Art Critic of the Los Angeles Times, says Shieh “uses precise contour drawing, transparent colors and amorphous space to render a sense of ageless fragility.”

Among all the reasons I love Shieh's work, I appreciate his combination of art-making and social activism most. The humorous or satirical sense in his work is constant.

Compare with other artists:
JUSTIN LEE (Singapore)

His witty, thoughtful work blends traditional Eastern imagery and techniques with twenty-first-century consumerism and Western icons.
"My life experiences become my work. I am inspired by my environment, the people I meet and the desire to also create beautiful and aesthetically pleasing work."

Shieh’s work contains something of China’s great sweeping history, but it also contains comments on contemporary culture.