Aries Wu likes to observe the subtle changes in still objects, in the movements of light and shadow, depicting the unique details as well as the texture of “things” that look ordinary, common items, and hence a tranquil still-life world is created. His love for Dutch Baroque art of the 17th century was realized when he was studying at RMIT University, Australia. Recently, he has found inspiration from his memories of his childhood. As a child, Wu lived a simple life in Guangzhou. Despite the absence of rich material goods, his passion for art started to dawn while drawing with a pile of paper and a few pencils. Wu’s recent works are mostly themed around the familiar items of his childhood, for instance, soup ladel, pot, scissors and vacuum flask. These everyday objects possess a sense of beauty beyond the explanation of words, plain yet beautiful. Such childhood memories of Wu have survived the passing of time and are once again brought together on the wood drawing board to demonstrate the feeling of home.
These were the same typical items in our childhood. When appreciating the objects in the painting in detail, we feel acquainted with them because the marks left by the flow of time on them are identical to the items we once used in our own childhood and so are indeed known to us. These items were with us on our journey to become adults. Thinking, we are returning to childhood so we can hear the cooking sounds from the kitchen, the rumble of the sewing machine and the laughter of our playmates yet again. Time flies. Good things disappear in silence before we can hold onto them. Still, the works of Aries Wu halts our steps, allowing us to be immersed in the thoughts of…
Life Memory Series - Fish and Chopper, 2012; Oil on wood, 41x50.5cm
About the Exhibition
Date: Jun 30, 2012 – Aug 3, 2012
Venue: Art Experience Gallery (Hongkong, China)
Curator: Ka Fai Yeung
Address: Room 2009, 20/F., Cable TV Tower, 9 Hoi Shing Road, Tsuen Wan, NT., Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2110 9928
Email: art@artexperiencegallery.com
Courtesy of the artist and Art Experience Gallery.