LOUISE ZHANG / CHINESE WHISPERS

Louise Zhang_HONEYED ORIFICES AND A PIT OF EASE_2014_acrylic and oil on canvas_120 x 90cm 

   Louise Zhang_AND THEN IT KIND OF HAPPENED_2014_acrylic and oil on canvas_120 x 90cm

"Remember playing Chinese Whispers? 

What happens when you send a whisper around a group of Chinese artists and ask them to create an artwork according to what they think they heard? 

An exhibition of newly created artworks which could take a turn in any direction."

From 12 December 2014 - 31 January 2015, Louise will be exhibiting in a group exhibition Chinese Whispers, at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery.

Featuring 12 Chinese artists, including Kevin Chin, John Deng, Fan Dangwang, Li Cui, Tracy Luff, Kaye Mahoney, Pamela Mei Leng See, Guan Wei, Jason Wing, Huihai Xie, and Tianli Zu; the exhibition draws inspiration from the childhood game, in which a whisper is sent around the group of artists, and they are challenged to create an artwork according to what they think they heard.

JASON WING WINS THE 2012 PARLIAMENT OF NSW ABORIGINAL ART PRIZE

Jason Wing_Australia was Stolen by Armed Robbery_2012

Congratulations to Jason Wing, winner of the 2012 Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize valued at $40,000.

The exhibition was officially opened last night and will be on display in NSW Parliament until 4 November 2012.

It's no surprise to find a bust of Captain James Cook gracing the halls of the NSW Parliament. But Jason Wing's artwork does not treat the English explorer credited with being the first European to land on Australia's east coast with reverence.

Wing's 'Australia was Stolen by Armed Robbery' features a bust of Captain Cook wearing a black balaclava, pictured. ''Australia was stolen from the Aboriginal people by lethal force,'' he said.

Wing added the fate of indigenous people had deteriorated since the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. ''Racism and criminal behaviour by the Australian government is alive and well."

Extract from article by Andrew Taylor in the Sydney Morning Herald, October 4, 2012. 

To see Jason Wing interviewed on SBS World News click here.

Jason Wing's work can also be seen in the Artereal Gallery stockroom.

JASON WING / PARLIAMENT OF NSW ABORIGINAL ART PRIZE

Congratulations to Jason Wing whose work Australia was Stolen by Armed Robbery is a finalist in the 2012 Parliament of NSW Aboriginal Art Prize. The finalist works will be displayed in Parliament until November 4, the winner being announced on October 17.

It's no surprise to find a bust of Captain James Cook gracing the halls of the NSW Parliament. But Jason Wing's artwork does not treat the English explorer credited with being the first European to land on Australia's east coast with reverence.

Wing's 'Australia was Stolen by Armed Robbery' features a bust of Captain Cook wearing a black balaclava, pictured. ''Australia was stolen from the Aboriginal people by lethal force,'' he said.

Wing added the fate of indigenous people had deteriorated since the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. ''Racism and criminal behaviour by the Australian government is alive and well."

Extract from article by Andrew Taylor in the Sydney Morning Herald, October 4, 2012. 

Jason Wing's work can also be seen in the Artereal Gallery stockroom.

JASON WING @ ARTEREAL GALLERY

Sydney based artist Jason Wing has created this wonderful paste-up installation as part of Art Month Sydney 2012 and the launch of the Rozelle Contemporary Art Precinct.

Jason utilises iconography from his Chinese Aboriginal heritage combined with self portraiture.

The clouds when replicated are a symbol of everlasting happiness. The boy is Jason, the children are symbols of eternal happiness. His three eyes represent the past, present and future, while the circular arrow symbol on his chest can be interpreted as circles of life, continuing on.

Jason’s neon installations can be seen in Chinatown, Sydney and many other public venues around Australia.

Artist statement - Jason Wing

“My art is inspired by the way my life has thrown up apparent contradictions. It is the place between the contradictory energies that creates a unique space for me to carve out who I am as an artist and a man.

My fathers family is Cantonese. My mothers family is Aboriginal (Biripi people near Taree). She is very connected to the land around her and has little time for money and business. I grew up moving frequently between cities and suburbs and then back to nature and the country. Themes that reoccur in my work weave together elements from these influences: Nature and man, the urban environment and respect for nature, my cultural influences and a sense of positive universal spirituality. Two things in opposition can become the base of a pattern, this inspires the way I work the elements of patterns, evolution, chance and coincidence into my artwork.

Stencil technique allows me to work in a fluid yet precise way; it can be recurrent, instant and unique. Unknown Aboriginal artist 40,000 years ago used the stencil technique to document social and historical teachings. I use the same technique to mark my own contemporary beliefs and mixed heritage. Papunya dots connect back to my Aboriginal heritage while bold graphic imagery, wood and paper cutting techniques refer back to the Chinese part of me. The two parts come together and cross over with the colours I often use: red, black, white and gold.”

Jason also has three limited edition prints exhibited in our stockroom here at Artereal...

Let Go, 2012, giclee print, edition of 5, 33 x 48 cm, $295

Soft Landing, 2012, giclee print, edition of 5, 33 x 48 cm, $295

Urban Renewal, 2012, Giclee print, edition of 5, 33 x 49 cm, $295