Past
INFINITY
Godwin Liu Guo Yi and Leo Liu Xuan Qi
11 Jun – 1 Sep 2023
10am – 6pm
Blessings From Mercury – Yue Yue, 2022, Oil on canvas, 100cm x 80cm, Godwin Liu Guo Yi
Exhibition Details:
INFINITY
11 Jun – 1 Sep 2023
Artists:
Godwin Liu Guo Yi
Leo Liu Xuan Qi
Curator:
Audrey Zhang
Rick Shi
Prestige Art Gallery:
63 Market Street
Bank of Singapore Centre
#01-01
Singapore 048942
Brochure:
《无界INFINITY》
Prestige Art Gallery is pleased to present INFINITY, an exhibition that showcases the exceptional works of contemporary artists Godwin Liu Guo Yi and Leo Liu Xuan Qi
In the age of interconnectedness, art transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, becoming a universal language with limitless possibilities to unite people.
The INFINITY exhibition showcases the exceptional works of contemporary artists Godwin Liu and Leo Liu. These artists have crafted their unique voices through vibrant colour palettes and captivating visuals. Amidst diverse voices, they have discovered their distinct, otherworldly modes of expression.
For them, art offers boundless possibilities.
Godwin Liu Guo Yi
Rabbits and the 12 Zodiac
This exhibition by Prestige Art Gallery highlights Liu’s Rabbit Series – Blessings from Mercury, specially created for the Year of the Rabbit in 2023.
Rabbit is one of the most lovable animals among the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. Here, Liu employs its familiarity and approachability to convey warmth. The series references the Dutch painter, Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring reinterprets the imagery of the Chinese zodiac, adding a modern twist to a traditionalChinese classification scheme. Through innovation, he creates captivating and alluring works through colour and character design.
Each rabbit in the picture beholds a smaller animal, creating a little game for viewers. The artist invites participation in a visual riddle to identify the animals held by each rabbit, thereby increasing the interaction and connection between the artwork and the audience.
Blessings From Mercury – Sheep, 2022, Oil on canvas, 100cm x 80cm
Apocalyp-topia
Apocalyp-topia is Godwin Liu’s imaginative universe, where whimsical characters transcend time and space to deliver messages of hope and courage to Earth’s inhabitants. They inspire individuals to move forward bravely while cherishing life’s treasures.
Yueyue, Yangyang, Xiongxiong, Chongchong, and Bingbing make up the space squad created by Liu. They are messengers with a mission to bring blessings and hope. They live on different planets, have different appearances, and have their own unique styles. The characters of Apocalyp-topia are usually lined up proudly as they move through their other worldly planets. At other times, they move through surreal wastelands and travelling across a world of absurdities with the intention to bring warmth to those corners of the world. In Liu’s universe, his characters will exist where life exists, promising to accompany people on their journey in life.
Apocalyp-topia, 2020, Cast copper spray silver, 18.5cm x 15cm x 35cm, 05/99
Leo Liu Xuan Qi
The Little Yellow Duck Series
Leo Liu’s The Little Yellow Duck series originated in 2009 when he transitioned into an independent artist. Inspired by his children’s love for rubber ducks, he explores identity and artistic expression through this common childhood symbol. These artworks delve into the deeper emotions, desires, and connections that define human nature.
In the Life is Beautiful series, Liu juxtaposes the little yellow duck with iconic figures like Abraham Lincoln and Audrey Hepburn. This striking contrast reminds us that, ultimately, we are all ordinary people contributing to society and aiding those in need. It encourages viewers to ponder social issues, power dynamics, and cultural phenomena.
In Liu’s view, even iconic historical figures like Lincoln and Hepburn are fundamentally ordinary individuals engaging with life like everyone else. This understanding allows his characters to interact with the little yellow duck, representing seemingly insignificant people. It underscores the interconnectedness of society, where the extraordinary and ordinary coexist.
By juxtaposing well-known icons with commonplace objects, Liu creates new meanings and associations. This contrast often highlights themes of consumerism, where both people and things are commodified in a pursuit of individualism, potentially erasing unique identities.
Life Is Beautiful – Abraham Lincoln, 2011, Acrylic on canvas, 122cm x 92cm
The Vessel Series
In the Vessel series, little yellow ducks navigate containers representing consumerist society, symbolising innocence and purity amidst life’s challenges. We, too, strive to balance our dreams and reality.
Liu’s art draws inspiration from life, family, identity, and evolving environments. His works capture evolving perceptions and emotions as time passes, providing viewers with relatable connections.
His metaphors, symbols, aesthetics, and unique style constitute an amalgamation of colour, image, material, and soul. They represent the vibrant language of art, enabling viewers to explore beyond the canvas.
Leo Liu’s works embody the dynamism of expressionism, where visual images extend beyond the canvas, inviting associations that reflect life, society, existence, and self-understanding.
Vessel – Dior, 2012, Acrylic on canvas, 102cm x 76cm
The Stone Cloud Series
In The Stone Cloud series, clouds symbolise the state of flow as Leo pursued his artistic dreams across borders. Clouds evoke unbridled creativity and constant transformation, mirroring our rapidly changing world.
Within these paintings, lions and clouds engage in a dialogue between past and present, exploring how traditions can find expression in an ever-changing world.
The Stone Cloud Series – Flower Lion, 2023, Acrylic & charcoal, gold leaf, colour pencil on paper, 122cm x 55cm
The Other Hill Series
The Other Hill series references an ancient Chinese poem, using mountains and jade as metaphors for cross-cultural exchanges inspiring artistic innovation. It advocates mutual tolerance, respect, and understanding between East and West.
This series reflects Leo’s inner journey, deconstructing and reconstructing himself through eclectic animal symbols, resulting in profoundly layered allegorical artworks.
The Other Hill Series – No.2, 2013-2023, Oil on canvas, 180cm x 150cm
About the Artists
Godwin Liu Guo Yi
Born in 1974 in Anhui Huainan and currently residing in Beijing Songzhuang, Godwin Liu is an independent artist and curator. His creations are imbued with dreamlike, surrealist elements, using fables and allegories to explore profound truths about the human experience. Liu’s distinctive signature lies in his elf-like figures and surreal scenes. Through his magical and mysterious compositions, he continually captivates his viewers with his sincerity and boundless imagination.
Liu has held solo exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Beijing Today Art Museum, 798 Zero Space, 798 Yang Gallery, DHW Art Museum Beijing, Shenzhen Jupiter Art Museum, and Pure Stone Art Museum. His works have also been showcased at international exhibitions in Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and various other countries, as well as at international art fairs.
Leo Liu Xuan Qi
Leo Liu Xuanqi, born in 1977, is a Chinese contemporary artist currently residing in Singapore. In 2006, he made the significant decision to relocate to Singapore and transition from his decade-long career as an art director in design and advertising to pursue art full-time. As an overseas Chinese, he possesses a profound understanding of the cultural nuances bridging the East and West.
Since 2009, Leo has been on a journey of exploration and self-reflection, delving into the depths of his personal identity within the context of contemporary culture.
Leo’s artworks have graced exhibitions in various locations including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States, receiving acclaim for their distinctive qualities. Notably, he was honoured with the Platinum Award at the 31st UOB Singapore Painting of the Year Competition. Additionally, between 2012 and 2014, Leo earned recognition as one of the finalists of the Dr. Tan Tsze Chor Award.
