ART CITIES:N.York-Chris Huen Sin Kan
Chris Huen Sin Kan’s work is the contemporary style of en plein air. Each painting is a scene of a frozen moment is a unique object to the artist’s intuition. He demonstrates adroit sensitivity towards the indefinite and indistinct relationship between object and space in order to capture the specific physical aura hovering each particular interior scene.
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Simon Lee Gallery Archive
New works by Chris Huen Sin Kan are in presentation in his solo exhibition at Simon Lee Gallery in New York With an emphasis in painting, Chris Huen Sin Kan’s practice explores the minute and exquisite experiences of everyday daily life. The artist believes that the essence of existence should not be constructed nor constricted by conventions that are the result of a collective cognition. Thus his works avoid topics of human constructs such as history, religion and politics. Instead, he believes that life should be informed by intuition on a personal level. He is particularly drawn to fanatical behaviors and trivial moments that carry immense vitality such as a small dog or an ordinary lawn. With no prior sketching or planned outcome, Huen’s large-scale oil paintings are derived from observation of his own life, portraying quotidian experiences through a fresh set of aesthetic strategies. In constructing a constellation of moments that compose his daily life, Huen imbues domestic representational painting with both deft abstraction and the hallmarks of traditional ink painting. Maintaining an acute awareness to their surroundings, the paintings depict the people, activities, and landscapes near the artist’s home and studio. Based in the remote area of Yuen Long, located in rural land north of the dense urban center of Kowloon, Huen paints an extended narrative revolving around a recurring cast of characters that includes his wife Haze, son Joel and dogs Balltz, Mui Mui and Doodood. This new set of works finds Huen portraying the night, enabling him to experiment with a darker, more saturated palette. Whether it is a curious glance from his dog, or the shadow of leaves against distant city lights, Huen’s surprising use of blank space and fragmented forms gives voice to a specific moment and the way it exists or perhaps escapes his consciousness.
Info: Simon Lee Gallery, 26 East 64th Street (Second Floor) , New York, Duration 5/3-28/4/18, Days & Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-18:00, www.simonleegallery.com
