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With so many colours to choose from why do people always choose blue for boys and pink for girls? Why does the combination of three women in Chinese characters mean "rape"? Why does the combination of two men and a woman form the word "anger"? In her latest solo exhibition, ceramic artist Rosanna Li questions conventional gender concepts and reverses stereotypically accepted practices in a light hearted way. Through a series of artworks, Li gives the audience new ways of looking at these concepts and "orders" set down and instilled in people by society, the economy and culture.
Running from today (November 16) until November 26 at the Exhibition Hall of the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, the exhibition "Men and WomenĦEThis and That - Works by Rosanna Li" is the fifth exhibition in the Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme V organised by the Art Promotion Office (APO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Li's ceramics and installations created from ready-made objects will be featured, including her "Cha Chaan Teng" (local-style cafm) pottery series, "Me Go for You Go for Me" and "You Turn Your Back I Turn Mine" series. The exhibition will be the most comprehensive showcase of her works in recent years.
The exhibition was officially opened today by the Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh; the Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Dr Louis Ng; Ms Rosanna Li; and the Chief Curator of the Art Promotion Office, Dr Lesley Lau.
Li's robust ceramic figures have a certain rustic charm. While depicting the contentment and vitality of everyday people, her works are often filled with wit and humour, reflecting her keen observation and sensitivity towards individuals and events in the community. Other than clay, she also uses ready-made objects to make installations. Her works can be satirical at times, critically questioning and challenging established conventions and the status quo of society by skilfully playing with puns and parodies.
In this exhibition, her new series "Male or Female?" makes use of everyday items in pink and blue to reveal how people have been brainwashed by mainstream culture into accepting certain preconceived ideas. Influenced by this conventional male-female distinction, people establish a rigid gender division from infancy that stipulates how men and women should differ from each other. The items bought by Li directly from shops and markets reflect these common values and resonate easily with the audience. Through her selection, collection, classification, installation and presentation, these mundane items are then turned into a powerful visual language that not only elicits detailed observation, but inspires the imagination.
The gender concept, which is often accepted as the norm, is also embedded in Chinese characters. Li started creating her pottery works using Chinese characters with "woman" as the radical, and English words beginning with "man", as early as 2003 and 2006. This year, she moved beyond the boundaries of the existing vocabulary to create her own neologisms. For example, her "Me Go for You Go for Me" and "You Turn Your Back I Turn Mine" series of trios, playfully introduce a series of seemingly feasible Chinese characters which invite the audience to join in a puzzle of word reinvention.
Under the Design Partnership Scheme launched by APO, Chou So-hing was engaged as the design partner to provide visual image design for this exhibition. Through interaction and participation at different levels, the exhibition opens a new artistic experience for visitors.
A Braille version of the exhibition pamphlet is available and free guided tours will also be offered to groups and schools. For bookings, please contact the APO's Community Art Team on 3101 2712 or 3101 2713.
Following the exhibition at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, the "cha chaan teng" series will move to the Dome Atrium, UG/F, Olympian City 2, from December 1 to 16.
The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre is located at 7A Kennedy Road, Central. It is open daily from 10am to 9pm and is closed on Tuesdays. Olympian City 2 is located at 18 Hoi Ting Road, West Kowloon. It is open daily from 10am to 10pm. Admission to the exhibition is free.
For details of the exhibition and related activities, visit the APO's webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Apo/en/programmes201210_9.html.
Ends/Friday, November 16, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:01
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