THE DUALITY OF LOVE

Participating Artist:
Justin Y

22 October – 19 November 2016

Mulan Gallery, proudly presents The Duality of Love, a solo exhibition showcasing works by Hong Kong based, Malacca-born, finger-painting artist JUSTIN Y. The exhibition will run from 22 October to 19 November 2016.

Four brand new works from a new figurative series by the artist, ‘Wonderment’, will be exhibited in Singapore for the first time. Rendered in vibrant colours and textures in his signature style, the artist turns to the beauty of the jungle and the creatures within it, depicting the instinctive bond that exists between animals and with their surroundings.

Inspired by the bright lights and big cities that he’s made his stops and home over the years, and embracing all that is big, bold and beautiful, the artist bypasses using traditional painting implements in his works, letting his hands channel and communicate his energies and emotions directly onto the canvas instead. The distinguishing feature of these works is a vividly coloured and heavily textured, finger-painted quality – each dab, streak and stroke a visible extension of the artist’s hand literally imprinted on the canvas, each work a paean to and transmission of pure energy and powerful emotions, a joyful riot and vibrational compendium of colours celebrating the vibrant exuberance and connections of life in all its fluid, technicolour glory. The joy of creation and the power of creativity is conveyed by the primal movement and momentum captured on each canvas, the extruding materiality of what is depicted – be they abstractions reminiscent of flowers, petals and feathers, or more figurative depictions of animals – asserting their undeniable reality, colonising the world with layers upon layers of textured paint.

Justin Y (贾斯汀, b. 1972, Malaysia) is a self-taught finger painting artist based in Hong Kong. A successful career as a former brand consultant brought him to major cosmopolitan cities around the world, the vibrancy and life of which serve as a major driver and regular source of inspiration behind his work. Intersections with the design, fashion, photography and commercial worlds, with frequent cross collaborations with various trendsetting communities and live painting demonstrations, have carved for the artist a niche of integrating art into modern lifestyles and enabled him to reach ever wider audiences with his work. Justin’s work has been exhibited around the world, especially in Greater China, Southeast Asia and the United States, and has been collected by private collectors and corporate clients internationally, including HSBC, World Gold Council in Hong Kong and Servcorp Singapore.

‘My art is my journey in life. It reflects the social dialogue between cultures and the changing environment…and, while abstract, showcases the constant struggle between the self, culture and its environment. I am continuously experimenting with different ways of expression; yet the ultimate message is always about love, hope and the promise of a better future.’
-Justin Y