Skyler Chen, Honey, Would You Set the Table?, 2021. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
In the ever-evolving world of modern and contemporary art, the New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong Auction is a showcase of promising artists whose fresh perspectives challenge traditional norms. From the evocative works of Skyler Chen to the poignant reflections of Nguyen Quoc Dung, these emerging voices are not only defining contemporary art, but are asking the critical questions of our time.
Skyler Chen: Dissecting desire and disconnection
Taiwanese-born Skyler Chen’s work teeters on the edge of enigma and familiarity, crafting intricate dialogues between intimacy and solitude. His painting Honey Would You Set the Table? is a deeply reflective piece that intertwines classical art references with contemporary life. The figures, clad in modern attire, recall 18th-century Old Masters' compositions, bathed in a warm, earthy tone that evokes nostalgia. Every element within the painting, from fresh fruit to an erotic book subtly placed on the table, brims with symbolic meaning, hinting at the tension between public facades and private desires.
What sets Chen’s work apart is his nuanced exploration of queer identity. In Honey Would You Set the Table?, the emotional distance between the male and female figures is palpable; their gazes are averted, disconnected, highlighting the complexity of human relationships and desire.
Skyler Chen’s recent exhibitions include the celebrated solo show How far I would have to go to become myself at Massimo de Carlo Gallery, London, and the group exhibition Portrait of a Man at X Museum, Beijing.
Nguyen Quoc Dung: Navigating the intersection of urban life and identity
Nguyen Quoc Dung, Motel Room, 2023. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
Ho Chi Minh-based artist Nguyen Quoc Dung often turns a contemplative lens on urbanization, identity, and society's precariousness in modern life. In Motel Room, he doesn’t merely depict reality but creates a metaphorical dialogue that touches on the deeply ingrained societal issues stemming from consumerism, mass culture, and the loss of privacy in an increasingly digital world. Using oil paint, his practice echoes the complexities of life, weaving through themes of migration, gender, and urban struggles.
This lot exemplifies Nguyen’s ability to merge art with social commentary, as familiar imagery — commonplace motel rooms, mundane objects — are transformed into powerful symbols of isolation and societal alienation. His work collapses the boundary between art and life, providing a raw, reflective space for viewers to engage with pressing issues of identity and societal fragmentation.
Nguyen Quoc Dung’s solo exhibition Existing and Skeptical at Gallery Q.7 in Ho Chi Minh City in 2021 was a testament to his thought-provoking, socially charged works. His art, often teeming with complex metaphors, continues to explore the eroded boundaries of past and present, making him a critical voice in contemporary Asian art.
Kenichi Hoshine: Fragmented realities in vibrant layers
Kenichi Hoshine, Summer Visitors, 2022. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
Kenichi Hoshine, a New York-based Japanese artist, is known for his unique ability to blend abstraction with realism, crafting paintings that explore elusive narratives. In Summer Visitors, Hoshine employs abstract forms and rhythmic colours to create a scene that feels both familiar and mysterious, drawing from everyday life. His improvisational approach, working directly with acrylic on wood without preparatory sketches, adds layers of spontaneity, reflecting his immediate thoughts and observations.
With works featured in ArtMaze Magazine and New American Paintings, Hoshine has exhibited in solo shows at Pt.2 Gallery in Oakland and Hollis Taggar in New York. His participation in group exhibitions like Focal Point 2 further cements his growing presence in the art world. His collaboration with Nino Mier Gallery at The Armory Show in New York solidifies him as an artist to watch, with a major solo exhibition scheduled for 2025.
Rebecca Brodskis: A surreal glimpse into vulnerabilities
Rebecca Brodskis, The light at the end of the tunnel, 2022. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
French artist Rebecca Brodskis delves into the subtle, often contradictory tensions of human relationships, combining her sociological background with a keen artistic eye. Her work, such as The Light at the End of the Tunnel, is marked by cool surrealism and a restrained, elegant use of colour, evoking the quiet complexities of social interactions. Brodskis captures these moments with a soft yet striking aesthetic, deeply influenced by her studies and travels across Europe, Morocco, and Tel Aviv.
Brodskis’ meteoric rise in the art world has seen her works auctioned to global acclaim in recent years. She has hosted successful solo exhibitions in London, Berlin, and Singapore, with upcoming shows in Miami. Her presence extends to major collections across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, signaling her growing influence in contemporary art.
Melike Kara: Exploring displacement through abstraction
Melike Kara, Swamp Things, 2016. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
Drawing from her Kurdish heritage and descending from an immigrant family, Melike Kara’s works, such as Swamp Things, delve into themes of displacement and marginalization, often experienced by diaspora communities. Inspired by Kurdish tapestries, Kara abstracts cultural references, blending them into a style that explores alienation and exclusion. Her earlier works, including this piece from 2016, feature more figurative compositions, yet still evoke a powerful narrative about the complexities of identity.
In Swamp Things, the figures appear intertwined from afar, but closer inspection reveals their separation, as masks and body language symbolize their refusal to connect. Kara’s exploration of exclusion is deeply embedded in the piece, making it a vivid reflection of the diaspora experience.
Atsushi Kaga: Playful reflections on loneliness and companionship
Atsushi Kaga, Practising a Magic with Robert, 2008. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
Tokyo-born and Ireland-based Atsushi Kaga blends Japanese and Irish cultural elements in his whimsical works, exploring companionship, loneliness, and existential themes. His signature character, Usacchi, a metaphorical self-portrait in the form of a bunny, humorously navigates complex emotional landscapes. Influenced by manga, anime, Ukiyo-e, and Irish literature, Kaga’s works offer a playful yet introspective look at life’s dilemmas.
Kaga’s unique blend of Japanese and Irish cultural references has been showcased globally, from Tokyo to New York and São Paulo, enriching the layers of his work with a cross-cultural dialogue. His connection to Ireland remains a significant influence on his practice, shaping the narratives behind his art.
Elaine Chiu: Dreamlike urban narratives
Elaine Chiu, SUGAR_Wonderland Vantage point 2_, 2022. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
Hong Kong-based Elaine Chiu’s SUGAR_Wonderland Vantage Point 2 captures the vibrancy of urban environments through a whimsical, futuristic lens. Known for her explorations of community and identity of urban environments, Chiu’s imagined landscapes are both nostalgic and forward-looking, rendered in candy-coloured tones. This piece, part of her 2022 exhibition SUGAR_Wonderland, offers a playful yet critical reflection of everyday urban life through an aerial perspective reminiscent of digital mapping.
Chiu’s works are featured in prominent collections, including the University of Hong Kong and K11 Art Foundation, and her recent solo exhibitions have cemented her as a rising star in the contemporary art world, blending nostalgia with urban futurism.
Chelsea Ryoko Wong: Fact or fiction?
Chelsea Ryoko Wong, Untraditional Dim Sum Restaurant, 2021. New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art Hong Kong.
Chelsea Ryoko Wong, a San Francisco-based artist, creates vibrant works that celebrate cultural and racial diversity. With roots in both Hong Kong and Japanese-American heritage, Wong draws from her rich background to craft narratives that transcend cultural boundaries. Her art reflects her belief that artists have the agency to create their own world, merging fact and fiction to allow room for personal interpretation. Through colourful, childlike compositions and themes that embrace multiculturalism, Wong’s pieces challenge traditional representations of Asian-American identities. Her training in design and printmaking informs her unique visual style, bringing a joyful and dynamic energy to her work.
It’s a collage of memories past and present. Artists have the agency to create our own world, so my work is a mix of fact and fiction. I like to give people room for their own story in the image.
—Chelsea Ryoko Wong
Beyond her canvas, Wong’s commitment to diversity extends into public spaces and community-based projects. She has contributed to exhibitions focused on gender, racial, and cultural inclusion, such as Wonder Women at Deitch Gallery and WOMEN 我們: From Her to Here at the Chinese Culture Centre. Wong also uses her art to foster unity and healing, notably through her mural for Hon’s Wun Tun Noodle House during the pandemic. In all her endeavors, she strives to reconcile the hardships of modern life with a hopeful vision for a more inclusive future, where joy and cultural unity prevail.
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