Gabriel Orozco: Diario de Plantas
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Wowser Ng
(b. 1998)
Wowser Ng, born in 1998 in China, residing and working in London, is a contemporary painter whose practice navigates the intersections of digital painting, queer identity, materialism, and fetishism. A graduate of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and the University of the Arts London, Ng’s work is marked by freedom of line and color, resulting in dynamic compositions of swirling figures, still-life objects, and shapes in vivid colors, as the artist aims to create abstract objects to capture raw emotions and our deepest desires.
Ng’s work is distinguished by its vivid exploration of abstract objects, which are employed to evoke emotion, desire, and a fascination with the material world. At the core of his practice is a deep reflection on the pervasive influence of pop culture, fashion, and media, which he views as forces that distort reality and undermine individual agency. His paintings seem to reconsider the relationship with objects and cultural symbols that shape our lives. It is to say that in a world increasingly defined by materialism, Ng critiques the show-oriented nature of society through his opulent, fashion-inspired imagery. Therefore, his work insists on critically contemplating the relentless pursuit of economic prosperity while offering a poignant commentary on the influence of Generation Z’s media-driven, consumerist culture.
Wowser Ng’s creations are characterized by a distinctive visual language, figurative in nature, but balancing between conventions of abstraction and Pop Art. Ng’s rebellious nature emerged during his undergraduate years at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. Disagreements with his teachers, who favored muted tones reminiscent of Giorgio Morandi or Luc Tuymans, pushed him to embrace highly saturated colors—an aesthetic that set his work apart. Each piece starts with an exploration of commodities that inspire him, followed by collages and rough sketches, culminating in digital paintings on canvas that reflect his hand-painted touch.
Building upon personal narratives as an Asian queer artist, he incorporates self-created objects that represent both intimate and collective spiritual experiences. These objects embody more than their physical form, serving as conduits for reflections on societal constructs and emotional landscapes. Ng was born into a scholarly family in China and initially struggled with his gender identity in a conservative society, leading to feelings of isolation during his formative years. This solitude, coupled with an early fascination with luxury fashion, became the foundation of his artistic vision. His love for fashion magazines and the products they showcased became a lifeline, an avenue for self-expression that ultimately blossomed into a defining element of his art.
Wowser Ng’s works are not only an exploration of materialism but also a commentary on the commodification of culture in the era of Generation Z. Through vivid color and figurative depictions of fashion products, he critiques the superficial nature of modern life, where thought is often overshadowed by fleeting trends and media consumption—one might argue this also invokes an analogy to contemporary painting itself. He challenges the consumer-driven ethos of pop culture while simultaneously embracing its aesthetics, creating art that is both a celebration and a critique of the world he inhabits. Two sides of the same coin are depicted in an ambiguous and ingenious manner.
The artist holds a BA from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, China, and an MA at the London University of the Art, the United Kingdom, followed by a residency at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China. Wowser Ng has been awarded a place as a finalist in the 27th No Dead Artists award at Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, a spot in the Emerging Artist Programme of Contemporary Art Collectors, a second place at Darts & Shafts selected by CSM Fine Art team, and a fifth place at the Fida Awards by Acid Gallery. Notable exhibitions include group shows at Al-Tiba9 Art Gallery in Barcelona, Spain; Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans, the United States of America; the Yan Museum in Guangdong, China; London Lighthouse Gallery in London, the United Kingdom; the Fang Yuan Art Gallery in Beijing, China; the Central Saint Martins Museum in London, the United Kingdom; and the Shanghai Exhibition Center in Shanghai, China. As a result, Ng’s works are featured in renowned private and public collections including the Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Central Saint Martins Museum, Florentia Village, and A5ROOM.
For more information, please consult Wowser Ng’s website here.
Last Updated on October 17, 2024
Sylvia Walker
Sylvia Walker (b. 1986, US) is an art historian, essayist, art critic, and curator. After contributing to numerous publications, and curating exhibitions in the United States of America and beyond, she currently works as the assistant director of Contemporary Art Issue (CAI).
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Wowser Ng
(b. 1998)
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