SPRAYCATION by Szabotage

Hong Kong art gallery Art Supermarket is pleased to present SPRAYCATION, a solo exhibition of new works from British street and pop art artist Szabotage. The show features 12 large canvases and will be on display from 5 November until 3 December 2020. The Opening Reception – with the presence of the artist – is at Art Supermarket, 6 pm – 9 pm on Thursday, 5 November 2020.

Evolving from Szabotage’s previous collection True Reflections, where the face mirrors and captures everyday elements in a graphic form, SPRAYCATION is a break from reality. Just a spray (paint) away from the current unprecedented, crazy times we are all experiencing this year.

In the new exhibition, Szabotage depicts the development of layered stencils as a visual language, with iconic symbols of Hong Kong painted beneath the portraits of women. Each stencil is hand-drawn and hand-cut, and is positioned to create a collage of narratives. 

The entire collection is synonymous with the artist’s love and passion for Hong Kong, and its iconic imagery. The use of local symbols continues the artist’s interest in how a feature can be simplified to its most minimal representation, yet can be viewed in a number of ways depending on who is viewing the art.

The individual graphic components layer up to comprise an overall image that breaks down a single scene into layers of references. Szabotage questions whether such motifs can still convey the associated cultural and contextual significance of the original object. 

The artist’s practice explores pre-existing images and familiar languages of cultural symbols and icons, and hopes that with each piece, everyone’s personal experience of the artwork is different, that the icons and emblems are interpreted on a very individual level.

Szabotage

Gustav Szabo, better known as Szabotage, born in Brighton, is a British urban artist and designer who is recognized as a prolific contemporary artist. By the 2013, Szabotage relocated to Hong Kong, where he began to gain notoriety in the local and international urban art world, gaining success through his sold-out exhibitions, solo shows, art fair participations and numerous collaborative projects, commercial and private commissions.

 Szabotage’s work is characterized by bright colours mixed with popular cultural references. His vision takes a critical view of its immediate surroundings and often references the landscape of world cities, where his work explores the relationship between urban architecture and their communities.

Szabotage has painted for HK Walls Street Art Festival and was a finalist in the global phenomenon “Secret Walls”, where he became notorious for his old-school graffiti and onstage antics. The artist has a Ted X talk on “Resilience is the Ultimate High”. Patrons include Louis Vuitton, Jaeger LeCoultre, Deutsche Bank, Haymarket Media, and The Ritz Carlton. The newest collaboration with gwei.lo beer brand has just took off in the UK, where their limited edition East & West Pale Ale featuring Szabotage’s artwork on the beer cans. The artist is best recognized by his signature Koi fish which is a symbol of strength, adversity and good fortune.

Szabotage Solo Exhibition SPRAYCATION

Opening Reception: Thursday, 5 November 2020, 6 – 9 pm
Exhibition Duration: 5 November - 12 December 2020
Open Time | 11am – 7pm
Venue | Art Supermarket, 1/F, Asiarich Court, 5 Staunton Street, Central, Hong Kong